Gallagher Premiership 2020/21

The new season starts next weekend. What are people's hopes and expectations?

Round 1

Friday 20th
19:45 Harlequins v Exeter
20:00 Sale v Northampton

Saturday 21st
12:30 Bath v Newcastle
15:00 Leicester v Gloucester
15:00 Worcester v London Irish


Sunday 22nd
13:00 Wasps v Bristol

LondonTiger wrote:The new season starts next weekend. What are people's hopes and expectations?

Hope to be mid table, expectation is to avoid relegation by skin of teeth.

Be interesting to see what teams Glaws and Tigers put out for the weekend given the number of call ups and injuries for both sides. I fear that Cipriani will pull apart another make shift backline from Tigers.

Have to say I fear for Leicester this year. Lots of turnover of staff doesnt scream that things are going smoothly. A chance that it may be Borthwick clearing out the chaff though? Whereas Blackett made an impact straight away I think he probably had more to work with and it may take a couple of years for Leicester to turnaround.

Do we know what the deal with relegation is yet?

Exeter to stroll to the title. Their squad is by a country mile the best.

LondonTiger wrote:The new season starts next weekend. What are people's hopes and expectations?

I hope the league is ringfenced and theres no relegation this season..

No 7&1/2 wrote:Have to say I fear for Leicester this year. Lots of turnover of staff doesnt scream that things are going smoothly. A chance that it may be Borthwick clearing out the chaff though? Whereas Blackett made an impact straight away I think he probably had more to work with and it may take a couple of years for Leicester to turnaround.

Do we know what the deal with relegation is yet?

Exeter to stroll to the title. Their squad is by a country mile the best.

Are you on drugs??

They might be bad.....but they have one security blanket....we are in the league!

Chiefs have the best squad but they are going to be missing a lot of players for the first part of the season. Going to test Baxter as head coach but he's got strong systems in place.

Borthwick basically took over a club that had a scrum. MOC left no discernible defence, attack, lineout or tactics. Murphy was trying to hold the team together by force of will and passion for the club. Blackett took over a Wasps team that had been dragged to more than the sum of their parts for most of Dai Young's time at the club, he has just seemed to run out of energy. Blackett came in and played to Wasps strengths and did an amazing job, be interesting to see if he can do the same again in the new season.

GeordieFalcon wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:Have to say I fear for Leicester this year. Lots of turnover of staff doesnt scream that things are going smoothly. A chance that it may be Borthwick clearing out the chaff though? Whereas Blackett made an impact straight away I think he probably had more to work with and it may take a couple of years for Leicester to turnaround.

Do we know what the deal with relegation is yet?

Exeter to stroll to the title. Their squad is by a country mile the best.

Are you on drugs??

They might be bad.....but they have one security blanket....we are in the league!

Lol.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Chiefs have the best squad but they are going to be missing a lot of players for the first part of the season. Going to test Baxter as head coach but he's got strong systems in place.

Borthwick basically took over a club that had a scrum. MOC left no discernible defence, attack, lineout or tactics. Murphy was trying to hold the team together by force of will and passion for the club. Blackett took over a Wasps team that had been dragged to more than the sum of their parts for most of Dai Young's time at the club, he has just seemed to run out of energy. Blackett came in and played to Wasps strengths and did an amazing job, be interesting to see if he can do the same again in the new season.

Yes absolutely. Big test for wasps and with more jazzy players I think they'll be hit by england call ups more than Exeter.Bath could be a team to push on. Bristol I'm not sure about. Lots of praise for them and Lam is always mentioned as a great coach....just something about them looks a bit hit and miss to me.

Will Bath sign Marcus Smith?

Yes i just saw that rumour TH and a french team isnt it?

Also some rumours that Zach Mercer may be off to Montpellier..

Wuss/Irish is a relegation decider match on day one.

Not sure there LI.

If there even is a relegation this season...

TightHEAD wrote:Will Bath sign Marcus Smith?

Possibly but it would be an odd move as under Hooper Burns was pushed out. They seem to favour the more tactically minded pairing of Spencer and Priestland to any more attacking option they've had previously. Either Smith would have to play the way he plays or his career could take a down turn.

GF currently there is relegation but who knows by the end of the season.

How Bath cope with the international period is another interesting one as Dunn, Stuart, Ewels, Underhill is half their starting pack with England then Falatau is with Wales. Joseph and Watson with England as well. Obano could yet miss games as well as I think he's been in and around the reckoning. That's a lot of forwards to be missing.

