Aviva Premiership 2015-16 Preview: Part 2
Aviva Premiership key players: Part 2
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The 2015/16 Aviva Premiership season is now within touching distance and the excitement, even with a Rugby World Cup on, is tangible.
Yesterday we looked at the prospective chances of Bath, Exeter Chiefs, Gloucester, Harlequins, Leicester Tigers and London Irish, running the rule over each of them.
Today we turn our focus towards Newcastle Falcons, Northampton Saints, Sale Sharks, Saracens, Wasps and Worcester Warriors, ahead of the Premiership opener between Worcester and Northampton on Friday evening.
Can Worcester survive in the Premiership? Will Saracens defend their title? And where do the resurgent Wasps fit into the equation? Read on below to see what we think.
Newcastle Falcons
Major ins – Mouritz Botha (Sharks), Todd Clever (Old Mission Beach Athletic Club), Mike Delany (Clermont Auvergne), Ben Harris (Yorkshire Carnegie), Nili Latu (NEC Green Rockets), Paddy Ryan (Libournes), Taione Vea (London Welsh), Giovanbattista Venditti (Zebre), Marcus Watson (England Sevens), Jon Welsh (Glasgow Warriors), Micky Young (Bath).
Major outs – Dom Barrow (Leicester Tigers), Mike Blair (Glasgow Warriors), Kieran Brookes (Northampton Saints), Rory Clegg (Glasgow Warriors), Mark Irving (Viadana), Andy Saull (Yorkshire Carnegie), Lee Smith (Wakefield Trinity Wildcats), Oliver Tomaszczyk (Ospreys), Chris York (Ealing Trailfinders).
Losing Kieran Brookes is a big blow for Newcastle and they will need young tighthead Scott Wilson to step up and help fill the void left in Falcons’ tight five. Similarly, Newcastle’s half-back depth has been diminished by the departures of Mike Blair and Rory Clegg to Glasgow, but in Mike Delany and last season’s mid-season acquisition Sonatane Takulua, they may have found half-backs better-suited to their new style of ambitious rugby.
Bruising Italian winger Giovanbattista Venditti should add another physical edge to a back line which already includes Sinoti Sinoti and Alesana Tuilagi, while Mouritz Botha, Todd Clever and Nili Latu bring bags of experience to Newcastle’s pack.
Key Player – Tom Catterick
The fly-half enjoyed a breakout campaign last season and looked excellent at times steering the ship in the North-East. He enjoyed the new artificial pitch at Kingston Park and was the driving force behind the exciting and expansive rugby that Newcastle played last season. The relegation battle will be much tighter this season and Catterick could be a decisive factor for the Falcons.
Prediction – 11th. The fact Newcastle switched to the artificial pitch last season, during London Welsh’s disastrous campaign, may be what saves them from relegation this year. Newcastle can no longer lure teams to Kingston Park and rely on the elements to help them sneak narrow wins, but the strides they took forward last year playing a more expansive game should see them escape relegation.
Northampton Saints
Major ins – Sion Bennett (Scarlets), Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons), Jamie Gibson (Northampton Saints), JJ Hanrahan (Munster), Paul Hill (Yorkshire Carnegie), Pat Howard (Western Province), Tom Kessell (Cornish Pirates), Michael Paterson (Sale Sharks), Victor Matfield (Bulls).
Major outs – Cam Dolan (Cardiff Blues), Phil Dowson (Worcester Warriors), Joel Hodgson (Yorkshire Carnegie), Will Hooley (Exeter Chiefs), Salesi Ma’afu, Samu Manoa (both Toulon), Dominic Walduock (London Irish).
Northampton have done a great job of not only replacing the players they’ve lost this summer, but also adding depth and quality in other areas of the squad. Michael Paterson and Victor Matfield bolster the lineout, Kieran Brookes and Paul Hill add to what may be the deepest front row in the Premiership and Jamie Gibson, JJ Hanrahan and Pat Howard all add quality further back.
The one player Northampton haven’t really replaced is Samu Manoa, which is no easy task, and may have to look to their academy for help in that department or shuffle the back row in such a way that Gibson, Tom Wood and Calum Clark can all feature.
