Which Premiership sides will survive the RWC

International rugby took centre stage this past weekend as The Rugby Championship came to a thrilling conclusion in Sydney, whilst the Rugby World Cup warmup matches in the northern hemisphere began in earnest with Wales taking on Ireland in Cardiff.

With each passing week, RWC squads across both hemispheres become a little clearer and it is with reasonable accuracy that some 31-man squads can now be predicted.

As the RWC runs over into the beginning of the Aviva Premiership season this year, many Premiership teams can expect to be without the services of their internationals for the first few weeks of the season, whether that be due to continued service at the RWC or a much-needed rest period before returning to the rigors of club rugby.

We have taken a look at last year’s top six Premiership teams and given our verdict on what XVs they might have at their disposal and their chances of a fast start when the new season rolls around on the 16^th October.

Saracens

Possible XV: Ben Ransom, Chris Ashton, Duncan Taylor, Nick Tompkins, Nathan Earle; Charlie Hodgson, Neil de Kock; Kelly Brown, Will Fraser, Maro Itoje, Alistair Hargreaves, George Kruis, Petrus du Plessis, Schalk Brits, Kieran Longbottom.

Even shorn of Jacques Burger and Juan Figallo (injury), not to mention Billy and Mako Vunipola, the Saracens pack is still in very healthy shape to start the season. The starters listed above will likely be joined by Richard Barrington, Michael Rhodes and Jackson Wray, ensuring last year’s champions have enviable depth throughout the forwards.

Kruis could yet feature at the RWC, but both he and Jamie George are amongst the probable candidates to return to their clubs when Stuart Lancaster next takes a scythe to his squad.

The back line is not quite so flush with talent, especially with David Strettle upping sticks for Clermont, but it does offer opportunities to talented youngsters such Earle and Tompkins. Scrum-half Ben Spencer will also be in contention to start, but Mark McCall could be persuaded by de Kock’s experience, especially with a number of key figures missing.

Bath

Possible XV: Tom Homer, Semesa Rokoduguni, Max Clark, Kyle Eastmond, Matt Banahan; Ollie Devoto, Chris Cook; Leroy Houston, Guy Mercer, Matt Garvey, Charlie Ewels, Stuart Hooper, Henry Thomas, Ross Batty, Nick Auterac.

The losses of George Ford, Anthony Watson and Jonathan Joseph will create a hard void to fill for Mike Ford, whilst Nikola Matawalu and Rhys Priestland are two further backs who could well be answering their country’s call come October. Clark is the only academy member we have starting right now, but fly-half Rory Jennings is also likely to have a prominent role to play with Bath’s half-back stocks so depleted.

A major positive for Bath is the availability of their in-form front row of last season, with former understudies Auterac, Batty and Thomas all outperforming their more well-known front row colleagues in 2014/15. Sam Burgess is the elephant in the room right now, but if he doesn’t convince Lancaster in the midfield over the next few weeks, he would be a huge boon to a Bath back row that is all but certain to be stripped of Francois Louw and Alafoti Fa’osiliva.

Northampton Saints

Possible XV: Ben Foden, James Wilson, Tom Stephenson, JJ Hanrahan, Jamie Elliot; Stephen Myler, Lee Dickson; Sam Dickinson, Calum Clark, Jamie Gibson, Christian Day, Michael Paterson, Gareth Denman, Dylan Hartley, Alex Waller.

Alex Corbisiero could yet be amongst those available if Lancaster opts for just five props, but there is no shortage of talent at loosehead in the East Midlands and his loss is one that Northampton could survive early on in the season. Hartley’s disciplinary issues have cost him a spot at the RWC for now, but his presence at Franklin’s Gardens would certainly be welcomed by Saints fans.

Clark has been impressing Lancaster so far this summer with his intensity and versatility and could yet be one of the surprise inclusions in the final 31-man squad, something which could prompt Saints to look at star academy prospect Lewis Ludlam.

