Harlequins vs Wasps

The season kicks off at the Stoop, a stone’s throw away from where the World Cup will be taking place this weekend. Instead of playing on that bigger stage, England’s fallen heroes Joe Marler, Nick Easter and Mike Brown are named on the Quins bench. They give debuts in the front five to Adam Jones and James Horwill. Wasps name former back-rower Ashley Johnson at hooker, while Wallaby legend George Smith is named on the openside. There is pace and flair aplenty in the backs, where the likes of Walker, Yarde and Lindsey-Hague face off against Daly and Wade.

It’s always tough to predict the opening weekend, but Wasps trounced Quins in both meetings between the sides last year – for that reason, they are the favourites. Wasps by 3.

Worcester Warriors vs Northampton Saints

It’s a baptism of fire for Worcester as they return to the Premiership, taking on former champions Northampton. It would be quite some statement if they were to win. They will be raring to go and have picked an impressive team, including new boys Wynand Olivier, Donncha O’Callaghan and Phil Dowson. Northampton are chock full of England players who missed the World Cup and will have a point to prove – Dylan Hartley, Luther Burrell and Lee Dickson will be fired up. Kieron Brookes, part of that campaign, makes his debut along with Michael Paterson in the engine room.

Northampton should have enough to get the win, but do not expect newly promoted Worcester to lie down and take it lightly. Northampton by 9.

Newcastle Falcons vs Gloucester Rugby

Newcastle made Kingston Park into a pretty tough place to play last year, and Gloucester were one of several teams to fall foul of the Falcons there last season. The visitors name club captain Billy Twelvetrees at fly-half, while England players Ben Morgan and Jonny May will provide firepower from the bench. For Newcastle, it will be a case of getting the new boys up to speed as quickly as possible. Mike Delany starts at fly-half, while in the pack both Todd Clever and Mo Botha make their debuts. Sinoti Sinoti – last season’s deadliest finisher – lurks on the wing.

Friday night at Kingston Park is a unique occasion – the Falcons will have big aspirations this season and I can see them getting off to a winning start. Newcastle by 6.

Bath Rugby vs Exeter Chiefs

These two sides actually played each other in a pre-season friendly last week, with the Chiefs trouncing Bath at the Rec – a result not foreseen by many. Of course now we are back in league action, it will be a different kettle of fish. For Bath, George Ford, Anthony Watson and Alafoti Faosiliva are thrown straight back into the starting line-up; Sam Burgess is named as a forward replacement on a bench that also includes Rob Webber, Dave Wilson and Niko Matawalu. Exeter’s side has a familiar feel to it, with young Englishmen Luke Cowan-Dickie and Sam Hill looking to make a mark in the post-World Cup era. Gareth Steenson steers the ship at fly-half while Henry Slade re-acclimatises himself from the bench.

The only concern for Bath is that their returning internationals can bed in quickly enough to have a positive impact on the game. Exeter will be more settled and will run them close, but in the first game of the season you’ve got to back the hosts to get the win here. Bath by 5.

Saracens vs Sale Sharks

Maro Itoje captains the Saracens side at the age of just 20 years old. Given that side includes such experienced names as Neil de Cock, Alex Goode, Charlie Hodgson and Jim Hamilton, it speaks volumes of the young man’s talents, as well has the respect the rest of the squad must have for him. For Sale, Chris Cusiter and Danny Cipriani continue their burgeoning half-back partnership, while young Englishmen Mike Haley, Tommy Taylor and Josh Beaumont will all be out to impress. New signing Brian Mujati starts on the tighthead, while Peter Stringer is named on the bench.

This is one of the easier ones to predict this weekend – it should be a comfortable home victory. Saracens by 18.

London Irish vs Leicester Tigers

The final fixture of the round sees two teams facing transitory seasons do battle. London Irish have a new back-room set-up and plenty of new faces to bed in – although with several of them still away at the World Cup, only Matt Symons, Rob McCusker and Brendon McKibbin make their starting debuts this weekend. The Tigers, meanwhile, will likely look to play a more open game than has been their wont in recent seasons, under the new tutelage of Aaron Mauger. Peter Betham makes his debut in the 13 shirt, while Freddie Burns’ broken jaw and Owen Williams’ recent return from a lengthy injury see Tommy Bell named at 10. Mike Williams and Michael Fitzgerald both make their debuts in the engine room, while Lachlan McCaffrey joins Tom Croft and Laurence Pearce in the back row.

This is quite a difficult pick. The Tigers have an excellent record at the Madejski, but it is tough to know how they are going to play, and whether it will take them time to adapt to Mauger’s style of play. Looking at history, they will be favourites – but it will be close. Leicester by 3.

How do you see the weekend playing out?

By Jamie Hosie
Follow Jamie on Twitter: @jhosie43

Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images