It's almost time for normal life to resume and the Aviva Premiership season to return. As much as I enjoy seeing a spot of sunshine during July and August, life just doesn't feel complete without the presence of the domestic rugby season.
From hereon in coverage from Out On The Full will be ramping back up with plenty more articles before that all important Round 1 preview. This season they’ll be some new features, more player and coach interviews as well as adding extra audio and video posts, so keep an eye out for them all.
Ahead of Round 1 I’ll be taking a look at each club individually and reviewing some of the key movements and signings. But first I wanted to share a few thoughts that have been forming in my mind over recent weeks. Of course this isn’t an exhaustive list of musings ahead of the 2016-17 season, because we’d be here until Round 5 if it was, but these are a few starters for 10!
Ahead of Round 1 I’ll be taking a look at each club individually and reviewing some of the key movements and signings. But first I wanted to share a few thoughts that have been forming in my mind over recent weeks. Of course this isn’t an exhaustive list of musings ahead of the 2016-17 season, because we’d be here until Round 5 if it was, but these are a few starters for 10!
Saracens - will they press on again?
In the 2015-16 season Saracens dominated, both domestically and on the European stage, and the question that we are all pondering on now is whether or not they’ll be able to do it again?
At this point last year, with the 2015 Premiership title in the bag, we weren’t sure how they’d react ahead of a new season. Would they embrace the pressure on them or would they find it a burden? The answer was emphatically the former and twelve months on I sit here firmly convinced that Saracens are poised and ready to lead the Premiership charge again.
Why? Well, because success breeds success and as a squad they’re settled but importantly not complacent. They’ve a burning desire to continue to be England’s and Europe’s best and they know what it takes to win on the big stages. Of course the rest of the league all know Saracens’ game plan and yet they find it just as challenging to break down today as they did a year ago. Obviously Mark McCall will need his players to continue to develop and with the likes of Owen Farrell, Alex Goode and the Vunipola brothers all needing to fly to maintain or promote their International places there’s no chance of them standing still.
Now, before a whistle has been blown, I anticipate that in the 2016-17 season it will be a case of other clubs having to raise their game in order to try and thwart Saracens’ progress. As we’ve seen on numerous occasions, you cannot beat Saracens at their own game, instead you have to out fox them and attack with clarity and purpose. There are clubs that are capable of doing that but I do expect the reigning champions to continue to lead the way.
Bristol - can they make the leap from Championship to Premiership?
As intense as the Championship play-offs were there’s no hiding away from the fact that the Premiership is an altogether different beast. Of course a difference is expected just like the incremental steps between Premiership, European and International rugby but that doesn’t make the transition any easier for newly promoted sides.
As we’ve seen over the years the first season back in the top flight competition is a dog fight and tremendously difficult, made much more so by the late finishing of the play-offs. The other major challenge is the difference in physicality between the two competitions and this is a challenge that Bristol need to confront. Andy Robinson has recruited some individuals to immediately help raise his side’s physical intent; Jordan Crane, Soane Tonga’uiha and Jon Fisher being just three. But, he needs his Championship players to step up too. Newly appointed club captain Jack Lam is one that should fly on the Premiership stage but as I’ve said it will be a squad effort to ensure that they raise their game to the intended levels.
Alongside this Bristol need to find their Premiership feet and confidence early. Andy Robinson’s side need to have the right mindsets and believe wholeheartedly that they’re have the ability to beat the ‘big dogs’. Last season it took Worcester a while to find this and the quicker that Bristol find theirs the better.
They have a pretty challenging opening six games (Harlequins, Northampton Saints, Wasps, Exeter Chiefs, Saracens and Newcastle Falcons) but they need to set out their stall and platform during those matches. Will it be tough? Oh yes! Will they be able to take some big early scalps? Potentially, but it all depends on them nailing these two key areas; physicality and mindset.
Bath Rugby - a bounce back?
Until Bath Rugby get a few games under their belt they will remain one of the Premiership’s enigmas. Will they bounce back in style or will the same challenges in output occur that we witnessed last season?
There are plenty of unknowns when it comes to the West Country side, will they be challenged by their limited resources in the centres? Will they have re-found the confidence that went missing last season? Alongside all of these unknown questions are a couple of certainties and that is that their squad is packed with outstanding talent and that it is one that’s working off a solid vision developed by Mike Ford during his time in charge. Indeed Toby Booth has already shared with Dan Evans at the Bath Chronicle that seismic shifts in philosophy aren't anticipated by the new management. Instead, evolution and not revolution, is likely to be the name of the game.
There are plenty of unknowns when it comes to the West Country side, will they be challenged by their limited resources in the centres? Will they have re-found the confidence that went missing last season? Alongside all of these unknown questions are a couple of certainties and that is that their squad is packed with outstanding talent and that it is one that’s working off a solid vision developed by Mike Ford during his time in charge. Indeed Toby Booth has already shared with Dan Evans at the Bath Chronicle that seismic shifts in philosophy aren't anticipated by the new management. Instead, evolution and not revolution, is likely to be the name of the game.
With the fairly limited recruitment that Bath have made they have done well and their three big entrants (Faletau, Charteris and Fotuali'i) are poised to have a huge impact in their respective areas of the field. Equally every player in the squad knows that their position is up for grabs and that historical performances could have little influence on the here and now.
For Bath a positive start to the season is absolutely vital but that isn't going to be a walk in the park as they're meeting their ‘bogey’ team, Northampton Saints, in Round 1. It's been 16 years since they’ve won at Franklin’s Gardens, but if there ever was a time to turn that record around it’s now. There's plenty to prove at Bath Rugby and there's certainly the potential to have a positive 22 rounds.
Wasps - a big season ahead?
If you look at all of the Premiership clubs’ recruitment then one in particular catches your eye… Wasps.
During the season ahead Dai Young will have Kyle Eastmond, Danny Cipriani, Kurtley Beale and Willie le Roux at his back line disposal alongside Jimmy Gopperth, Christian Wade, Elliot Daly, Dan Robson, Joe Simpson and co. Whichever way that you choose to cut it, on paper it’s a formidable back line, and one that could punch holds through the sturdiest of Premiership and European defences.
As we all know a back line can only thrive if they’ve get front foot ball to work from and are part of a team that dominates the collisions. Even with James Haskell out for a number of months and George Smith having departed the club this shouldn’t be a problem for Wasps. Why? That's because members of their squad like Thomas Young, Matt Mullan, Guy Thompson, Nathan Hughes and Joe Launchbury all have the ammunition to make this happen.
This season has the potential to be a stormer for Wasps if their combinations gel quickly and if Dai Young manages selection astutely. As we can all see Wasps’ Director of Rugby is likely to have plenty of choices to make and I expect to see his experience come to the fore with regard to selecting the appropriate combinations and managing his squad in the right way. If Wasps click then there’s absolutely no doubt about the fact that opportunity knocks for them, both domestically and in Europe.