As with Bath and Saracens, the losses in the pack are significant but manageable, and it’s in the back line where Northampton will be hit hardest. George North, Luther Burrell, Kahn Fotauali’I and both George and Ken Pisi are likely to be unavailable, prompting an early debut for Hanrahan, as well as significant game time for Stephenson. The consistency Saints will have at half-back with Dickson and Myler both available should be gratefully received by Jim Mallinder.

Leicester Tigers

Possible XV: Mathew Tait, Adam Thompstone, Manu Tuilagi, Owen Williams, Miles Benjamin; Freddie Burns, Sam Harrison; Jordan Crane, Tom Croft, Mike Williams, Graham Kitchener, Ed Slater, Fraser Balmain, Harry Thacker, Tiziano Pasquali.

Leicester’s front row will likely be hit hard by call-ups, with Dan Cole, Tom Youngs and Marcos Ayerza headlining the group of players unavailable to new coach Aaron Mauger. Things are in better shape in the second and back rows, however, as the standout lock pairing of Kitchener and Slater is set to be reunited, whilst Croft will add game-breaking ability if he does not do enough to convince Lancaster he belongs in the England squad. If Brendon O’Connor arrives in time and shape for the new season, he should feature alongside Croft and Crane in the back row.

Tuilagi’s off-field indiscretions mean that Leicester might have their outside centre fully-fit, something which has been rare of late, and determined to prove the doubters wrong. Outside of the impressive duo of Burns and Williams, Tuilagi could help turn the Tigers’ back line from one of the worst in the league last season, to one of the best under the guidance of Mauger. Offseason additions Peter Betham and Jono Kitto are not guarantees to be ready for the season opener, but should add their talents to the mix soon after.

Exeter Chiefs

Possible XV: Byron McGuigan, Olly Woodburn, Phil Dollman, Sam Hill, Matt Jess; Henry Slade, Will Chudley; Thomas Waldrom, Julian Salvi, Dave Ewers, Damian Welch, Jerry Sexton, Alex Brown, Jack Yeandle, Ben Moon.

This could be the last season for quite some time that Exeter are able to make the most of international windows, as they have historically avoided too many call-ups. Luke Cowan-Dickie is not a certainty to make the England squad, but seems to be favoured by Lancaster, and should join just Geoff Parling and Tomas Francis amongst the Chiefs’ unavailable forwards. The back row of Ewers, Salvi and Waldrom, which could also feature Tom Johnson if required, will be key to Exeter making a good start this season.

After much deliberation, Slade was included in this XV, but even if he is with England, Gareth Steenson is more than capable of filling the void. Sam Hill won’t escape England’s attentions for much longer and should prove a welcome fillip for Exeter early on in the season, and look for him to be rotated with and/or used in conjunction with Rugby League convert, Josh Jones.

Wasps

Possible XV: Rob Miller, Christian Wade, Elliot Daly, Ben Jacobs, Josh Bassett; Jimmy Gopperth, Joe Simpson; Nathan Hughes, George Smith, Sam Jones, Kearnan Myall, James Gaskell, Jake Cooper-Woolley, Ashley Johnson, Matt Mullan.

Like Leicester and Exeter, Wasps shape up quite well with their international call-ups, retaining many of their first choice units and are fortunate enough to have significant depth in the areas where they have had players called upon. Smith could yet be seen as an option by Australia, but otherwise, Joe Launchbury and James Haskell are the biggest losses in the Wasps pack. If their forwards can earn parity early on they should start the season well, as the Wasps back line is set to lose very little of its potency.

Tom Varndell’s departure is significant, especially with new addition Frank Halai rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament, but in Daly and Wade, Wasps have two of the most dangerous attacking threats in the Premiership. After impressing last season, many have Alex Lozowski labelled as Wasps’ long-term fly-half, but with Gopperth’s arrival, he could see himself pushed out to inside centre or fullback to start the season.

All six clubs are able to field enviously good XVs despite a plethora of players set to go to the RWC, but does any one side have an early season advantage? Let us know what you think on our twitter channel, @talkingrugbyunion.