Leicester Tigers - This could work very well indeed...

I don’t know about you but I have to say that I’m pretty excited to see what Leicester Tigers are going to put out on the park this season. I mean have you thought about their potential back line if all of their players are fit and available? Of course you have and it's world class!

While last season had its fair amount of turbulence what should now follow is a period of stability and my goodness me if they get it right then there’s no questioning the fact that the Tigers have the potential to go back to being a real Premiership, and European, force to be reckoned with. 

History and statistics show you that the club knows how to mix it with the big dogs in in both competitions and while they may have slipped slightly from running the show they remain firmly in the domestic heavyweight category. Last season’s semi-final appearance was point and case and it showed that they know how to duke it out when it matters. 

At the heart of their 2017-18 output will be England’s half-back pairing. With Ben Youngs and George Ford playing together week in and week out it will benefit both the Tigers and Eddie Jones’ side greatly because their already strong relationship on the field will become even more instinctive with greater game time together. George Ford's outings in Argentina were head-turning and I firmly believe that there’s plenty more of where that came. His flat to the line approach, outstanding rugby brain and first class decision making should ignite Leicester’s attack in the way that we've been waiting to see from them for a while. Of course having the personnel fit around him, specifically Matt Toomua and Manu Tuliagi in the centres, will be a sight to behold and an extended run of games with that 9, 10, 12 and 13 combination is a delightful prospect for all fans of Premiership rugby regardless of your allegiance. Let's not forget Jonny May's finishing skills are being added into that mix as are  the feet of Telusa Veianu... I'll cease now because I'm guessing that you get the picture!

Away from the footwork and flair Leicester's gnarl should come to the fore over the next 22 rounds. Everything that they went through together last season should see them arrive at the start of this campaign with even more resilience and gumption. Speaking at the recent Premiership Rugby launch Matt O'Connor said that they're 'in a pretty good place' and that place will be tested first up against Bath Rugby. The fixture will have a rather large spotlight on it and that's no doubting that fact that we could see one of the matches of the season in Round 1 if both sides turn up and play ball. Matt continued to share further insights with Russ Hargreaves who you'll all know well from talkSPORT2's Sportday; 

"The six weeks at the end of last season were invaluable. It allowed me to look at where we were doing okay and where we needed to bridge that gap with the top three and in Europe as well,” said O'Connor. 

"So we've made a few adjustments and we've adjusted a lot of the things that we're doing in the S&C space and made significant strengths in the group in positions where we were a little bit light so it's really positive. But, at the same time it's a tough league and you can't win games at 90% capacity in this league. You have to be performing every week to get the four points and that's the challenge to try and make sure we're a little bit more consistent." 

Of course consistency will be the name of the game, if you've been reading through some of the other Premiership clubs' previews then it's a word that comes up time and time again. As with all top clubs the international windows will pose a challenge however potentially not as much as years gone by because Leicester still have talents that will remain behind. One other individual that I haven't mentioned yet, who I'm certainly looking forward to seeing back to full fitness, is Tom Croft. Boy does he deserve an injury-free run and it would be great to see him get back to his very best over the course of the next nine months.

The six opening fixtures should tell us everything that we need to know about Leicester and that starts with a cracker this Sunday at Welford Road. There is one concern regarding the side, which perhaps I should have mentioned earlier, and that is what happens if injuries strike? 

Of course I'm not wishing that on any squad in the Premiership at all however injuries are a fact of life and the question is do Leicester have the strength behind that startling first choice 23? If their squad members step up and deliver or they have a season with few injuries then everything that I've mentioned in terms of excitement regarding their prospects stands. If not it becomes a watch this space brief to see how their go. For now, let’s look on the bright side and consider that it could be a very productive domestic season for the Leicester Tigers indeed. 

Opening Six Fixtures: Bath (H), Northampton Saints (A), Gloucester Rugby (H), Harlequins (A), Exeter Chiefs (H) and London Irish (A). 

Champions Cup Group: Pool 4: Munster Rugby, Leicester Tigers, Racing 92 and Castres Olympique. 

