With the new season just around the corner and a host of players on the move, Leon Entwistle has pulled together a team of players to keep an eye on.
1. Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers)
Given a handful of games towards the end of last season on loan at Leicester, former England U20 Genge performed very well and caught the eye of the England management. Having toured with England in the Summer, the powers that be have obviously seen huge potential in him. Could this be his breakthrough season?
2. Tommy Taylor (Wasps)
One of the standout players of the Saxons tour Taylor is another young player kicking around the fringes of the England squad. With a summer move to Wasps, this could be his chance to push himself up the pecking order, given that Luke Cowan-Dickie has not managed to impress off the bench so far.
3. Greg Holmes (Exeter Chiefs)
Holmes is one of the best scrummaging props in Australia and was largely responsible for the resurgence of the Australia scrum at the world cup. Having played his entire career with the Reds it will be interesting to see how he can adapt to a new environment.
4. Elliot Stooke (Bath)
Stooke broke into the Gloucester first team from the academy 2 seasons ago, but with a few new faces in the squad including Kiwi legend Thrush, last season he found himself loaned out to London Irish. With a controversial move across the West country to local rivals Bath, the 2013 U20 champion will have a point to prove.
5. William Witty (Newcastle)
With a handful of first team appearances under his belt and part of the 2016 U20 Championship winning team, 19 year-old Witty has earned a position in the senior side for Newcastle. The 6’7″ lineout specialist should expect a reasonable amount of game time in what could be his breakthrough season.
6. Taulupe Faletau (Bath)
Ok so I have taken a bit of a liberty shifting Faletau to the blindside but with two of the best No.8’s coming to the premiership it would have been a crime to leave either of them out of my XV to watch.
7. Schalk Burger (Saracens)
Saracens have made a smart move signing the powerful, experienced South African loose forward, who after a strong showing in the Rugby World Cup and 86 caps for his country, finds himself in the international wilderness. With Allister Coetzee looking to the future, Burger will be available for selection throughout the international windows.
8. Louis Picamoles (Northampton Saints)
With the deal agreed in November last year, Northampton fans have had to wait what feels like a lifetime for Picamoles’ contract with Toulouse to expire. Since the departure of Samu Manoa to Toulon last season Northampton have missed his dynamic ball carrying and deft hands. Will Picamoles be able to fill that void?
9. Francois Hougaard (Worcester)
“Fresh” from the Olympics Sevens with a bronze medal round his neck, Hougaard returns to Worcester after joining them late in the season. Having made only 4 appearances, he scored on his debut against Sale and was Man of the Match against Newcastle, so expect big things given a whole season.
10. Danny Cipriani (Wasps)
One of the most difficult positions to pick with a number of transfers but I have gone with Cipriani’s homecoming to Wasps. A lot of fans and pundits say that if he played for a bigger team that he would be a shoo in for England – well now sitting behind a powerful pack with a host of superstars outside him, we will finally get to find out if they were right. Either that or he will be accused of having an armchair ride and find himself still out of favour.
11. Savenaca Rawaca (Saracens)
Olympic Sevens Gold medallist Rawaca will bring a typically Fijian attitude to Saracens – expect plenty of pace, power and offloads, but with a nickname like pitbull, you imagine that Rawaca to bring plenty of aggression too.
12. Matt Toomua (Leicester Tigers)
With fellow countryman Beale out for the first half of the season I have opted for Toomua at Inside centre. A perfect fit for Leicester expect him to be a key man in Aaron Mauger’s backline.
13. Matt Scott (Gloucester Rugby)
One of Scotland’s best players of the last two years, Scott has followed his captain south to join Gloucester. With great vision and a good outside break he should fit well into an already pacey backline.
14. JP Pietersen (Leicester Tigers)
Another experienced South African international joining the Premiership this season, Pietersen joins a powerful Leicester back three alongside Betham and Veainu.
15. Aaron Morris (Harlequins)
At fullback I have picked another young player with bags of potential. The 2014 U20 Championship winner has struggled for game time with Saracens and with a move across London to Quins, he will be hoping to get his chance during international windows.
What do you think of this dream team? Are there any other players you are excited to watch this season?
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I think that there are a good number of players that have been left out that are worth keeping an eye on – and not all imports.
Greg Holms – best Australian scrimmaging! I would rather keep an eye on the young English talent of Kyle Sinkler or the hopefully resurgent Will Collier. Or for other props the Chiefs Alec Hepburn was exiting for the Saxons.
Dom Barrow shows more promise than Stooke.
Cipriani may well end up playing 15 more than 10 and will have to displace Gopperth first.
A move to Wasps for Eastmond may re-ignite his form and could be worth tracking – and I am surprised that Ben Teo isn’t on the list too!
Kurtley Beal (if and when he arrives) surely above Aaron Morris.
I was going for players who might offer something a bit different than what we haven’t seen before. The likes of Sinkler, Collier, Hepburn and Barrow are known quantities and i’m largely expecting more of the same from them.
I have focused on players that are on the move to a new environment or looking to make their breakthrough this season as those most likely to bring something new to their game.
Interesting that you see Cipriani as playing fullback. Wasps are almost certainly looking at Cips as a 10 seeing the better options they have at fullback. I think he will be seen as first choice with 33yr old Gopperth moving to back up.
Te’o was close to the list but I could only pick 1
Not new or different but…
Manu Tuilagi – can he stay fit for more than 20 minutes at a time? If he can, how will he fit into the England team? Or will EJ not want to change a winning side?
George Ford – now his Dad is no longer coach, can he put last year’s awful season behind him? He showed some glimpses of his previous form on the Aussie tour. Can he re-discover that form or will the weight of expectation at Bath be too much for him?
Joe Marler – he was on track to be one of (if not the) best loose head props in the world. Can he keep his actions in check whilst still keeping his edge? Surely Dylan Hartley can give him a few pointers
Jamie George – has the ability to be England’s equivalent of Dane Coles.
All the English locks – there’s some serious talent available in the second row. Is any one of them going to challenge the Itoje/Kruis partnership?
Maro Itoje – just how many years can this man go without losing a game of rugby??