Bath
Sam Burgess resumes his steep rugby union learning curve at No 6 after a brief interlude as an England World Cup centre, while eyes will also be on new signings Niko Matawalu, the Fiji scrum half, and Rhys Priestland, the Wales fly half. Pace and class in the backs, power in the forwards: last year’s runners-up now want top spot.
Key player
George Ford After the World Cup controversy of his omission against Wales, the perfect way to show he is England’s undisputed No 10 is to fire a starry back line which this season includes Jeff Williams, the former England Sevens flyer.
If they were a World Cup team, they would be:
Australia They boast a thrilling back division with an attacking mindset, a pack not to be underestimated and a great chance of silverware.
PREDICTION — It is not just Burgess with much to prove; Bath look like a dynamic team who are fuelled by ambition. 1st
Exeter
Big question is whether the Chiefs can maintain their ascent and gatecrash the play-offs. The Sandy Park side are boosted by the arrivals of Geoff Parling and Julian Salvi, the experienced forwards. Rob Baxter, the director of rugby, will want to realise potential and enhance his position as a contender for the England post.
Advertisement
Key player
Henry Slade Received a belated World Cup introduction against Uruguay at outside centre and is growing in confidence and stature with every international and club game. Enjoyed such a fine season last time and set for another pivotal role for Chiefs at No 10 or 13.
If they were a World Cup team, they would be:
Ireland They have taken big strides forward and, like Ireland this weekend, the Chiefs are ready to break into the top four.
PREDICTION — Missed the play-offs by a whisker last campaign but are looking ready to gatecrash the end-of-season party. 4th
Gloucester
David Humphreys, the director of rugby, has been busy recruiting some tried and tested players in the hope that Gloucester can fare better than last season. The arrival of Jeremy Thrush, the All Blacks lock, Tom Lindsay, the hooker from Wasps, and Paul Doran-Jones, the former Harlequins prop, should bolster the pack.
Key player
Greig Laidlaw: Inspired the side to European success last time round and the enigmatic Scotland captain and scrum half will be at the centre of all good things again — driving the team forward with his vast experience and skill.
Advertisement
If they were a World Cup team, they would be:
France They have the ingredients of a top team if they can start delivering performances on a more consistent basis.
PREDICTION — Should enjoy more Premiership joy but they are likely to fall short of the demands of the Kingsholm faithful. 8th
Harlequins
Last year’s eighth-place finish hinted at a team in decline and Harlequins intend to return to the top four. It will be interesting to see how much they get out of Welsh recruits Adam Jones, the prop, and Jamie Roberts, at centre. Mike Brown, Danny Care, Chris Robshaw, Joe Marler and Nick Easter must put England woes behind them.
Key player
James Horwill Potentially, one of the signings of the season and, at 30, the former Australia captain, with 61 Wallaby caps, can be a real force at lock.
If they were a World Cup team, they would be:
Wales Adam Jones and Jamie Roberts are among those who are arriving to bring a slice of Warrenball to the Twickenham Stoop.
Advertisement
PREDICTION — Jack Clifford, Kyle Sinckler and Marland Yarde, the young bloods, need to step up within an ageing squad. 7th
Leicester
Aaron Mauger, the former All Blacks centre, is back at Welford Road as head coach with the brief of transforming Leicester’s attacking game. How he fares, with a squad not significantly changed from that outclassed by Bath in last season’s play-off semi-final, will go a long way to determining the club’s fortunes. Avoiding injuries will help.
Key player
Manu Tuilagi Contract expires next summer but it is said he is ready to sign a new deal after being linked with Toulouse and Saracens. His return from a groin injury cannot come soon enough and he will make an interesting project for Mauger.
If they were a World Cup team, they would be:
England Expectations are always sky high but no one quite knows what style the coaching team will ask them to play.
PREDICTION — Write off the Tigers at your peril but the competition that they will face is greater than ever: 5th
Advertisement
London Irish
Tom Coventry, the new head coach, brings Kiwi nous and a fresh approach. He has recruited Ben Franks, the New Zealand prop, to be the cornerstone of the pack. Brendan McKibbin, the former New South Wales Waratahs scrum half, and Sean Maitland, Scotland’s kilted-Kiwi wing, will add their skills to an underrated back division.
Key player
Ben Franks At 31, he may be surplus to All Black requirements but the exiles are pinning their hopes on Franks having enough left in the tank to provide a rallying point.
