Preparation time is over… Felix McCabe previews round one of the new Premiership season.
With pre-season finished, the Premiership will kick off with the massive clash of Wasps v Quins. This is not one to miss. Harlequins, last year’s champions, come into this game after a decent pre-season and they will be hungry to prove that they are not just a one hit wonder. Wasps, on the other hand, are seasoned veterans. They have come out the better against Harlequins over the years; boasting 16 wins in 30 games. Looking at the teams, Wasps have strength in numbers; Tom Varndell and Christian Wade are explosive on the wings, whilst Italian centre Andrea Masi will be a welcomed edition to the backs. Up front, England players Tom Palmer and James Haskell help make up a strong pack that will bring the fight straight to Harlequins at the Stoop. Quins, on the other hand, are the champions and will come out roaring in this one. A great team that boast such a wealth of talent and includes big names like Ugo Moyne, Chris Robshaw, Tom Williams and the controversial Danny Care. My pick for this one: Quins but it’ll be close.
Exeter Chiefs won’t get it easly when they go in search of their first win against Sale Sharks at Sandy Park. The Chiefs may have finished a spot above Sharks last season, but this is a new Sale team; reinvented and rejuvenated. Big names like Richie Gray, Danny Cipriani, Corné Uys and Cameron Shepherd have all joined Sale and will make add to a host of experience that already exists at the club. Shepherd agreed to join the club after Northampton pulled out of their deal to sign him based on fitness concerns. Chiefs have brought in ex-Ulster centre Ian Whitten and ex-Pirates prop, Carl Rimmer to aid them in what will be a tough season both, domestically, and in Europe. This one is tough to call, but I’m going say Sale – they’re also my team for the season so I may be biased on this one.
Gloucester will be hoping to end their opening day misfortune (losing three of their last four opening day games) when they welcome the mighty Northampton Saints next weekend. This game promises to be a cracker with new signing, Billy Twelvetrees bound to get a start for Gloucester. The 23 year old has proved himself at Leicester the last few years; especially on his debut against Ospreys when the centre assumed kicking duties and brought his team back into a game they had almost lost. Saints will show up at the Kingsholm stadium ready to repeat last year’s opening day when they beat Gloucester 26-24. A team filled with big names, Captain, Dylan Hartley will be hoping to kick off a flawless season alongside the likes of Ben Foden, Brian Mujati and Courtney Lawes. I can see this one being close again, but I expect Saints to claim victory.
Worcester v Bath I expect to be the least exciting of the first round games. The warriors don’t have a good record on opening day; winning for the first time last year. New signings, Nikki Walker from Ospreys, Dean Schofield from Toulon and Jon Clarke from the Saints, add to a team that need to perform better in this year’s Premiership. Avoiding relegation by four points last season, Worcester need to come out of the blocks at a higher tempo. Bath, who should take victory on opening day, have a determined bunch of players who want more than a mid-table finish this year. Playing some very good rugby in parts, Bath’s superstars Stephen Donald, Lee Mears and Nick Abendenon will take to the pitch at sixways with one goal: destroy the warriors. I’m calling this one for Bath, but I hope Worcester can surprise me.
London Irish suffered a bad injury at the weekend with Scottish centre/winger Joe Ansbro breaking his neck against Munster. Fortunately it was a stable fracture and Ansbro suffered not nerve damage. He has, however, been ruled out of action for the foreseeable future. The Exiles, meanwhile, will meet Saracens in the weekend’s other London showcase. This has the possibility to be the best of the weekend’s action. London Irish dispatched Munster at the weekend with help from ex-Munster scrum-half Tomás O’Leary who controlled the game at the backs. Arguably his best performance on a rugby pitch in the last few years. Saracens must not be counted out though; coming away with the win on the last three occasions these teams met. Winger Chris Ashton will be looking to get on the scorecard for Saracens and start his season with a bang. A tough one to call, but my gut says Irish - we’ll see.
The last game of the first round will see London Welsh take on the Leicester Tigers at the controversial Kassam Stadium that nearly kept Welsh back in the championship this year. London Welsh will start their season without new signing Gavin Henson who suffered a cheekbone fracture at the weekend against the Llanelli Scarlets. An injury that will see the flyhalf sidelined for six weeks. Regardless, the show must go on and Leicester will be up for this game. The Tigers come into this game off the back of a strong pre-season; scoring ten tries at the weekend against Nottingham. Geordan Murphy, Martin Castrogiovanni and Manu Tuilangi are amongst the ranks that will grace the Tigers jersey when they take to the pitch next weekend. I can imagine an intense game of footie ensuing, but Leicester will come out the stronger of the two. You heard it here first.
It’s shaping up to be a great weekend of rugby. Tries galore and devastating tackles await us and I for one cannot wait. It’s game on. C’mon Sharks!!
Fixtures (all times irish)
Saturday, 1 September 2012
Wasps v Harlequins, 14:00
Exeter v Sale, 15:00
Gloucester v Northampton, 15:00
Worcester v Bath, 15:00
Saracens v London Irish, 16:30
Sunday, 2 September 2012
London Welsh v Leicester, 14:00
Felix (@lightningrust): Blogger, eternal student of business & law, sunshine rugby player with a passion for music and fitness. Coffee is essential. Leinster fan and Irish proud.
