Premiership Predictions Thread 2016-17

[Puja]

So, three weeks to go until the start of the season, the transfer market's winding down, the 7s has finished, and we're currently all arguing about the definition of 'offence' and who has the right to it. It's time for an actual rugby thread, in the ever popular Official Predictions Thread.

Last year, the board changed servers and then my back-ups of the thread ate the dust with my old computer, so we didn't get the annual reminder of how well/appallingly we all did. I myself remember picking Northampton to struggle and scrape into Europe by the skin of their teeth (huzzah), Lachlan McCaffrey to be a disaster and a waste of salary cap (slightly less successful), and for Sam Burgess to become a quality Premiership 6 and not to run away like a scolded puppy when things got a little bit tough (everyone kept telling us he had *character*, dammit!). I don't think anyone predicted Bath's plunge towards the bottom of the table nor the impressive rise of Teimana Harrison. A few people picked Doran-Jones for the Jerome Schuster award for least effective transfer, which wasn't a bad shout, but nobody picked the real winner - Jean "Is he actually here?" De Villiers. This year, I'm backing up to two separate computers to ensure that the ignominy will return properly at the end of the season.

So, ladies and gentlemen - start your predictions. Categories are as follows:

Premiership Winner:

Table order:

Top try scorer:

Top points scorer:

Surprise of the season:

Player having a breakthrough season:

Best signing:

The Jerome Schuster Award for least effective signing:

Puja

[Puja]

Premiership Winner:
Leicester. We've recruited really well this year, swapping quantity for quality, and I think it'll be enough to propel us back to the top of the pile.

Table order:
Leicester
Saracens
Wasps
Exeter
Saints
Sale
Quins
Gloucester
Newcastle
Bath
Bristol
Worcester

Sorry Bath fans, but your back division is looking very short-handed and Blackadder and Matson have come in very late to be able to put their stamp on things. I think it'll be really strong at the top of the table, with Leicester and Wasps having recruited so well, and Exeter and Saracens having another years' experience on their youngsters. Saints are probably the best of the rest with Picamoles finally adding the bosh back that Mallinder likes so much.

Top try scorer: Veainu. Class act and with Toomua feeding him, I think he could have a great year

Top points scorer: Fazlet

Surprise of the season: Wade will be an England regular by the end of it. Sad that this would be surprising though.

Player having a breakthrough season: Lewis Ludlam. Huge fan of his and he seems to be on the verge of the Saints first team now. Alternatively, I'm expecting big things from Evans and Genge this year.

Best signing: Loads to choose from this year. I'm going to say Matt Toomua, as I think he'll have the biggest impact in spicing up the Tigers backline, but I've got a sneaking suspicion that Josh Charnley may actually make a go of coming across from league. Vincent Koch couyld be just what Sarries need in the front row as well, although they were hardly weak there before.

The Jerome Schuster Aware for least effective signing: Guy Armitage for Wasps. Otherwise known as "the player who has Eastmond, Beale, Daly, De Luca, Leuia and Macken between him and a starting spot." Runners-up roles for the additions to the foreign legion at Newcastle.

Puja

[Tigersman]

For me
AP Winner: Saracens

Table:
1. Saracens
2. Tigers
3. Wasps
4. Chiefs
5. Sale
6. Quins
7. Saints
8. Bath
9. Bristol
10. Glous
11. Wuss
12. Falcons

Top try scorer: Wade
Top points scorer: Freddie Burns (Owen will be hampered by the internationals here IMO)
Surprise of the season: Saints missing out on the CC
Breakout season: Ellis Genge (I can't see Ludlam starting much at saints)
Best Signing: I'm going with McGinty or Tusi Pisi
Jerome Schuster award: Nick de Luca

[Mellsblue]

Winners:
Saracens

Table:
Sarries
Leicester
Wasps
Exeter
Northampton
Sale
Quins
Glos
Wuss
Bath
Bristol
Newcastle

Top try scorer:
Ashton

Top points scorer:
Myler

Surprise of the season:
Manu Tuilagi will play for Eng

Breakout season:
Jack Walker

Best signing:
Toomua

Jerome Schuster award:
Campese Ma'afu. I know technically he joined Saints last season but they've re-signed him. The idiots.

[fivepointer]

Winners - Hard to look past Saracens though i've a feeling Wasps might push them close

Table - Saracens top and Bristol bottom.

Try scorer - Probably Ashton

Points scorer - Probably Farrell

Surprise - Itoje has a poor game

Breakthrough player - Genge looks a good bet, but i'm going to keep an eye on 2 Quins players, Sinckler and Marchant.