If they were a World Cup team, they would be:
Scotland They have recruited from far and wide but need their foreign signings to click with home-grown stars to step on from last year.
PREDICTION — Anything better than last year’s tenth place will be a triumph for the new regime, but it will be a hard road. 11th
Newcastle
Plenty rests on getting results at home, which they should, and no longer by squeaking home 12-9: Kingston Park’s artificial turf hosts a more expansive game these days. Dean Richards has added Giovanbattista Venditti, the Italy wing, from Zebre. Up front, he has signed Mouritz Botha, the lock, and Nili Latu, the Tonga captain.
Advertisement
Key player
Nili Latu The hard-hitting flanker brings star quality and a wealth of experience from Super Rugby with the Hurricanes and the Chiefs. He should hit the ground running after the World Cup.
If they were a World Cup team, they would be:
Fiji They have some outrageous attacking talent but not quite enough substance to challenge for honours at the top table just yet.
PREDICTION — Richards is aiming to improve on last season, when they finished eleventh, and they should do so. 10th
Northampton
Jim Mallinder and his players will be anxious to make up for last season’s domestic and European disappointments. The director of rugby has made some very interesting signings at Franklin’s Gardens in Victor Matfield, the 38-year-old Springboks lock, Kieran Brookes, the England prop, and Michael Paterson, the Kiwi second row.
Key player
George North Warren Gatland believes North will finish up at centre but no doubt Saints will prosper this season whether he starts on either wing or at 13.
If they were a World Cup team, they would be:
South Africa Victor Matfield is on his way to join an abrasive pack and a team who will challenge for honours.
PREDICTION — The sheer talent, experience and size of the Saints squad makes them favourites for a top-two finish. 2nd
Sale
The Sharks have lost Michael Paterson, the New Zealand-born lock, to Northampton and Mark Cueto to retirement, but can call on Dan Braid, the 34-year-old former All Black flanker, for one last season before he becomes assistant coach. Steve Diamond, the director of rugby, should be able to rely on the set piece and has retained Danny Cipriani.
Key player
Danny Cipriani Signing his contract extension was a huge boost. The fly half, discarded by England at the last from their World Cup squad, may find his international prospects are now enhanced but he nonetheless has a point to prove.
If they were a World Cup team, they would be:
Italy Reliant on a couple of star men to carry the team but capable of pulling off big wins on their day.
PREDICTION — Seventh place last season and sixth the campaign before, Diamond’s team will do well to emulate that. 9th
Saracens
Conquering Europe will be the priority for Mark McCall and his English champions. But with so many England players they may have to overcome post World Cup mental and physical trauma. Michael Rhodes, the South African forward, joins from Western Province.
Key player
Billy Vunipola He will again be the cornerstone upon which the Sarries pack will aim to control and dominate games. So they will definitely need their No 8 fully fit and mentally fresh after his disappointingly short and unsuccessful World Cup involvement.
If they were a World Cup team, they would be:
New Zealand The defending champions are experienced, well drilled and hard to beat even when they are not playing well.
Wasps
Last season’s mid-campaign move to Coventry proved such a fillip that Wasps will aim higher again this term. James Haskell will want to show why England were misguided to largely ignore his leadership qualities as well as playing skills. Jimmy Gopperth has been recruited to fill Andy Goode’s kicking boots.
Key player
Nathan Hughes The multi-talented Fijian, who would be England’s No 8, spearheads an exciting cast. To the likes of Christian Wade and Joe Simpson now add Charles Piutau, 23, the holder of 17 All Black caps.
If they were a World Cup team, they would be:
Japan They have all the tools to be great entertainers of the league, but it may not quite be enough.
PREDICTION — Attacking prowess must be matched by power up front, where Joe Launchbury’s return from injury will help. 6th
Worcester
Remarkable 59-58 aggregate play-off win over Bristol clinched their return to the top table after a season in the Championship. Added pedigree in the shape of Donncha O’Callaghan, the former Ireland and Lions lock, and Wynand Olivier, a centre and World Cup winner with South Africa, but their best years may be behind them.
Key player
Chris Pennell The full back was capped by England in New Zealand last year after Worcester’s relegation season. He scored two tries in the second leg of the promotion play-off in May, including the decisive one with just 28 seconds remaining.
If they were a World Cup team, they would be:
Georgia Dean Ryan will ensure the Warriors battle with plenty of heart and if they go down, they will go down fighting.
PREDICTION — Two seasons ago the Warriors lost 22 consecutive matches and it is difficult to envisage a different outcome: 12th