Premiership Predictions Thread 2017-18

[Puja]

So, the season is nearly upon us and we've yet to set ourselves up for utter humiliation and reveal how little we know about rugby. Okay, so there is the fantasy rugby league, but this is more traditional (and more public). Last year saw some belting predictions, from me nominating Wade to be an England regular, to Digby naming Rob Webber for the signing of the season, all the way through to Which's double-barrel of Kvesic for England and Davey Wilson to star for Bath. We'll all do better this year, I'm sure.

Categories are as follows:

Premiership Winner:

Table order:

European predictions - how will the English teams do?

Top try scorer:

Top points scorer:

Surprise of the season:

Biggest disappointment:

Player having a breakthrough season:

Best signing:

The Jerome Schuster Award for least effective signing:

Puja

[Puja]

Premiership Winner:
Head says Saracens, heart says Leicester. Sod it, let's go with the heart - worked out okay last year, right?

Table order:
Saracens
Leicester
Exeter
Wasps
Bath
Sale
Newcastle
Quins
Gloucester
Northampton
Worcester
Irish

European predictions - how will the English teams do?
3 teams to go through to the quarters - I'm going to pick Saracens, Leicester and Bath (as runner up in the pool with Treviso and some crap Welsh team). From there, I'd like to say 2 to the semis and possibly Saracens to pull off a hat-trick.

Top try scorer:
Wade is the classic suggestion, and right more often than not, but I'm going to say May. If I'm going to go with the heart, may as well go big.

Top points scorer: Steenson

Surprise of the season: Manu doesn't miss a game through injury.

Biggest disappointment: Neither Earle nor Cokanasiga kick on and justify Eddie's faith in them. Drunkie Denny therefore becomes a fixture in the EPS. Sad.

Player having a breakthrough season: Theo Brophy-Clews for Irish - I think there's a real danger he might be in the EPS by the end of the season. To a lesser extent, Ben White for Leicester - I can see him usurping Sam Harrison by the end of the year.

Best signing: Difficult choice this. There's some great signings in from abroad, like Francis, Underhill, and Strauss; and I expect Kvesic, Ford, May, Waller, Rapava-Ruskin, and Slater to do very well in their new environs. However, I think the best, in terms of improving an already pretty impressive squad, will be Liam Williams for Sarries.

The Jerome Schuster Award for least effective signing: Nic White follows the proud Exeter tradition of Australian international signings ending up third choice by the end of the season

Puja

[Scrumhead]

Alright - here goes:

Premiership Winner:

Saracens - they will be smarting from last season and have made some quality additions who will mostly be available through the internationals (i.e. Skelton and Clark ). I'm backing them to get back on top.

Table order:

1. Saracens
2. Wasps
3. Leicester
4. Exeter
5. Bath
6. Harlequins
7. Sale
8. Newcastle
9. Gloucester
10. Northampton
11. Worcester
12. London Irish

European predictions - how will the English teams do?

I fancy Saracens to make the final again and Leicester to make the semis.

Wasps and Quins to qualify ahead of La Rochelle and Ulster.

Top try scorer:

Obvious ... but it's too hard to look past Wade.

Top points scorer:

Gopperth

Surprise of the season:

Northampton to implode/go in to free fall.

Biggest disappointment:

Tuilagi failing to recapture his best form.

Player having a breakthrough season:

Marcus Smith

Best signing:

May

The Jerome Schuster Award for least effective signing:

James O'Connor

[Puja]

O'Connor was tempting for the Schuster award - he's either going to be just what Sale need, in a Cipriani style, or he's going to be utterly atrocious. It's pretty much a 50:50 shot.

Puja

[Scrumhead]

Agreed ... I could be spot-on or I could look very silly if he ends up playing at the level he's capable of.

[Mellsblue]

Premiership Winner:
Can't see past Sarries. If they play Williams at fullback they could be unstoppable. Especially if Flanagan is playing.

Table order:
Sarries
Wasps
Leicester
Exeter
Bath
Quins
Gloucester
Sale
Northampton
Newcastle
Worcester
London Irish

European predictions - how will the English teams do?
Sarries, Wasps, Bath and Leicester to get out of their groups. From there it'll depend on seedings but you've got to fancy Sarries to win again.

Top try scorer:
Wade, obviously. Outside of him, I'd go for May if he's not involved for England and a dark horse would be Woodburn.

Top points scorer:
Burns

Surprise of the season:
Mark Atkinson to make the England 12 shirt his own. For you lot that is. I won't be the slightest bit suprised.

Biggest disappointment:
To be a Northampton fan.