Sale may well take advantage at the start of the season with half a team of Saffers and really only Ben Curry missing from their first choice 23.

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:Sale may well take advantage at the start of the season with half a team of Saffers and really only Ben Curry missing from their first choice 23.

Good call though they had some injuries towards the end of the season. Manu, Beaumont and Dr Jaeger are still out aren't they? They also had some issues at hooker. If they can get them all back sooner rather than later then yes they could make a flying start.

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/wasps-confirm-new-deals-for-blackett-and-four-senior-coaches/

Well deserved new contracts awarded for a fantastic first season - long may it continue

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:https://www.rugbypass.com/news/wasps-confirm-new-deals-for-blackett-and-four-senior-coaches/

Well deserved new contracts awarded for a fantastic first season - long may it continue

They've certainly earned those extensions. Good to see a couple of former Tigers doing well there. Seems the way at the minute, those that leave the club to coach do really well.

GeordieFalcon wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:Have to say I fear for Leicester this year. Lots of turnover of staff doesnt scream that things are going smoothly. A chance that it may be Borthwick clearing out the chaff though? Whereas Blackett made an impact straight away I think he probably had more to work with and it may take a couple of years for Leicester to turnaround.

Do we know what the deal with relegation is yet?

Exeter to stroll to the title. Their squad is by a country mile the best.

Are you on drugs??

They might be bad.....but they have one security blanket....we are in the league!

Irish must be in with a shout - they have some decent players but getting them all on the pitch at the same time seems to be a big problem ...

Based in part on the way they looked after the restart, Tigers, Falcons, Irish, Warriors, Saints and Glaws will all be seeking a good start to the season. Four of those sides face each other this weekend, with the other two away.

Saints side for the trip to Sale:

15 George Furbank
14 Ahsee Tuala
13 Matt Proctor
12 Piers Francis
11 Tom Collins
10 James Grayson
9 Henry Taylor

1 Alex Waller (c)
2 James Fish
3 Paul Hill
4 Alex Moon
5 Api Ratuniyarawa
6 Nick Isiekwe
7 Tom Wood
8 Teimana Harrison

Replacements:
16 Reece Marshall
17 Nick Auterac
18 Owen Franks
19 David Ribbans
20 JJ Tonks
21 Alex Mitchell
22 Fraser Dingwall
23 Harry Mallinder


That is a lot of fire power to come off the bench, Ribbans, Mitchell, Dingwall and the long awaited return of Harry Mallinder. With the injuries to Lawes, Haywood and Hutchinson and international call ups, that is about as strong a 23 as they can put out.

It will be interesting to see how Hill goes, at the end of last season he was beginning to look a bit like the TH that won a few England caps, he is still young and it would be good to add another quality TH to the fold.

The Sale team

Sale: L James; Solomona, S James, J V Rensburg, Hammersley; MacGinty, De Klerk; Morozov, Van der Merwe, Oosthuizen, Wiese, JL du Preez, Ross (capt), B Curry, D du Preez.

Replacements: Langdon, Rodd, Cooper-Woolley, Phillips, Postlethwaite, Cliff, R du Preez, McGuigan.


It is interesting to note that there are an equal number of Russians and Englishmen in Sale's pack...

I dread to think the side we'll be announcing...

Cumbrian wrote:The Sale team

Sale: L James; Solomona, S James, J V Rensburg, Hammersley; MacGinty, De Klerk; Morozov, Van der Merwe, Oosthuizen, Wiese, JL du Preez, Ross (capt), B Curry, D du Preez.

Replacements: Langdon, Rodd, Cooper-Woolley, Phillips, Postlethwaite, Cliff, R du Preez, McGuigan.


It is interesting to note that there are an equal number of Russians and Englishmen in Sale's pack...

6 Saffers in that pack?

Another return of Mallinder. Trying not to get my hopes up that he may actually impress and stay fit these days.

Harlequins: Brown; Earle, Northmore, Esterhuizen, Murley; Smith, Care; Garcia Botta, Baldwin, Louw, Symons, Lewies (capt), Lawday, Evans, Dombrandt

Replacements: Musk, Els, Kerrod, Young, White, Stafford, Tapuai, Green



Exeter: Cordero; O'Flaherty, Whitten, Devoto, Woodburn; J Simmonds, Maunder; Hepburn, Yeandle (capt), Williams, Witty, Armand, Ewers, Kirsten, S Simmonds

Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Moon, Street, Price, Capstick, Townsend, Skinner, Hendrickson

LondonTiger wrote:

Cumbrian wrote:The Sale team

Sale: L James; Solomona, S James, J V Rensburg, Hammersley; MacGinty, De Klerk; Morozov, Van der Merwe, Oosthuizen, Wiese, JL du Preez, Ross (capt), B Curry, D du Preez.