Key Player: A tough call to single out just one player so I'm not going to... instead it's their combine first choice back line. All are vital and as a collective could fly! 

London Irish - A Challenge Awaits

London Irish are arriving back into the Premiership knowing exactly how challenging their task is and knowing full well that the majority of people are expecting them to fall straight back down into the Championship come May 2018. 

There’s no doubt that it’s a tall order to stay up however Nick Kennedy has recruited astutely and despite being a new DOR on the block he is a tremendous leader and exactly the right person to be at the helm for this challenge. While I couldn’t tell you which team will be relegated from this season’s competition I personally wouldn’t put my mortgage on it being London Irish.

The days when London Irish shone in the top domestic competition were when they had a powerful pack and one that combined with backs that had oodles of tricks up their sleeves. We’re talking here about the days of Bob Casey and their now DOR in the row, Clarke Dermody, Faan Rautenbach and co up front with the likes of Seilala Mapusua and Sailosi Tagicakibau causing havoc out the back. Of course the game has moved on since then but my point is that Irish need to develop that all court squad, play with confidence and frustrate sides if they are going to secure their place back in the country’s top-flight domestic competition.

I mentioned signings a moment ago and making them when you don’t know which league you’ll be playing in until May 24th is a huge challenge - thank goodness that won’t be the case for teams in future seasons. On the evening that London Irish won their final play-off Nick Kennedy was on the phone trying to recruit players and I’d say, given the circumstances, he’s done a pretty good job of it. 

The important thing for their DOR was to bring in individuals that sured them up in vital areas especially in the pack because we all know that’s where newly promoted sides often get bullied. Petrus Du Plessis and Gordon Reid will add significant experience to their front row alongside the former being a tremendous character to have in the ranks. The Premiership road won’t be plain sailing and to have someone with an energy like his will be vital. Franco van der Merwe didn’t make 73 appearances for Ulster for nothing while out the back Napolioni Nalaga has serious potential to carve up in the competition as well as inspiring someone like Joe Cokanasiga at the same time. 

Alongside these new names Irish will need their existing squad members to embrace the jump back to Premiership level and grab their individual opportunities with both hands. This season young players that have turned heads before must do so again with Alex Lewington and Johnny Williams being two and as collective they have to squash people's expectations of them and do so from the word go. 

The club's first six games are pretty horrendous including Exeter and Leicester Tigers however by hook or by crook early scalps must be made to sure their footing in the competition. Twickenham Stadium isn't a quiet and unasuming place to mark your return to action so embracing the occasion London Double Header will be part of the Round 1 mix for the Exiles. Do we know if they're going to be ready come Saturday afternoon? Well no. Pre-season matches can give an indication but until the 23 play for a full 80 minutes both we, and their management team, won't know the true level that they're starting at. 

At full time on Saturday evening this positive reflection on London Irish’s return may look to have been off the mark. But right now, without a moment of the Premiership season having been played, they have done their utmost with the hand that they have been dealt to be ready. The final team coming through the play-off system is always going to be at a huge disadvantage and if Bristol return next season - with promotion secured by mid January for example - then their task of retaining their place will be an altogether different beast.

Over the next 22 rounds of rugby the expectation isn’t for London Irish to push about the big dogs, we’re talking your Saracens or Exeter Chiefs here, however there are teams to be picked off and upsets to be had if they rise to the challenge as a collective. If they don’t or if they have a torrid time with injuries then the next nine months will be tough due to the relentless nature of the competition. The challenge is a huge one but I personally hope to see London Irish standing up and being counted for over the coming months. 

Opening Six Matches: Harlequins (Twickenham Stadium), Exeter Chiefs (A), Sale Sharks (A), Northampton Saints (H), Newcastle Falcons (A) and Leicester Tigers (H). 

Challenge Cup Group: London Irish, Krasny Yar, Edinburgh Rugby and Stade Français Paris.

Key Player: Ben Franks. A fit Ben Franks will do wonders for London Irish as well as keeping an eye out for the aforementioned Napolioni Nalaga getting to grips with Premiership life.