Key Player – Ben Foden
The Northampton pack has quality and depth at every level and should be competitive with any opposition, but if Ben Foden can help spark the back line, particularly by linking the midfield and wings, then Northampton may be the most balanced side in the Premiership. If Foden’s injury woes are behind him this season, don’t be surprised to see him make a push for a return to the England team, playing behind a potentially dominant Northampton pack.
Prediction – 3rd. Will Northampton come to regret not finding a physical carrier to play at number eight following Manoa’s departure? Things seem to be in great shape everywhere else in the squad, they just lack the calibre of gain line-breaking carriers that Saracens, Bath and Wasps all have.
Sale Sharks
Major ins – Neil Briggs (Leicester Tigers), Nev Edwards (Rosslyn Park), Bryn Evans (Biarritz Olympique), Brian Mujati (Racing 92), Peter Stringer (Bath).
Major outs – Alberto de Marchi (Benetton Treviso), Andy Forsyth (Yorkshire Carnegie), Nathan Fowles (Edinburgh), Marc Jones (Bristol), Luke McLean (Benetton Treviso), Michael Paterson (Northampton Saints), Mark Cueto, Nathan Hines (both retired).
Every year Sale lose key players and every year Steve Diamond replaces them with less high-profile, but equally effective replacements. It’s the life blood of a club like Sale, who don’t have the resources of a Bath or a Saracens, and there’s no reason why this year should be any different to any since Diamond took over in 2012.
Tighthead prop Brian Mujati should really add to Sale’s scrum, while Bryn Evans and Peter Stringer bring plenty of experience to the squad. There will be a pressure on academy graduates Mike Haley and Will Addison to back up their impressive 2014/15 campaigns, especially following the retirement of Sale’s back three stalwart, Mark Cueto.
Key Player – Tommy Taylor
You’re all probably shouting for Danny Cipriani here and there’s no doubt his impact will be vital to Sale this season, but as a club, Sale rely on their lineout heavily. Without a dominant scrum or a host of star backs, Sale focus on fine-tuning their lineout and planning first phase moves, so when it goes well, often so do they. Injury limited Tommy Taylor’s involvement last season and ended some very valid calls for him to be involved in the England squad. Look for the young hooker to bounce back this season and position himself firmly on England’s radar once more.
Prediction – 8th. It’s been an impressive preseason for Sale and they look as if they haven’t lost a step since last season, but it’s hard to ignore the quality additions that Harlequins have made and the Londoners could be a side leapfrog Sale in the table this season.
Saracens
Major ins – Joel Conlon (Exeter Chiefs), Michael Rhodes (Stormers), Samuel Vunisa (Zebre).
Major outs – Nick de Jager (Blue Bulls), James Johnston (Wasps), Thretton Palamo (loan, London Welsh), Eoin Sheriff (London Irish), David Strettle (Clermont Auvergne).
Saracens approach to their squad this summer has definitely seemed to be influenced by the ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ mantra. The reigning Premiership champions have added some depth to their pack with the signings of Joel Conlon, Michael Rhodes and Samuel Vunisa, but ultimately they’re trusting in their league-leading academy.
No replacements for David Strettle and James Johnston may worry some, but with highly promising youngsters like Nathan Earle and Biyi Alo in need of game time, do not expect to see a drop off in the calibre of Saracens’ performances this season.
Key Player – Maro Itoje
The lock scared the non-English world last season when he stepped up from age-grade to senior rugby and continued to show all the dominance that had made him such a highly-touted prospect at U20 level. The 20-year-old is already bossing around experienced internationals on the pitch and showing all the trademarks of a budding test captain. Itoje will be the spearhead of Saracens’ Premiership and European charges this season.
Prediction – 1st (winners in the final). Mark McCall knows what it takes to win the Premiership and given many of his players are only just entering their primes, there’s no reason to doubt he can successfully lead Saracens in the defence of their title.
Wasps
Major ins – Tom Bristow (Leicester Tigers), James Downey (Glasgow Warriors), Jimmy Gopperth (Leinster), Frank Halai (Blues), James Johnston (Saracens), Brendan Macken (Leinster), Charles Piutau (Blues), Alex Rieder (Rotherham Titans), Dan Robson (Gloucester), George Smith (Lyon), Jamie Stevenson (London Scottish).