Replacements: Langdon, Rodd, Cooper-Woolley, Phillips, Postlethwaite, Cliff, R du Preez, McGuigan.


It is interesting to note that there are an equal number of Russians and Englishmen in Sale's pack...

6 Saffers in that pack?

Yup though Ross is technically EQ.

LondonTiger wrote:Harlequins: Brown; Earle, Northmore, Esterhuizen, Murley; Smith, Care; Garcia Botta, Baldwin, Louw, Symons, Lewies (capt), Lawday, Evans, Dombrandt

Replacements: Musk, Els, Kerrod, Young, White, Stafford, Tapuai, Green



Exeter: Cordero; O'Flaherty, Whitten, Devoto, Woodburn; J Simmonds, Maunder; Hepburn, Yeandle (capt), Williams, Witty, Armand, Ewers, Kirsten, S Simmonds

Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Moon, Street, Price, Capstick, Townsend, Skinner, Hendrickson

Could be a miserable evening for Quins with that Chiefs team out. Gustard will be asking Eddie what he was thinking by not calling up the Simmonds boys.

Cowan-Dickie back although on the bench

Chiefs looking a little light at lock with Armand covering there in teh absence of Hill, Skinner and Vermeulen while Witty has been a peripheral figure so far for them and on teh bench we have the definition of a journeyman in Tom Price.

Outside of that though and they look really strong.

LondonTiger wrote:Chiefs looking a little light at lock with Armand covering there in teh absence of Hill, Skinner and Vermeulen while Witty has been a peripheral figure so far for them and on teh bench we have the definition of a journeyman in Tom Price.

Outside of that though and they look really strong.

Quins are ordinarily a team that likes to play quite a bit though so having effectively four backrow players in the side is no bad thing. Armand is a big bloke and Ewers back there is a boulder of a bloke as well. Be interesting to see how Witty goes as there was a bit of hype around him when he came through as Falcons but it then seemed to fizzle out.

The problem with Witty is how he uses his attributes...much like was said of Twelvetrees.

Witty is a big unit 6'6 , 18/19 stone..hes strong and he is incredibly quick .With those stats he should be dominating games and his carrying should be immense...but he doesn't, His carrying is poor..he seems to get stage fright when he gets his hands on the ball and panics, and he just doesn't use his power and bulk well enough in the tight exchanges.

Maybe they are hoping Exeter can change that...

formerly known as Sam wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:Harlequins: Brown; Earle, Northmore, Esterhuizen, Murley; Smith, Care; Garcia Botta, Baldwin, Louw, Symons, Lewies (capt), Lawday, Evans, Dombrandt

Replacements: Musk, Els, Kerrod, Young, White, Stafford, Tapuai, Green



Exeter: Cordero; O'Flaherty, Whitten, Devoto, Woodburn; J Simmonds, Maunder; Hepburn, Yeandle (capt), Williams, Witty, Armand, Ewers, Kirsten, S Simmonds

Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Moon, Street, Price, Capstick, Townsend, Skinner, Hendrickson

Could be a miserable evening for Quins with that Chiefs team out. Gustard will be asking Eddie what he was thinking by not calling up the Simmonds boys.

Indeed Exeter have been relatively shielded from the impacts of England call ups. Not only the games England players miss for the test windows but also they are limited to a max number of games under the EPS. The consistency of having most of their first team around the full season has also likely helped their development as a cohesive unit.

There are 5 England capped players in this line up, but only LCD is a real established regular. And just two(? fact check) in the England 23, compared to the savaging Bath have taken its really pretty good for them. Its not like this squads made up of second tier Saffers either (Sale).

Guess Baxters perfected the art of finding the sort of players that Jones doesn't rate.

New cap regulations have been announced.

Includes punishments that are in line with the hammering Saracens took, removal of title prize money and lollipops. Most of it seems to centre on greater powers to investigate including viewing players phone and whatsapp records and tax returns.

Essentially it sounds like what was supposed to have happened 5 years ago when the cap tsar was first introduced.

All the PRL clubs, including Saracens, have agreed and ratified it. Guess we will find out how many actually read it.

If media reported figures are to be believed last season there were 9 premiership players on 500k + contracts. Two of the top 4 roughly the same as Saracens two biggest earners whilst staying in the cap. Not quite sure how things are shaping up this season but I doubt theres much shift at the high end of contracts given the lack of big name moves into the premiership and current financial situation.