Player having a breakthrough season:
Walker at Bath.

Best signing:
George Ford

The Jerome Schuster Award for least effective signing:
O'Connor if played at 10.

[Timbo]

Premiership Winner:

Leicester Tigers

Table order:

1. Leicester
2. Wasps
3. Saracens
4. Exeter
5. Northampton
6. Bath
7. Gloucester
8. Harlequins
9. Sale
10. Newcastle
11. Worcester
12. London Irish

European predictions - how will the English teams do?

I'll say 3 English clubs for the quarters. Sarries of course, and of the remainder Leicester look best equipped to go deep in the competition. But groups are brutal so who knows?

Top try scorer:

Wade, as per.

Top points scorer:

Piers Francis...Not sure if Gopperth or Steenson will be 100% first choice at their clubs.

Surprise of the season:

Saints will play some attractive rugby.

Biggest disappointment:

Quins and Bath will be bog average.

Player having a breakthrough season:

Mitch Eadie

Best signing:

George Ford

The Jerome Schuster Award for least effective signing:

Mermoz...not as good as his reputation suggests.

[Beasties]

Haven't got time right now for the full list, but:

Jerome Schuster Award:

PDJ at Wasps. I'll collect my winnings now thank you very much.

[Which Tyler]

all the way through to Which's double-barrel of Kvesic for England and Davey Wilson to star for Bath. We'll all do better this year, I'm sure.

In fairness, weren't they both supposed to be "surprise of the season", which should rule out any form of likelihood (mutter, mutter, mumble)

Categories are as follows:

Premiership Winner:
Saracens, experience and never-say-die winning the big day for them

Table order:
Wasps - adding half a degree of defence to their already potent attack
Tigers
Saracens
Exeter
Bath
Sale
Quins
Newcastle
Gloucester
Saints
Worcester
LIrish
Gloucester

European predictions - how will the English teams do?
Good gods, no idea, far too brutal to predict; erm...
Wasps to win their pool
Leicester, Sarries, Exeter and Bath all to come 2nd in theirs - no idea who gets the lucky loser slots

Top try scorer:
Jonny May

Top points scorer:
Freddie Burns

Surprise of the season:
Manu plays 6 matches, only to break on being named in the EPS

Biggest disappointment:
Sam Underhill - arriving to great pomp only to be blocked from the starting shirt by a reinvigorated Louw, and from the bench by ZMercer

Player having a breakthrough season:
Jonny Williams

Best signing:
Jonny May to thrive under a little more discipline, and outside a serious backline working off front foot ball

The Jerome Schuster Award for least effective signing:
Normally I'd go with whoever Gloucester's biggest signing is.... but they haven't really made one; so...
James O'Connor - they just won't know what to do with him, Dimes will tell him off, and he'll go into a big sulk

[Stom]

Premiership Winner:

Leicester

Table order:

Saracens
Leicester
Exeter
Wasps
Bath
Harlequins
Newcastle
Northampton
Sale
Worcester
London Irish

European predictions - how will the English teams do?

Sarries to the final, 3 others to quarters.

Top try scorer:

Wade

Top points scorer:

Gopperth

Surprise of the season:

Leicester to be no more injury prone than any other team.

Biggest disappointment:

Sale revert to crappy 10 man rugby

Player having a breakthrough season:

Smith at Quins. As Catrakilis will be such a poor signing, Smith will play more often than expected and shine.

Best signing:

Francis Saili - finally allows Quins midfield to function again.

The Jerome Schuster Award for least effective signing:

Dimitri Catrakilis - Painfully ill-equipped to play 15 man rugby. WIll drop off the radar quickly.

[Oakboy]

Reading the ST article about Baxter has changed my mind about the champions' prediction. Until I read it I'd have said Saracens or Wasps. Now, I think Exeter will retain it. Baxter just oozes class, IMO. He is the best combination of manager/coach and human being. I think he'll get another 5-10% out of Exeter and that will be enough.

[Puja]

Surprise of the season:
Manu plays 6 matches, only to break on being named in the EPS

Sheesh - I name-check you once for outre predictions and suddenly you go into your shell! Manu getting injured just as England calls - how's that meant to be a surprise?!

Puja

[switchskier]

Premiership Winner:

Wasps after an early European exit

Table order:

Saracens
Wasps
Exeter
Leicester
Northampton
Bath
Sale
Harlequins
Newcastle
London Irish
Worcester

European predictions - how will the English teams do?

