By Lawrence Aggleton
November 11 2008

So after six weeks, the Premiership returns. I had thought about doing a long preamble about the Heineken Cup, the Internationals or the EDF cup and the fantastic or otherwise games that have occurred in the past month and a half, but I decided I'd rather have a rant instead.

What absolutely deluded morons have allowed the season to get into this state? Six weeks of one great competition, a week of semi-invested time-wasting, a fortnight of the world's premier club tournament, another fortnight time wasting, a week off filled with a money-grabbing glorified warm-up game and then when you've got everyone good and juiced up for three top-drawer internationals, you slip Premiership games in and around them with 32 of the best players missing.

The RFU announced this week plans to create a second tier to the premiership and to add an extra game to the EDF. On what planet exactly do they live? It's pleasing to see that both the PRL and First Division Rugby are opposed to this, but then they would be, because they know what they're talking about.

The RFU is filled with amateur minds conducting amateur processes and making amateur decisions. Amateur rugby is the life blood of the game and they should be represented, strongly represented, in in RFU councils, but not to the level where they are compromising the professional game itself. Too long this shambles has continued, stumbling from tactical solution, to tactical solution with no vision or direction for the game. Even this last suggestion feels like it's been sketched on the back of a bar mat. They stumbled @rse-backward into appointing Martin Johnson, after making a complete hash of the previous four years and they're totally failing to address the key issues of sorting out player welfare and organising the season properly. This jumping from competition to competition is frankly bizarre and it needs to stop.

Speaking of needing to stop, I'm gonna halt myself there for fear of going on forever. Let's have a look at this weekend's matchups. Up till now my prediction success ratio is 18/30, a not very impressive .600

Tadpoles vs Boilers

Sale had a great away win in the Heineken Cup at Clermont, but were crushed at home to Munster. They don't lose too many to international duty and should have too much at home on a Friday night for a Worcester team whose gliterred three-quarters are sadly misserved by abject half-backs. Prediction: Sale 4, Worcester 1.

Brilliance vs Meaaaaaaaaaaaaaat

Ah, Bath are top of the league and welcome old foe Leicester Tigers. It makes me feel warm and tingly inside. Bath have a couple of injury worries and a few missing with England - most crucially captain Michael Lipman. Tigers also miss a few, most crucially Toby Flood and cutting edge Geordan Murphy. In a likely battle of South African fly-halves, I'll go with World Cup-winning one. Prediction: Bath 4, Tigers 0.

Brizzle vs Cobblers

Bristol must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must, must win this game.

And they will. Prediction: Bristol 4, Northampton 0.

Sequins vs Pests

Wasps somehow are supplying 8 out of the England 22, despite being terrible this year. An already small squad has glaring holes now at fullback, wing, centre, halfback, back row, lock and prop. Oh and Head Coach. Quins are missing a couple, but at home? They're going to absolutely hump Wasps. Prediction: Quins 5, Wasps 0.

Relegated vs Reading

If Newcastle win this and Bristol lose at home to Saints, I'm gonna have to change their moniker. However, neither of these things will happen, so I'm pretty safe. Irish will miss their massive England and South Sea Island contingent, but still have the likes of Geraghty around and a very underrated back row. Newcastle have nothing but a prop. The internationals missing will make it harder for Irish, but they'll still win. Prediction: Newcastle 1, Irish 4.

Watford vs Glorsduh

Somehow, Gloucester aren't missing anyone to England at all. Sarries are missing their captain and a couple of islanders, and while they're still a decent team I think they'll just struggle here short of class. Prediction: Saracens 1, Gloucester 4.