Bath Rugby - Top four focus

Fifth position, won 12 and lost ten with five try scoring bonus-points to their name. 

That’s a very short numerical summary of Bath Rugby’s 2016-17 Aviva Premiership Season while in Europe they had that dramatic semi-final loss at the Stade Jean-Bouin. Overall it was a season that had a head-turning start but one that didn't quite drive them to the domestic play-offs as they wanted. 

At the recent Aviva Premiership launch Todd Blackadder sat opposite me and said that he started his side’s pre-season with a ‘really robust review about our game’. Now that shouldn't have alarm bells ringing for Bath fans, instead it's something that you'd expect him to do before moving into his first full pre-season at the club. The DoR followed on by saying that as well as looking at some structural areas of their game they've focused on their away form as that's an area he wasn't happy with last season. His viewpoint on it is as follows;

“It has to be psychology because we play differently away from home. When we go away we play and we execute differently so we’ve put all of these things in pre-season and we’ve played all of our pre-season games away.”

Like so many at the helm of Aviva Premiership clubs the New Zealander is looking for consistency of output over the course of the 2017-18 season. He’s clear that they while they may get beaten on the day - losing happens to all sides - being there or there abouts every single week is critical. He's very clear about wanting to see his team put their game on the park for 80 minutes, no matter where they are and no matter which side they’re facing. 

Leicester Tigers (A), Saracens (H), Northampton Saints (A), Newcastle Falcons, (H) Wasps (A) and Worcester Warriors (H) make up their first six outings so it's clear that the early Premiership road isn’t going to be a walk in the park. The opening two fixtures especially are big tests and they get more testing when you throw into the mix Bath’s early season injuries. Nathan Catt, Ross Batty and Michael van Vuuren all aren’t expected to be ready for this weekend meanwhile Henry Thomas and Max Lahiff are both reported to be targeting a return in late September according to Dan Evans at the Bath Chronicle. However Welford Road awaits regardless as does the tremendously large spotlight that will be cast on that match due to the fierce rivalry between the two clubs and the recent switch of personnel. Both of these factors will only add to the pressure on the opening weekend. Todd Blackadder is certain - as I am - that both fly-halves will ‘play the house down’ and if Leicester and Bath embrace the pressure on them and deliver we could see one of the matches of the season on the opening weekend. Following that trip, it’s Saracens at home…

“It doesn't get any easier but you’re going to play the best so bring it on. I’m not afraid of our tough start… it doesn’t create anxiety for me, more excitement. They are two games that you could win or two games that you could lose but they won’t define the season.”

As with the case with all clubs, the season will be defined come Round 22 and their position in the table. A top four finish is the target and whether they achieve that or not will come down to ironing out their consistency and having few injury stars line up nicely for them. 

If you read down their list of their personnel then Bath’s squad remains a strong and talent filled one. New arrivals, Sam Underhill and Freddie Burns in particular, will be eager to show their considerable talents in blue, black and white and academy member Josh Bayliss impressed Todd Blackadder in pre-season against Bristol. A tough start may be the making of Bath because if you start showing that can do things the hard way then it sets it up nicely when the slightly kinder areas of the fixture list arrives later on. 

Opening Six Matches: Leicester Tigers (A), Saracens (H), Northampton Saints (A), Newcastle Falcons, (H) Wasps (A) and Worcester Warriors (H)

Champions Cup Group: RC Toulon, Scarlets, Bath Rugby and Benetton Treviso

Key Player: Freddie Burns. A Bath attack without George Ford is going to take some getting used to as he is such an outstanding talent and drove them superbly. The aim for Bath's new fly-half will be to put his stamp on the jersey and use it to showcase his own box of tricks. 

Saracens - Dual ambitions

While Saracens aren’t heading into the season with the target on their back as the Premiership’s title holders, I personally believe that the fact that they are the back-to-back European champions counts for more. 

