Based on Henry Ker’s team-by-team previews (Part 1 and Part 2) of each Premiership club, here is how the final table would look:
1. Saracens
2. Exeter Chiefs
3. Wasps
4. Leicester Tigers
5. Bath Rugby
6. Northampton Saints
7. Newcastle Falcons
8. Harlequins
9. Sale Sharks
10. Gloucester Rugby
11. London Irish
12. Worcester Warriors
So Saracens to reclaim their crown from Exeter, but with the same top 4 teams overall. Northampton to get back into the top 6, with Harlequins dropping to 8th and Gloucester falling to 10th despite the arrival of their new coach.
We also have London Irish staying up in their first season back in the top flight, to the detriment of Worcester Warriors.
What do you think of these predictions? Who do you think will win the league, who will qualify for Europe and who will be relegated?
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I don’t know too much about Saints signings for this season, but I think they might struggle to finish in the top 6. Losing top players like Picamoles and Clark will effect their pack. Their front five were underpowered at times last year and if Lawes and Hartely are in the England squad they could lose their best players for large periods of the season. If the pack doesn’t get good ball, then the talent they have in the back line (and there’s plenty of it) will be trying to go forward on the back foot, which is never easy.
I was wondering this earlier. I think the Saints front 5 are good, and there is depth there. However Clarke and Picamoles have both left and I can’t think of any additional back row signings?
I think their first choice front five are good, and some decent replacements in the front row, but second and back row?
Mine would look like this:
Exeter
Wasps
Tigers
Saracens
Bath
Falcons
Quins
Gloucester
Saints
Sale
Irish
Worcester
As others have stated, Saints look to have lost out in the pack, and their slide may worsen before it turns itself around.
Saracens may struggle with international call-ups and tiring Lions this season, but they should still comfortably make the playoffs and from there I wouldn’t be surprised to see them become champions once again.
Tigers could go either way, as we now have a phenomenal looking back line, though I am still concerned about our lack of grunt that seems to have disappeared in the last couple of seasons.
Exeter to maintain their high standards and the same with Wasps. Bath will challenge, but still not quite at the level of the others.
Newcastle look to have recruited well and, due to the decline of some other teams, I think will make Europe.
Worcester and Irish to slog it out at the bottom.
Glouc are way too high I see them struggling more than Saints this year
They have lost the spine of their team their coach and are in a rebuild phase
What spine of the team have Gloucester lost? Sure, Jonny May is the only current England international they had but apart from that no significant losses to the squad, just some fairly savvy looking signings. Ed Slater looks to be great business considering the weakness in Gloucester’s pack last season. And judging by last night’s performance Ackerman senior could well be the best signing the club has made. His son looks pretty handy too.
Not wanting to be oveoptimistic, especially after the win over Exeter, but I think there is a chance Gloucester could be challenging for 6th. Today’s games could totally flummox my hopes though!
I’m going for…
1) Wasps
2) Saracens
3) Exeter Chiefs
4) Leicester Tigers
5) Bath
6) Newcastle Falcons
7) Sale Sharks
8) Harlequins
9) Northampton Saints
10) Gloucester
11) Worcester Warriors
12) London Irish
Quins are a terrible site. Bottom 2 material