Zurich Premiership Predictions
By Chris Chaplin
August 6 2002
With another new season thankfully just a few weeks away I’ve been thinking about the likely outcome by next May. I’ve tried to avoid listing all the changes, departures and arrivals and see the season like this:
By Chris Chaplin
August 6 2002
With another new season thankfully just a few weeks away I’ve been thinking about the likely outcome by next May. I’ve tried to avoid listing all the changes, departures and arrivals and see the season like this:
Tigers
As regulars know I’ve been critical of the decision by the management to continue with the Oz experiment at 10 at the cost of losing Andy Goode and unless there is some exciting news from Welford Road I see consistency at 10 as an area of weakness again this term. The pack looks suitably strengthened although we seem light on cover in the second row (assuming GMB has departed). In the backs the only real weakness is the lack of a back up kicker until Geordan returns in the New Year.
Forecast - Another Premiership for the Tigers. (of course)
Glaws
Without doubt the best pack outside of Welford Road with some real talent throughout. Again there is lack of cover at Lock but otherwise the Cherry and Whites will be a test for any team, particularly at Kinsgsholm where only Tigers could manage a victory last season. At half back the rejuvenated Gomersall will ask questions but at the other half back, Mercier, is both their strength and their weakness, a points machine with the boot but not a play-maker. Outside of that there is not too much weakness and they will be a real challenge to Tigers when they visit Welford Road during the Autumn Internationals. The only other real question mark is their fragility away from home.
Forecast - Second
Sale
Last season we saw just how exciting their backs could be if they got ball, with, in my opinion, the country’s best #9 and 10 combination the missing ingredient last year was the lack of muscle and technique in the scrum. The club has gone some way to putting this right in the close season and with more ball I see the Sharks being a real challenge.
Forecast - Third.
Wasps
With Lal back and provided there is little other disruption through injury I see the Wasps pack dominating many teams. As with Sale they have some exciting players in the backs and they could well return to the form that saw them run up to us in 2000/1. I like Wasps and hope that they settle at their new home, if they do, and given more good fortune than last term, I see them in the top four.
Forecast - Fourth.
Piglets
There was certainly a rejuvenation at Franklins Gardens following the change of coach last year, although Saints remained inconsistent to the end. They have a pack that can perform at the very highest level and in spite of what we say about him a class act in Dawson at 9. I have some misgivings outside of him however with a propensity to run out of ideas against the sterner defences. I believe that this will stop them getting any higher.
Forecast - Fifth
Queens
Obviously a big game team as Tigers know to their cost but somehow do not seem to be able to motivate themselves to give consistently good performances and grind out a win when things go wrong. In Burke they have a points machine and I wonder if some teams subconsciously with such players in their side feel that they have only to breach their opponents 10 metre line and the job’s done with a mistake by the other side letting loose their golden boot. I could not really understand how Quins did so badly last term given the talent in their squad but I don’t have any confidence in their getting any higher than this.
Forecast - Sixth.
Sorries
I actually think Sarries may do well for a while next season, but once again they’ve shuffled the pack and I really don’t know if it will work this time, it just might I suppose but if ever an outfit flattered to deceive Saracens are it. Once again they’ve had their cheque book open and signed some names. Will it work this time? I honestly don’t know. I suspect that they’ll have an OK season but like Quins that’ll be about the best they can expect. If they can keep their squad intact then maybe in 2003/4.
Forecast - Seventh
Irish
Aside from my beloved Tigers the South African Wanderers from Reading are my favourite team after my adopted Glaws. I still don’t really know how they achieved so much last season. They have talented players dotted around and they play some nice rugby some of the time but how did they do so well? Venter’s presence and motivational “enjoy it” technique can’t be the key surely - or can it? I suppose because I don’t understand I am sceptical that it will happen again so I see a bottom half finish from our pals from the Reading Transvaal.