The squad’s pre-season trip to Bermuda shows that they’re continuing to do things the Saracens way and doesn’t it work well for them? We’ve finally reached a stage where people aren’t having a pop at their trips away and aren’t calling them ‘boring Saracens’ after every game. Hallelujah for that because finally the respect for what they’ve achieved their way has permeated out from just a few of us believing it to the vast majority.

Behind the laughter and smiles shown from Bermuda will be a steel and a determination to snatch that domestic title back and add a third European Champions Cup trophy to their collection at the same time. Lofty goals aren't they? However if you were Mark McCall or a member of his squad, at this point in their time together, would you be targeting anything else? No. I almost guarantee that these ambitions won’t be shared externally however if we all read behind the lines of constant improvement then these must be the goals. 

As usual their Director of Rugby’s signings are astute ones and of the quality that you’d expect the back-to-back European Champions to attract. It goes without saying that watching Liam Williams form part of their back line will be a treat, however I’m intrigued to see if he rotates with Alex Goode at full-back or is positioned out wide. Personally, and I'm sure that I'm not alone in thinking this, I’d like to see him at 15 because given the extra room and time of the ball he’s outstanding. Other individuals that are arriving will help to mitigate against any undulations in form when it comes to the international windows for example Will Skelton and Dominic Day will be able to be permanent fixtures in the engine room in the autumn and during the Six Nations. Calum Clark should boost his own output considerably working in such a motivated environment and other key club men like Michael Rhodes and Brad Barritt will be ever-present and critical.  

Lessons will have been learned from that semi-final against Exeter with regard to managing the highs of a European final and bouncing straight back into knockout rugby. However in my book the loss on that day it didn’t cause any alarm bells to ring regarding their ability to do that. It was a uniquie and enthralling game and from a Saracens' perspective various individuals were carrying knocks at the time... not excuses just facts. 

Will Saracens be ‘found out’ this season as other clubs have studied them even more and can predict their game? Well in all honesty I think not because as a squad Saracens won't be resting on their laurels nor the players at the heart of their output, the likes of Jamie George, the Vunipolas, Owen Farrell and co. Instead progressions will be made and new dynamics introduced. Of course the re-integration of their British & Irish Lions will be an interesting area to watch because notoriously the season after a Lions tour is tough for those coming back. Mark McCall must handle players individually and correctly in order to ensure that they are able to give their all on what could be a challenging season both mentally and physically after New Zealand, 

Unique to Saracens’ is the fact that their first home game isn’t until Round 4 however we all know that playing on the road doesn’t phase the 2016 Premiership champions in the slightest. As a squad they'll enjoy Twickenham Stadium, The Rec and the Talen Energy Stadium in Philadelphia before heading back to Allianz Park and I wouldn't be surprised to see them leading the way at the top of the Premiership table after the opening six rounds. 

Opening Six Matches: Northampton Saints (Twickenham Stadium), Bath (A), Newcastle Falcons (Philadelphia), Sale Sharks (H), Worcester Warriors (A) and Wasps (H). 

Champions Cup Group: ASM Clermont Auvergne, Saracens, Ospreys and Northampton Saints.

Key Player: Brad Barritt. The steel, hunger and focus of this squad is driven by their captain. He is a constant calming presence and will be the man to bind them togehter when their internatioanls leave for large chunks of the domestic season. 

Wasps - Evolution not revolution

The 2017 Premiership Rugby Final between Wasps and Exeter Chiefs will go down in history as one of the most spell-binding and dramatic that we've seen. However, that will console the losing side little and for those that weren't thrown straight into international or British & Irish Lions action the hurt following that loss will have taken a number of weeks to settle. 

“Obviously we’d like to go one better, we were pretty proud of finishing top at the end of the season (although you don’t get anything for that). But, you can’t help but feel hugely disappointed and frustrated that we didn’t quite get our hands on it.”

(C) Paler Images

In the 2017-18 Premiership season that disappointment and frustration must drive Wasps to go one better. They are a fiercely ambitious club and the fact that their last Premiership title was back in 2008 won’t sit well now. Of course there have been very valid reasons regarding the challenges that they faced off the field financially to contextualise the prior period without domestic silverware. However, now that Derek Richardson has the club thriving off the field the squad and management will know that their time is now on it. 

