Aviva Premiership Preview 2010 – Part 2

London Irish – More of the same unless Lambs turn to Lions

London Irish are probably where Harlequins will be in 2/3 years time, in the closing stages of their evolution. The personnel is largely the same with the key addition being that of Auckland fly-half Daniel Bowden, yet they are made stronger without the debilitating injury list they suffered last year. As ever it is their backs who will be the biggest threat lead by the thunderous Seilala Mapusua, flanked by Sailosi Tagicakibau and an injury-free Topsy Ojo attempting to get his career back on track. The hash they made of the Heineken group after winning away at Leinster, will serve them well going forward as will the depth of their squad. If Ryan Lamb has a breakout year then top 4 is not out of the question but the sheer competitiveness this season means mid-table and HC qualification is a more realistic goal. Prediction: 6th

Newcastle Falcons – Home is where the heart is for the cellar dwellers

How do you solve a problem like the Falcons? The continual chopping and changing of the men in charge has lead to a team that is permanently in a mode of transition and this is reflected in their inability to get the best from their players.  Like a snake they have again shed the heart of the team over the summer with Mark Sorenson, Adam Blading and Carl Hayman departing inevitably for better things. Their assortment of odds and ends signings doesn’t exactly inspire confidence but if they can turn Kingston Park back into the fortress it was, then they can turn the corner and avoid what looks like becoming a two-way scrap with Exeter at the bottom of the ladder. Prediction: 11th

Northampton Saints – Saints: A revenge play

No matter what anyone at the club says in the media, you can guarantee that Jim Mallinder and Dorian have been stewing all summer at coming so close to the final only for Sarries to pull the rug from underneath them. In doing so the baton and title of “Most exciting team in England” passed from Franklyns Gardens to the Watford club, so expect that narrative to come to a head come May. Saints have recruited with an eye on tomorrow, raiding Leeds for promising youngsters Scott Armstrong, Joe Ford and Calum Clark as well as Tom Mercey the Saracens prop, although all are very much ready for now. The biggest difficulty will be plugging the 2nd row gaps left by the departures of Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe and Juandre Kruger, both of whom added ballast, toughness and know-how to the Saints pack.

At the sharp end of the tight games, they were rudderless at fly-half and a time will come when Mallinder has to plump for either Geraghty or Myler and stick with them, consequences be damned as the current uncertainty undermined them too often. This fly-half situation will prevent them from storming Twickenham. Prediction: 4th

Sale Sharks – New broom sweeping through South Manchester

No nonsense southern hemisphere coach takes the reins at underachieving premiership club and talks of booting out players that are still in contract, changing the culture of the club and a three-year project?  It’s not Brendan Venter we are talking about here but much-capped former all black Mike Brewer who has promised, and begun in earnest, a shake-up at Edgeley Park. It was required after a difficult year for Kingsley Jones and Jason Robinson where relegation was a very real possibility until late in the day.

The scale of the squad turnover has been epic, and although Sale lost a third captain in three years, some real quality has been captured in the shape of Auckland and Samoa full-back Paul Williams, Leinsters Kyle Tonetti and should he ever arrive, the electric IRB 7’s series player of the year Mikaele Pesamino. The biggest capture of all, both in size and impact has to be Bourgoin prop Karena Wihongi, who alongside Andrew Sheridan and Sisa Koyamaibole gives the sharks pack a fearsome look about it. If 20-year old captain James Gaskell can learn quickly and the team gel, mid-table is a reachable target. Prediction: 8th

Saracens – Ten months from greatness

When you stop to actually consider the huge strides made by Saracens last year in terms of turning them into a team capable of winning the title, and then a team capable of playing such beautiful rugby, it defies belief. And they have only strengthened with the signings of one of the killer B’s Kelly Brown, livewire David Strettle and as if there weren’t enough Boers in the dressing room, South African bruiser Deon Carstens. Matt Stevens has also signed up for when his ban ends.  In Schalk Brits they have the best player in the league, by some way, and now he has the supporting cast that can hold on for that extra 3 minutes to lift the trophy. Prediction: 1st

London Wasps – Stretched resources in High Wycombe

Wasps will inevitably suffer this year due to the alarming lack of depth in their squad. Up front there is just about enough cover with long-term injury victims Phil Vickery and Tom Rees back to full fitness and Jason Hobson finally moving closer to a return.  Wildchild Andy Powell has been signed to add to a pack which will need to be exponentially better than last year where they were taken apart by all and sundry.

Behind the scrum the cupboard is bare. As good a signing as Richard Haughton is, he merely replaces the departed Paul Sackey and the combinations at half-back look disjointed. However, a back line of Simpson, Walder, Varndell, Flutey, Waldouck, Lemi and Haughton is still a frightening prospect. Solid rather than spectacular yet Wasps know when to peak. Prediction: 7th