Forecast - Eighth
Showgirls
In some ways Tigers newly found bogey team fall in to the same category in my mind as Irish. Their pack is OK and they have the second best half back combination in the league in Pichot and Contemponi, as well of course as the talented Christophers. In spite of what Wheeler thinks of him the departure of Dean Ryan will have had a considerable effect on the team as, to a lesser extent, will the departure of Jack Rowell. I expect Bristol to have a bit of a lack lustre season following these changes and the defeat by Glaws in the crapionship at the end of last season.
Forecast - Ninth
Falcons
The return of Rob Andrews’ Scottish contingent to the Borders will, I think, force Falcons into a development season. They have some talented players in the backs but I wonder whether the pack will get them enough ball with the changes forced upon it and the Club’s refusal to get it’s cheque book out. I think a disappointing start to the year for our old pals from the North East. They could well have a better second half as things settle down but I expect relegation to be an ever present concern for them next season.
Forecast - Tenth
Tykes
Well the Tykes are certainly determined to ride the lucky break that the RFU handed out to them last season so that the old Headingly ground will not be playing host to the likes of Exeter and Worcester next season. An almost Saracens like team has now evolved with some big names to be seen. As with Sorries will it work? I don’t think so. There’s just more to it than that, as they’ve found out at Vicarage Road. They may survive but only just. Nice people though and smashing supporters.
Forecast - Eleventh
Barf
This is not wishful thinking as I believe the premiership needs Bath but nothing I’ve seen happen since they escaped the (as it turned out non-existent) drop last season persuades me that this year will be any different for the lads from the Rec. The management and coaching set up seems in flux. Catt will be back, but is he the same player after such a lot of injuries and surely he is now thinking about retirement. Obviously in the Tindalls and Balshaws of this world they have players who can excite and win matches but I thought their pack was woeful last year. 2002/3 could well be an unequal struggle.
Forecast - Twelfth
Summary
I really do think that Tigers can do it again but that it will be a much closer run contest this time with Glaws and Sale being in very close contention throughout, with frequent changes in the lead and the final result going to the wire.
A final word of caution - I did a similar forecast last year and got only Tigers victory and Leeds (non) relegation correct. So here’s to a good one!!!!!!
As regulars know I’ve been critical of the decision by the management to continue with the Oz experiment at 10 at the cost of losing Andy Goode and unless there is some exciting news from Welford Road I see consistency at 10 as an area of weakness again this term. The pack looks suitably strengthened although we seem light on cover in the second row (assuming GMB has departed). In the backs the only real weakness is the lack of a back up kicker until Geordan returns in the New Year.
Forecast - Another Premiership for the Tigers. (of course)
Glaws
Without doubt the best pack outside of Welford Road with some real talent throughout. Again there is lack of cover at Lock but otherwise the Cherry and Whites will be a test for any team, particularly at Kinsgsholm where only Tigers could manage a victory last season. At half back the rejuvenated Gomersall will ask questions but at the other half back, Mercier, is both their strength and their weakness, a points machine with the boot but not a play-maker. Outside of that there is not too much weakness and they will be a real challenge to Tigers when they visit Welford Road during the Autumn Internationals. The only other real question mark is their fragility away from home.
Forecast - Second
Sale
Last season we saw just how exciting their backs could be if they got ball, with, in my opinion, the country’s best #9 and 10 combination the missing ingredient last year was the lack of muscle and technique in the scrum. The club has gone some way to putting this right in the close season and with more ball I see the Sharks being a real challenge.
Forecast - Third.
Wasps
With Lal back and provided there is little other disruption through injury I see the Wasps pack dominating many teams. As with Sale they have some exciting players in the backs and they could well return to the form that saw them run up to us in 2000/1. I like Wasps and hope that they settle at their new home, if they do, and given more good fortune than last term, I see them in the top four.
Forecast - Fourth.