Last season not all of Wasps’ knockout rugby experiences were positive - Leinster away at the AVIVA Stadium in Europe - highlighted a fragility however their account of themselves at Twickenham Stadium come May showed how the squad had learned their lessons quickly.  When sides pick up lessons at the first time of asking then it’s a hugely positive and when the disappointment settled that will have pleased their DOR greatly. 

“What we did last year probably won’t be good enough so we have to improve.”

Dai Young’s comment above could have been said by any Director of Rugby, coach or player in the Aviva Premiership because as always the competition and individuals are moving forward at a rate of knots. The Coventry based side are settled in terms of their squad, and rightly so too, as they are quite early still when it comes to their time together as a a group of players. This season should be about tweaking and nailing certain elements as opposed to changing anything too drastically. Specifically for Wasps it’s about pulling their set piece and defensive output up to the lofty heights of their attack because if they do European and Premiership finals will be eminently achievable. The statistics show you exactly what needs to be done, last season Wasps conceded 61 tries in 22 rounds, comparatively Saracens conceded just 28, so tightening up that area even just a touch should see them take clear steps forward. However their DOR is clear that steps forward in these areas won't be taken at the expense of what makes them unique already. 

“We pretty much broke most of the records last year in attack but teams have had another year now to have a look at us and they will try and put pressure on us in that department. So we have to maintain where we stand in attack and we have to improve our set piece and our defence really which will give us another edge. That doesn’t mean that we’re going to flip everything on its head, we’re going going to become a set piece orientated team or a defence team overnight.”

So, the long and the short of it is that I believe that evolution and not revolution will be the name of the game for Wasps. Of course injuries are always a concern with any squad though and losing Tommy Taylor for a good chunk of the early season is a blow alongside missing others in the first weeks - the likes of Sam Jones, Kyle Eastmond, James Haskell and Thomas Young. However last season they showed that their squad has great strength in depth and it will be time to do the same from the word go. Without question Dai Young and Wasps will have their sights on honours of the highest domestic order come May 2018 and I for one am excited to see where they can take their game this season. 

Opening Six Premiership Matches: Sale Sharks (H), Worcester Warriors (A), Harlequins (H), Exeter Chiefs (A), Bath Rugby (H) and Saracens (A). 

Champions Cup Group: Pool 1 Wasps, La Rochelle, Ulster Rugby and Harlequins

Key Player: Jimmy Gopperth. No surprises here that I’m highlighting the Premiership Player of the Season, while boosting defence will be a focus this man is vital to ignite the talent housed in their back line while showing off his impressive skills. 

Exeter Chiefs - Expectations, emotions & more

‘What I have to make sure doesn’t happen is that it’s the end of a journey.’

One sentence from Rob Baxter summarises Exeter Chiefs’ challenge in the 2017-18 season… building on from that Premiership victory and not letting it overwhelm them or deliver a season akin to the ‘dreaded second album’ from singers. 

At the Aviva Premiership launch yesterday I spent time speaking with their Director of Rugby about a whole host of areas including their recruitment, how they are going to ensure that this time around they start strongly and how European rugby fits into their thinking and planning. Arriving into a new season as the champions isn’t easy however the man driving them forwards is hugely impressive and they're being led into battle with their eyes open and focused firmly on what matters. 

‘The chequebook has been quiet’ was Rob's answer when questioned about his recruitment and as we all know with Exeter Chiefs that’s not necessarily a bad thing. While others often chop and change bringing in oodles of new faces, the Chiefs’ consistency of personnel has become a key character trait. A player only arrives there if there’s a true need for them, a position vacant if you like, they don’t just arrive to boost numbers. Of the six new recruits Nic White and Matt Kvesic made the most headlines on their respective announcement days and without question will add greatly to the Aviva Premiership as will the likes of Sam Underhill, Francis Saili and Toby Flood. However the area that is actually making the man at the helm of the Chiefs stand up and take note is ‘how many good squads of players have stayed in tact and stayed together’.   