Major outs – Charlie Davies (Newport Gwent Dragons), Will Helu (Edinburgh), Ed Jackson (Newport Gwent Dragons), Tom Lindsay (Gloucester), Jack Moates (Jersey), Will Taylor (Scarlets), Tom Varndell (Bristol), Chris Bell, Andy Goode, John Yapp (all retired).
On paper, no one’s summer additions compares to Wasps. Christian Wade will be joined in the back three by Frank Halai and Charles Piutau, forming one of the most exciting position groups in the Premiership, while George Smith adds his colossal experience and formidable ability to a back row of James Haskell and Nathan Hughes.
The club’s longstanding issue at hooker seems to have been solved by moving Ashley Johnson into the front row and they’ve bulked up at tighthead, adding 140kg of Samoan muscle in the form of former Saracen, James Johnston.
Key Player – Nathan Hughes
It’s a big season for Hughes, not only because Wasps have invested heavily and will be expecting results from their talented squad, but also because he qualifies for England (under current rules) in 2016. With ball in hand and space to build up momentum, Hughes is as uncontainable as any forward in the Premiership and with Smith and Haskell putting in the graft, he should be free to roam the pitch and search for mismatches.
Prediction – 4th. If Wasps don’t return to the playoffs with this squad, something will have gone very wrong. From one to fifteen they have talent and depth and are without doubt in the best shape to challenge for the Premiership since they last won the competition in 2008.
Worcester Warriors
Major ins – Derrick Appiah (Mogliano), Luke Baldwin (Bristol), Darren Barry (Cornish Pirates), Tevita Cavubati (Ospreys), Phil Dowson (Northampton Saints), Tom Heathcote (Edinburgh), Bryce Heem (Chiefs), Carl Kirwan (London Welsh), Na’ama Leleimalefaga (Montpellier), Sam Lewis (Ospreys), Marco Mama (loan, Bristol), Donncha O’Callaghan (Munster), Wynand Olivier (Montpellier), Andy Short (Bristol), Cooper Vuna (Toshiba Brave Lupus).
Major outs – Jack Cosgrove (Edinburgh), Agustin Creevy (Buenos Aires Super Rugby franchise), Josh Drauniniu (London Welsh), Ofa Fainga’anuku (Bayonne), Ignacio Mieres (US Dax), Rob O’Donnell (Yorkshire Carnegie), James Percival (Grenoble), George Porter, James Stephenson (both Ealing Trailfinders), Mike Williams (Leicester Tigers), Sam Windsor (Ulster), Andries Pretorius, Jonathan Thomas (both retired).
The Premiership new-boys will be frustrated to have lost Agustin Creevy and Mike Williams, who were two of their most impressive players last season, while the retirement of Jonathan Thomas was a hammer blow they didn’t see coming. That said, they have recruited well, supplementing their promotion-winning squad rather than replacing it, unlike London Welsh last season.
Donncha O’Callaghan’s experience and leadership could be decisive for them this season, as could be the quality that Wynand Olivier, Cooper Vuna and Bryce Heem all add to the back line. Chris Pennell’s heroics in 2013/14 still live strong in the memories of Premiership fans and it will be interesting to see how he goes in stronger-looking Worcester side this season.
Key Player – Bryce Heem
Heem has just come off a really impressive Super Rugby season with the Chiefs, where he showed his considerable ability to cross the try line. Scoring tries is never an easy task for a recently-promoted side but with Heem in the XV, Worcester have a back with real incision and an eye for a gap. His arrival in the Midlands is delayed by the ITM Cup, but look for him to have a big impact later in the season, especially when the grounds begin to firm up a bit in the Spring.
Prediction – 12th. To clarify, this 12th shouldn’t be anything like London Welsh’s 12th last season. Worcester should be competitive throughout the season, especially under Dean Ryan’s tutelage, and they could take it right down to the final day of the season. The Warriors have the quality in their first XV, but if the injury bug strikes, they lack the depth of their rivals.