Best signing - Picamoles at Saints. Taylor at Wasps. Hoping Devoto does well at Exeter and Stooke likewise at Bath

Schuster award - Some journeyman who has made their way to Newcastle or Worcester i suspect.

[Which Tyler]

Premiership Winner:
Saracens

Table order:
01 Wasps
02 Leicester
03 Saracens
04 Northampton
05 Exeter
06 Harlequins
07 Sale
08 Bath
09 Gloucester
10 Worcester
11 Bristol
12 Newcastle

Top try scorer:
Wade

Top points scorer:
Burns

Surprise of the season:
Bathcentric - Davey Wilson returns to fitness and form
Overall - Kvesic get capped in Haskell's absence

Player having a breakthrough season:
Mallinder

Best signing:
Picamoles

The Jerome Schuster Award for least effective signing:
Lachlan Turner

[Scrumhead]

Premiership Winner:

Saracens

Table order:

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

Top try scorer:

Christian Wade

Top points scorer:

Gareth Steenson

Surprise of the season:

Josh Charnley

Player having a breakthrough season:

Joe Marchant. With Lowe being out, I think he'll get a decent amount of game time and I think there's a fair chance he'll establish himself as a first choice by the end of the season.

Best signing:

Louis Picamoles

The Jerome Schuster Award for least effective signing:

Nick De Luca

[Timbo]

Premiership Winner:

Saracens

table Order

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

Top Try Scorer

Veainu

Top Points Scorer

Cipriani

Surprise of the Season

Bath will get back in the top 6.

Breakout of the Season

Will Evans

Best Signing

Faletau

Flop Signing

Matt Scott

[Mikey Brown]

I really hope Scott doesn't flop, though I can't see how exactly how he lifts that Gloucester backline (with a mostly inept pack) and the recent Scots at Glos haven't been overwhelming successes. Great player when he's in the groove.

I think Wasps could be exciting to watch this year.

Premiership Winner:

Saracens

Table Order

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

Top Try Scorer

Wade

Top Points Scorer

Farrell

Surprise of the Season

Quins to string more than 1 decent game together

Breakout of the Season

One of these brilliant 7s we apparently have waiting in the wings

Best Signing

Picamoles

Flop Signing

Beale, I hope. I just hate his face.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

At last a season where no one is predicting London Irish to be relegated.

[Mellsblue]

At last a season where no one is predicting London Irish to be relegated.

You've not been on the Championship prediction thread then!

[Stom]

Premiership Winner:
Leicester - bah, I'm not going to write Sarries again. It'll be one of those two.

Table order:
Saracens
Leicester
Exeter
Wasps
Saints
Bath
Sale
Quins
Glos
Wuss
Briz
Newcastle

Top try scorer:
Wade

Top points scorer:
Cipriani

Surprise of the season:
Bath looking coherant by the end.

Player having a breakthrough season:
Jack Walker/Joe Marchant

Best signing:
Picamoles/Toomua

The Jerome Schuster Award for least effective signing:
Nick De Luca

I'm not sure about anyone predicting something good for Quins...Kingston is in charge, ffs. NEv isn't getting any younger, we have good depth in potential, but a complete lack in depth when it comes to proven quality. It could click and we become unstoppable, or it could fall apart. With Kingston the top dog, I know where my money is. He's a no2, plain and simple.

[Puja]

At last a season where no one is predicting London Irish to be relegated.

I think last year was actually the only year in the last 3-4 that I didn't tip Irish to be relegated. I think it was also the only year that I didn't predict 4 English clubs to make the Euro quarters and 2 in the semis as well.

Puja

[Bloggs]

Premiership Winner:
Leicester

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

Top try scorer:
Veanu


Top points scorer:
Farrell (despite being away with England)

Surprise of the season:
Wasps fail to make playoffs and look worse than last season, despite all their signings

Player having a breakthrough season:
Joe Marchant (rose tinted glasses)
Lewis Ludlow

Best signing:
Matt Toomua

The Jerome Schuster Award for least effective signing:
Marty Moore

[ilovelamp]

Premiership Winner:
Sarries

Table order:

Saracens
Leicester
Wasps
Northampton
Exeter
Gloucester
Bath
Quins
Sale
Worcester
Bristol
Newcastle

Top try scorer:
Ashton

Top points scorer:
Farrell

Surprise of the season:
Gloucester to finally bench 12T and, as a result, their midfield to finally click and create some chances.

