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
Re: Premiership Predictions Thread 2016-17
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2016 10:10 pm
by 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.
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.
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
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:
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.
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.
Re: Premiership Predictions Thread 2016-17
Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2016 8:57 pm
by Puja
Eugene Wrayburn wrote: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.
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.
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
Re: Premiership Predictions Thread 2016-17
Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 8:45 pm
by Puja
swindonbri wrote: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
Re: Premiership Predictions Thread 2016-17
Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2016 1:17 pm
by Which Tyler
Re: Premiership Predictions Thread 2016-17
Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2016 2:33 pm
by 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
Re: Premiership Predictions Thread 2016-17
Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2016 2:48 pm
by Mellsblue
Digby wrote: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.
Re: Premiership Predictions Thread 2016-17
Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2016 3:53 pm
by 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
Re: Premiership Predictions Thread 2016-17
Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2016 4:22 pm
by 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.
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