Sarries to the final, Exeter to the semis, Bath to quarters

Top try scorer:

Solomona

Top points scorer:

Toby Flood

Surprise of the season:

Sale to be in top four try scoring teams despite being very forward orientated

Biggest disappointment:

Leicester to never quite put it together

Player having a breakthrough season:

One of Gloucesters two young scrum halves to nail the starting spot ahead of Heinz..

Best signing:

Jason Woodward

The Jerome Schuster Award for least effective signing:

Piers Francis. I know this is going against the grain but I have seen him play for Edinburgh and a couple of years in New Zealand can't turn it all around surely. Also factoring in the weight of expectation here.

[Raggs]

Premiership Winner:

Wasps

Table order:

1. Saracens
2. Wasps
3. Exeter
4. Leciester
5. Bath
6. Newcastle
7. Harlequins
8. Sale
9. Gloucester
10. Northampton
11. Worcester
12. London Irish

European predictions - how will the English teams do?

Sarries to the final, Wasps to the Semis, Leicester through knockouts, maybe semis.

Top try scorer:

Wade.

Top points scorer:

Burns. Very tough to call. Don't think Gopperth will play as much, not sure Cips' kicking is quite reliable enough.

Surprise of the season:

Manu to stay relatively fit all season (a few twinges/strains etc maybe)

Biggest disappointment:

Ruskin to fail to push on and develop into a serious international prospect at Glaws.

Player having a breakthrough season:

Marcus Smith

Best signing:

Gaby Lovobalavu (sp?), giving Wasps a direct running, big hitting defender.

The Jerome Schuster Award for least effective signing:

Faf De Klerk. Good rugby player, but I reckon his actual scrum half skills may be lacking.

PDJ seems a harsh call, not sure a 3rd choice prop can ever really win a least effective award (no matter how highly rated they once were).

[Tigersman]

Premiership Winner: Exeter
Table order:
Exeter
Leicester
Saracens
Wasps
Bath
Newcaslte
Sale
Harlequins
Northampton
Worcester
Glous
Irish

European predictions - how will the English teams do?
Saracens - Final
Wasps - Semi Final
Tigers - Quarter Finals
Exeter - Pool Stages
Bath - Pool stages
Northampton - Pool Stages
Harlequins - Pool stages

Top try scorer:
Veainu

Top points scorer:
Gopperth

Surprise of the season:
Toomua and Manu to stay fit

Biggest disappointment:
Multiple lions players to get injured.

Player having a breakthrough season:
Jonah Holmes

Best signing:
Saili

The Jerome Schuster Award for least effective signing:
PDJ

[Puja]

The Jerome Schuster Award for least effective signing:

Piers Francis. I know this is going against the grain but I have seen him play for Edinburgh and a couple of years in New Zealand can't turn it all around surely. Also factoring in the weight of expectation here.

Go big or go home! This isn't a bad shout actually, although I'm hopeful that it won't happen. I saw him at Edinburgh and in the Championship and he looked like a different player to the one I saw for the Blues and England. How much of that is maturation and how much is it him being mentally fragile and crumbling without faith from his coaches. And it's not as if Saints don't have form of failing to support their fly-halves!

I'd love to believe that Braley or Randall would come through this year, especially the latter, but I'm not sure I see Glaws being that adventurous.

Puja

[Scrumhead]

Vellacott might be more likely than Braley or Randall ...

Also, my definition of a Jerome Schuster award contender is someone who arrives with at least a little bit of fanfare and fails to deliver. I'm not sure there's any kind of fanfare around someone like PDJ so picking him seems like it's missing the point ...

[Puja]

Vellacott might be more likely than Braley or Randall ...

Also, my definition of a Jerome Schuster award contender is someone who arrives with at least a little bit of fanfare and fails to deliver. I'm not sure there's any kind of fanfare around someone like PDJ so picking him seems like it's missing the point ...

Yeah, picking PDJ does feel a little bit like shooting fish in a barrel.

I'd actually straight up forgotten about Vellacott. I tend to group all young Gloucester scrum-halves into a category of, "He's really quite good and it's sad that he'll never play."

Puja

[Which Tyler]

Surprise of the season:
Manu plays 6 matches, only to break on being named in the EPS

Sheesh - I name-check you once for outre predictions and suddenly you go into your shell! Manu getting injured just as England calls - how's that meant to be a surprise?!

Puja

Did you see my "biggest disappointment" though - balls of steel to predict that one.