Reportedly now the toughest set of measures to assure a cap in global sport. So if its ever going to be a viable system that doesn't just rely on honour (like the ""amateur" era ) then at least we are there. Sad its had to come to this and lord knows how much its costing to administer but probably more transparent and robust than soccer's financial fairplay system

Falcons team for bath.....going to be a long afternoon

1 Davison
2 Mcguigan
3 Logo
4 Peterson
5 Fuser
6 Robinson
7 Collett
8 Graham

9 young
10 Connon
11 Radwan
12 Flood
13 Burrell
14 Stevenson
15 Penny

16 blamire
17 Brocklebank
18 tampin
19 farrar
20 basham
21 stuart
22 hodgson
23 Lucock

Heartened to see Tobias still lining up for your lot Geordie. Not sure if he and Burrell will form the most dynamic partnership in the premiership this year but no shortage on experience at least!

Pretty strong looking Bath line up in spite of the England players, dont fancy your chances either really.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Falcons team for bath.....going to be a long afternoon

1 Davison
2 Mcguigan
3 Logo
4 Peterson
5 Fuser
6 Robinson
7 Collett
8 Graham

9 young
10 Connon
11 Radwan
12 Flood
13 Burrell
14 Stevenson
15 Penny

16 blamire
17 Brocklebank
18 tampin
19 farrar
20 basham
21 stuart
22 hodgson
23 Lucock

I'm expecting fireworks from Radwan after your build up.

You need to supply your wingers 7.5 and sadly I'll be amazed if Radders gets any.

Unless he performs some magic himself.

GeordieFalcon wrote:You need to supply your wingers 7.5 and sadly I'll be amazed if Radders gets any.

Unless he performs some magic himself.

What's going on with Dean he has runs when I think hes got things going nicely but then just goes a bit negative?

GLOUCESTER RUGBY

15. Jason Woodward

14. Charlie Sharples

13. Billy Twelvetrees

12. Mark Atkinson

11. Matt Banahan

10. Danny Cipriani

9. Joe Simpson



1. Val Rapava-Ruskin

2. James Hanson

3. Jack Stanley

4. Ed Slater

5. Matt Garvey

6. Jordy Reid

7. Lewis Ludlow

8. Ruan Ackermann



REPLACEMENTS

16. Henry Walker

17. Corne Fourie

18. Jamal Ford-Robinson

19. Jamie Gibson

20. Freddie Clarke

21. Will Flinn

22. Lloyd Evans

23. Tom Seabrook

Bath Rugby: 15. Tom de Glanville, 14. Ruaridh McConnochie, 13. Cameron Redpath, 12. Josh Matavesi, 11. Joe Cokanasiga, 10. Rhys Priestland, 9. Ben Spencer; 1. Lewis Boyce, 2. Jack Walker, 3. Henry Thomas, 4. Josh McNally (C), 5. Will Spencer, 6. Mike Williams, 7. Miles Reid, 8. Zach Mercer

Replacements: 16. Ross Batty, 17. Juan Schoeman, 18. Christian Judge, 19. Charlie Ewels, 20. Josh Bayliss, 21. Will Chudley, 22. Max Clark, 23. Semesa Rokoduguni

Plenty of fire power on the Bath bench as well. Going to be a long day for Falcons sadly.

That looks a nice set of backs.

We're going to get smashed all over...

GeordieFalcon wrote:We're going to get smashed all over...

Nothings changed about Newcastle on a Friday night then

even through lockdown mate

For Tigers missing Scott and Leatigaga unexpectedly is a blow. I really hope that whilst Porter is wearing 12 he lines up at 13. Taute being picked at outside centre despite losing his pace after the knee injury is frustrating. After his injury Munster picked him mainly at 12 for a reason.

Good to see Steward still at 15, Henry starting, Henderson on the bench, Wiese and Brink debuting. Interesting that Kelly is selected ahead of several others. It seems Borthwick really rates him.

With Gloucester missing Singleton, Balmain, Alemanno, Polledri and Morgan I'd expect Tigers to be able to target their pack.

The Gloucester backs should be incomparably better organised with Simpson, Cips and 36 running the show.

I look at the benches and feel that Tigers have more impact which is nice. Had Tigers not added Wigglesworth and Bonilla recently that wouldn't be the case with the backline subs, which shows the worth of those experienced signings.

Typical Bath performance!

I missed why the Bath try by big Joe was chalked off - what happened there?