What To Watch Out For As The New Aviva Premiership Season Kicks Off

What To Watch Out For As The New Aviva Premiership Season Kicks Off
09:26, 01 Sep 2017

Exeter Chiefs completed a fairytale journey when they were crowned Aviva Premiership champions after beating Wasps in last season’s final at Twickenham.

It was a remarkable achievement for a club who just seem to get better each year under the astute guidance of Rob Baxter.

The Devon club were promoted under Baxter in May 2010 and have not looked back since, but retaining their crown this season will take some doing.

Continuity will hold them in good stead, however, as changes to their squad during the summer have been minimal, with flanker Matt Kvesic a key addition from Gloucester.

Wasps are another side to make significant progress in recent seasons and Dai Young’s men will aim to go one better than last term.

Kurtley Beale and Frank Halai have gone but Gabiriele Lovobalavu, Marcus Watson and Juan de Jongh are notable new recruits as Wasps look to secure another play-off spot.

Which brings us to perennial challengers Saracens, who lost to Exeter in the semi-finals last season but are still the team to beat.

A squad packed full of England stars retained the European Cup in May and will now look to reclaim their domestic crown.

Chris Ashton has gone and others have retired but it will take a special team to topple Sarries this term.

Leicester Tigers axed Richard Cockerill midway through last season and the Premiership heavyweights need to get back where they feel they belong.

In Matt O’Connor’s first full season in charge, George Ford is back at Welford Road and could make all the difference, while Manu Tuilagi can destroy the best defences in the game.

Bath failed to make the top four last season but showed signs of progress under Todd Blackadder.

How they cope with the loss of Ford will be crucial and the onus is on new arrival Freddie Burns to pull the strings at fly half.

Northampton will also hope for a better year after finishing a disappointing seventh last season.

Piers Francis, Rob Horne and Cobus Reinach have come in, while Louis Picamoles, George Pisi and Lee Dickson have headed out, with Jim Mallinder’s son Harry will look to continue his progress in the centres.

Harlequins have fallen just short in recent seasons but will be a respected force once again with England forward Chris Robshaw in their pack.

It is a new chapter at the Twickenham Stoop with legendary fly-half Nick Evans having retired and Quins bidding to find greater consistency.

Gloucester have underachieved for too long and the loss of Jonny May to Leicester will do them no favours, although Ed Slater will beef up their pack.

Sale Sharks won the Premiership in 2006 but not much has gone right for them since.

They remain hard to beat at the AJ Bell Stadium, though, under the uncompromising Steve Diamond and Australia international James O’Connor will look to make his mark after joining from Toulon.

Newcastle have made slow but steady progress under Dean Richards and the return of former England fly-half Toby Flood should ensure they kick on once again this season.

The battle to avoid the drop looks set to be between Worcester Warriors and newly-promoted London Irish.

Gary Gold has presided over a major overhaul of his squad since the end of last season, shipping 23 players out, and another 11th-placed finish would represent success.

Promoted back to the Premiership after one year away, London Irish look stronger this time around and have made some notable additions, including Petrie du Plessis and Napolioni Nalaga.

x
Suggested Searches:
The Sportsman
Manchester United
Liverpool
Manchester City
Premier League
Sportsman HQ
72-76 Cross St
Manchester M2 4JG
We will not ask you to provide any personal information when using The Sportsman website. You may see advertisement banners on the site, and if you choose to visit those websites, you will accept the terms and conditions and privacy policy applicable to those websites. The link below directs you to our Group Privacy Policy, and our Data Protection Officer can be contacted by email at: [email protected]

All original material is Copyright © 2019 by The Sportsman Communications Ltd.
Other material is copyright their respective owners.