Piglets
There was certainly a rejuvenation at Franklins Gardens following the change of coach last year, although Saints remained inconsistent to the end. They have a pack that can perform at the very highest level and in spite of what we say about him a class act in Dawson at 9. I have some misgivings outside of him however with a propensity to run out of ideas against the sterner defences. I believe that this will stop them getting any higher.
Forecast - Fifth
Queens
Obviously a big game team as Tigers know to their cost but somehow do not seem to be able to motivate themselves to give consistently good performances and grind out a win when things go wrong. In Burke they have a points machine and I wonder if some teams subconsciously with such players in their side feel that they have only to breach their opponents 10 metre line and the job’s done with a mistake by the other side letting loose their golden boot. I could not really understand how Quins did so badly last term given the talent in their squad but I don’t have any confidence in their getting any higher than this.
Forecast - Sixth.
Sorries
I actually think Sarries may do well for a while next season, but once again they’ve shuffled the pack and I really don’t know if it will work this time, it just might I suppose but if ever an outfit flattered to deceive Saracens are it. Once again they’ve had their cheque book open and signed some names. Will it work this time? I honestly don’t know. I suspect that they’ll have an OK season but like Quins that’ll be about the best they can expect. If they can keep their squad intact then maybe in 2003/4.
Forecast - Seventh
Irish
Aside from my beloved Tigers the South African Wanderers from Reading are my favourite team after my adopted Glaws. I still don’t really know how they achieved so much last season. They have talented players dotted around and they play some nice rugby some of the time but how did they do so well? Venter’s presence and motivational “enjoy it” technique can’t be the key surely - or can it? I suppose because I don’t understand I am sceptical that it will happen again so I see a bottom half finish from our pals from the Reading Transvaal.
Forecast - Eighth
Showgirls
In some ways Tigers newly found bogey team fall in to the same category in my mind as Irish. Their pack is OK and they have the second best half back combination in the league in Pichot and Contemponi, as well of course as the talented Christophers. In spite of what Wheeler thinks of him the departure of Dean Ryan will have had a considerable effect on the team as, to a lesser extent, will the departure of Jack Rowell. I expect Bristol to have a bit of a lack lustre season following these changes and the defeat by Glaws in the crapionship at the end of last season.
Forecast - Ninth
Falcons
The return of Rob Andrews’ Scottish contingent to the Borders will, I think, force Falcons into a development season. They have some talented players in the backs but I wonder whether the pack will get them enough ball with the changes forced upon it and the Club’s refusal to get it’s cheque book out. I think a disappointing start to the year for our old pals from the North East. They could well have a better second half as things settle down but I expect relegation to be an ever present concern for them next season.
Forecast - Tenth
Tykes
Well the Tykes are certainly determined to ride the lucky break that the RFU handed out to them last season so that the old Headingly ground will not be playing host to the likes of Exeter and Worcester next season. An almost Saracens like team has now evolved with some big names to be seen. As with Sorries will it work? I don’t think so. There’s just more to it than that, as they’ve found out at Vicarage Road. They may survive but only just. Nice people though and smashing supporters.
Forecast - Eleventh
Barf
This is not wishful thinking as I believe the premiership needs Bath but nothing I’ve seen happen since they escaped the (as it turned out non-existent) drop last season persuades me that this year will be any different for the lads from the Rec. The management and coaching set up seems in flux. Catt will be back, but is he the same player after such a lot of injuries and surely he is now thinking about retirement. Obviously in the Tindalls and Balshaws of this world they have players who can excite and win matches but I thought their pack was woeful last year. 2002/3 could well be an unequal struggle.
Forecast - Twelfth
Summary
I really do think that Tigers can do it again but that it will be a much closer run contest this time with Glaws and Sale being in very close contention throughout, with frequent changes in the lead and the final result going to the wire.
A final word of caution - I did a similar forecast last year and got only Tigers victory and Leeds (non) relegation correct. So here’s to a good one!!!!!!
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