I thought about putting Manu in the disappointment thread; I predict he'll do something stupid and we'll be... Not angry, just... disappointed [/Dad]

[fivepointer]

Premiership Winner: Wasps

Table order:
Saracens
Exeter
Wasps
Bath
Tigers
Saints
Sale
Quins
Newcastle
Gloucester
Irish
Worcester

European predictions - how will the English teams do? Saracens in the final, 2 others n the QF's

Top try scorer: Solomona

Top points scorer: Burns

Surprise of the season: Manu stays moderately fit

Biggest disappointment: Manu plays only to a moderate level

Player having a breakthrough season: Maunder gets the Exeter starting shirt and plays for England.

Best signings: Strauss and Ross at Sale; Dejong at Wasps

The Jerome Schuster Award for least effective signing: Nic White

[Mikey Brown]

Premiership Winner:
Harlequins
Table order:
Harlequins
Exeter
Wasps
Leicester
Bath
Saints
Gloucester
Newcastle
Sale
Irish
Worcester
Saracens

European predictions - how will the English teams do?
Quins win it
Top try scorer:
Robshaw
Top points scorer:
Robshaw
Surprise of the season:
Robshaw takes up goal kicking
Biggest disappointment:
Robshaw doesn't slot a single kick, but scores so many tries that it doesn't matter.
Player having a breakthrough season:
Smith
Best signing:
Saili
The Jerome Schuster Award for least effective signing: Liam Williams

[Mellsblue]

Premiership Winner:
Harlequins
Table order:
Harlequins
Exeter
Wasps
Leicester
Bath
Saints
Gloucester
Newcastle
Sale
Irish
Worcester
Saracens

European predictions - how will the English teams do?
Quins win it
Top try scorer:
Robshaw
Top points scorer:
Robshaw
Surprise of the season:
Robshaw takes up goal kicking
Biggest disappointment:
Robshaw doesn't slot a single kick, but scores so many tries that it doesn't matter.
Player having a breakthrough season:
Smith
Best signing:
Saili
The Jerome Schuster Award for least effective signing: Liam Williams

Sadly, this will probably be the winning entry.

[Gloskarlos]

Premiership Winner:
Saracens,

Table order:
Wasps
Saracens
Exeter
Leicester
Bath
Quins
Northampton
Gloucester
Newcastle
Sale
Worcester
Irish

European predictions - how will the English teams do?
Saracens, Leicester and Exerer into quarters, only Sarrues into the semi but will lose to a French side.
Glos to lose the second string tin pot cup again having reached the final.

Top try scorer:

Watson

Top points scorer: Burns (F)

Surprise of the season: Glaws don't miss Jonny at all, Henry Purdy outscores him.

Biggest disappointment: Willi Heinz having been given captaincy plays every single prem game despite vellacot and braley tearing up the A league and Europe.

Player having a breakthrough season: Sticking with Glaws, Woodward and VRR, purdy to shine as above. Elsewhere I'll go with mercer.

Best signing: Difficult. kinda hope it's Kvesic, he was standout for a couple of seasons at glos, hope he gets his mojo back.

The Jerome Schuster Award for least effective signing: Stringer.

Puja

[Bloggs]

Premiership Winner:
Saracens

Table order:
Saracens
Exeter
Wasps
Leicester
Bath
Quins
Newcastle
Gloucester
Sale
Northampton
Worcester
London Irish

European predictions - how will the English teams do?
Saracens to win it again
Wasps and Bath to come out the pools
Other English sides don't make it out the pools

Top try scorer:
Christian Wade - not exactly a far out prediction!

Top points scorer:
Freddie Burns

Surprise of the season:
Gloucester grow a backbone before the season ends

Biggest disappointment:
Northampton slide even further into mediocrity

Player having a breakthrough season:
Sam Simmonds; also think Marcus Smith looks the real deal

Best signing:
Liam Williams to take the Sarries back 3 to another level

The Jerome Schuster Award for least effective signing:
Nic White once Baxter realises that Maunder and Townsend are far superior prospects; most of London Irish's will run him close here!

[Guwuffle]

Best get this in before the season actually starts:

Premiership Winner:

Leicester

Table order:

Wasps
Leicester
Saracens
Bath
Exeter
Northampton
Harlequins
Gloucester
Sale
Newcastle
Worcester
Irish

European predictions - how will the English teams do?

Three quarter finalists, one to the semis.

Top try scorer:

Wade

Top points scorer:

Gopperth

Surprise of the season:

Record number of yellow cards as players fail to adapt to new law changes.

Biggest disappointment:

Tuilagi doesn't recover to be as effective as hoped.

Player having a breakthrough season:

Brophy-Clewes, less of a breakthrough but think Tompkins might usurp Bosch in the centre rankings at Saracens.

Best signing:

Liam Williams

The Jerome Schuster Award for least effective signing:

James O'Connor