It's a sharp observation because if you look at the top sides - Exeter, Wasps and Saracens - as three examples then they all have their nucleus in tact and are set to build again. That core squad of players developing together is something that other teams like Sale Sharks are trying to build for the coming years whereas the top sides have it already. As a result Rob articulated his challenge as being ‘not trying to match other people’s recruitment’ instead their challenge is ‘developing as a group as much as other teams do with time together’. It makes sense doesn’t it? Because if you’re starting as the title holders and you develop more than everyone else then you’ll be putting yourselves into a strong position to contest come May 2018.

It’s the development of individuals, focus on personal standards and attention to performance as opposed to outcome that have been the key parts of their pre-season. The awareness is there that this time last year their start was a slow one and pinpointing reasons the for that, alonsgide developing the mindset around what it means to be a Premiership champion on a day to day level has been important. 

‘What we’ve talked to the players about is looking at the positives and being champions means that I need to show the qualities of a champion and I need to show them today. The champion club of England should turn up and train and perform in a certain way today at training. That’s how we’ve focused things, so rather than looking at when a final might come or what might come in the future we’ve talked about what does it look like today.’

It’s a simple focus, it’s not rocket science yet articulating this loud and clear to the squad and overlaying a steady emotional state on top of this - not celebrating the wins too vigorously and not thinking that losses are the end of the world - will be the basis for Exeter Chiefs this season. It’s sensible, it’s measured and it’s right. 

Hearing from Rob Baxter and speaking to him for a number of seasons now it’s absolutely no surprise that a side that he has nurtured has become Aviva Premiership champions so soon after their arrival in the competition. We always talk about the Devonian outfit being much greater than the sum of their parts and I guarantee that a lot of that is driven by players’ will to succeed for their Director of Rugby as well as for each other. His ability to motivate them, his clear vision of the game and detailed knowledge of the club and the journey that they’re on is inspiring in itself and a further example of that came when we discussed European rugby. 

The Champions Cup wasn’t the happiest of hunting grounds for the Chiefs last season. While they were flying high in the Premiership they finished third in Pool 5 with two wins and four losses. CEO Tony Rowe highlighted Europe as the next stop on the road on the turf at Twickenham about 30 seconds after winning the Premiership title and it's a natural progression for an ambitious club. For Rob Baxter the road to becoming a threatening team in Europe is about showing ‘maturity’ and handling the expectation that the top club competition in the Northern Hemisphere puts on you. He wants to see the same Exeter side that fly in the Premiership to arrive at Sandy Park during a European week and here he's talking about getting the emotional levels right. What he doesn't want to see is one that treats things differently because ‘it’s Europe’ and is the ‘closest thing to international rugby’. Listen to his full thoughts on the Champions Cup below because if you've watched his side in Europe closely you'll nod your head in agreement to it all. 

So this season Exeter start at Kingsholm and the expectation is that you’ll see 23 Chiefs players putting it all out there and showing us through their personal performances what it means to be an Aviva Premiership title holder. Rob made it clear that season will not be defined by that game and that Round 1 outcome and that's not shirking responsibly instead it’s re-emphasing their focus on performance and paying respect to their opponents. Gloucester have their own motivations and Kingsholm on a Friday night isn’t an easy hunting ground, just ask Leicester Tigers after their Round 1 trip last season. However I personally expect to see them make a statement and mark their return as the holders in style. 

Ahead of the 2017-18 season the focus for the Chiefs is clear, their victory at Twickenham Stadium must be built on and must not be a ‘full stop’ in their development. There’s a large emphasis on emotionally managing the expectations that they’re placing on themselves and that are being placed on them from outside. It’s about a capable and stable squad developing as a whole in the Premiership, and in Europe, and doing so under the watchful eye of one of the most astute rugby brains out there. Exeter Chiefs are in good hands and we’ll all be intrigued to see their journey over the next nine months and beyond.