Player having a breakthrough season:
Joe Marchant

Best signing:
Dan Carter to Glaws....you heard it here first ;0)

The Jerome Schuster Award for least effective signing:
Kurtley Beale

[Gloskarlos]

Premiership Winner: Tigers

Table order:
Sarries
Tigers
Wasps
Exeter
Saints
Quins
Glos
Bath
Sale
Wuss
Newcastle
Bristol

Top try scorer: Picamoles (left field pick admittedly)

Top points scorer: Farrell

Surprise of the season: Morgan starts playing well again

Player having a breakthrough season: Beaumont, if this counts as breakthrough?

Best signing: definitely not a glos player..... Have to say Picamoles looks the best business.

The Jerome Schuster Award for least effective signing: Cameron Orr

Mid table obscurity again for Glaws sadly, might huff and puff in pretence of 6th but ultimately fall short. A lot of academy players signed into the senior squad which is great to see, but not canny enough signings elsewhere.

[swindonbri]

Premiership Winner: Leicester

Table order:
Saracens
Leicester
Wasps
Exeter
Saints
Sale
Glos
Quins
Bath
Worcs
Newcastle
Bristol

Top try scorer: Veainu

Top points scorer: Freddie Burns

Surprise of the season: Glos actually finding some attacking threat again with an almost full fit back line

Player having a breakthrough season: Alex Lozowki - think will get plenty of game time from a combination of OF playing 12 and being away with England

Best signing: Picamoles

The Jerome Schuster Award for least effective signing: Kahn Fotuali'i

[Puja]

The Jerome Schuster Award for least effective signing: Kahn Fotuali'i

That is an excellent shout. Actually, I'm now kind of annoyed that I didn't think of him for mine!

Welcome to the board, btw.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

[Digby]

I saw Leicester play last night. It's possible they've fired Mauger as on a dry warm night just before the season started they seemed to think it illegal to give the ball to the backs. That said the whole game was a little stop-start, and perhaps they're starting the season with some very structured back play and didn't want to show their hand, and they had Harrison at 10 who went sideways and backwards to compound the passing from 9

[Mellsblue]

I saw Leicester play last night. It's possible they've fired Mauger as on a dry warm night just before the season started they seemed to think it illegal to give the ball to the backs. That said the whole game was a little stop-start, and perhaps they're starting the season with some very structured back play and didn't want to show their hand, and they had Harrison at 10 who went sideways and backwards to compound the passing from 9

Let's hope they haven't regressed from last season's style. Sarries did nothing but kick against Bedford, save one length of the field try which made you wonder why the kicked so much. That's before you consider their backline consisted of one of the most highly rated young EQ Flyhalves, an Arg international and an Eng Saxon in the centres, and a back three with an Eng international, a Scot international and Eng Sevens international.

[Digby]

Oddly there were a lot of tries, including for the backs, but some of the defending looked like the players were only recently off the beer so...

JPP also got himself a yellow in a game the ref went out of his way to avoid yellows, and he was only a few minutes onto the pitch in the 2nd half. First he fell the wrong side, then tried to roll on the ball and then had a kick at the ball close to the Tigers tryline. Brilliantly a number around me in the South stand thought it a poor decision, so i moved quickly to make myself popular

[Mikey Brown]

Beale comes across very well (rather frustratingly) in this interview, though it is full of the same old questions/platitudes. He actually seems like a normal guy, he's even lost the dodgy haircut and paedo tache. I really enjoyed hating him, great player though.

[Guwuffle]

Premiership Winner: Leicester

Table order:

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

Top try scorer: Chris Ashton

Top points scorer: Stephen Myler

Surprise of the season: Wasps to come close to breaking the European highest score record in their opener against Zebre.

Player having a breakthrough season: Nathan Earle - if I keep predicting it, hopefully it will happen.

Best signing: Kieran Longbottom

The Jerome Schuster Award for least effective signing: Opeti Fonua

Other Farrell top scorer in the Champions Cup and Ashton to take Clerc's try scoring record.

[TheNomad]

AP Winner: Saracens

Table:
1. Saracens
2. Wasps
3. Tigers
4. Chiefs
5. Bath
6. Saints
7. Sale
8. Quins
9. Glous
10. Wuss
11. Bristol
12. Falcons

Top try scorer: Wade
Top points scorer: Steenson
Surprise of the season: How close it will be - some really good teams this year
Breakout season: Alex Lozoswki - such a talented player
Best Signing: Matt Toomoa
Jerome Schuster award: Nick de Luca - surprised they signed him frankly