RugbyRebels

Just one and a half weeks until the season starts again, so it's time for everyone's favourite tradition of demonstrating that we all know the square root of fuck-all about rugby.

I expect everyone to go big and bold with their predictions this year - none of this "I pick Marcus Smith for the breakthrough player" nonsense, we want something to mock look back on at the end of the season.


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:
I would say anyone with an international cap (WJoseph, Arundell, JVP, Martin, etc) or would've been considered a 20+ game Prem starter isn't eligible.

Best signing:
I find this useful: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_2 ... _transfers

Best unheralded signing:

The [Redacted] Award for lowest performance to hype ratio from a new signing:

The Jerome Schuster Award for most valueless signing:


Puja

Premiership Winner:
Last year, I thought Leicester, but decided I was being biased and changed my mind to say Sale. That wasn't a good decision. This year I was planning on saying Saracens, but I've been really impressed with both our pre-season and the form of Pollard for SA, so I'm going to go down the one-eyed route this time and say Leicester.

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

That was really hard to do! I could do the top 6 fine, but every time I tried to name the sides from 7 to 10, I wanted to put them higher! Really competitive mid-section this year with a load of strong players coming through.

European predictions - how will the English teams do?
Still got the stupid format, although hopefully fewer COVID cancellations turning the pools into a lottery. I'm picking 5 English teams to reach the last 16, Leicester and Saracens to reach the quarters and Leicester to win it.

What? I said I was letting the one-eyed predictions in this year.

Top try scorer:
Skosan

Top points scorer:
Handre Pollard

Surprise of the season:
Manu Tuilagi remains uninjured for the bulk of it.

Biggest disappointment:
Anthony Watson, Joe Cokanasiga, and Raffi Quirke all remain injury-prone and fail to string a run of games together. Plus Worcester being gone as a top-tier club by the end of the season, whether through administration or sheer inability to field a reasonable team with >100 point hammerings resulting in them having to withdraw.

Player having a breakthrough season:
I've picked him before for this award and been thwarted, but I do think this is Phil Cokanasiga's season. The move to Leicester will do him wonders, especially the harsh fitness regimen and high expectations and I think, if he kicks on, he's got the talent to play for England this season. Also adding in a late edit for Anyanwu of Quins - he'll get opportunity while Esterhuizen is away and looked mustard in the preseason.

Best signing:
Not that many signings this season compared to previous. Pollard's going to be key to Leicester, but he will be away for a chunk of the season, and the same applies to Genge for Bristol and Ford for Sale (albeit differing reasons). I think I'm going to pick AJ McGinty for Bristol.

Best unheralded signing:
The return of Ethan Waller is good for Saints (plus I hear they've signed Hinkley to a permanent contract - why did no-one report that here?!). Solomone Kata's also going to do well for Exeter and will be a good bosh foil for Slade. However, I think Ollie Cracknell's going to have a big season for Leicester.

The [Redacted] Award for lowest performance to hype ratio from a new signing:
Aside from Pollard, no-one's really coming with a great deal of hype this season. I'm going to go for Scott Sio, not necessarily because there's huge hype, but because I think there'll be low performance.

The Jerome Schuster Award for most valueless signing:
GJ Van Velze to Bath from Tel Aviv Heat.


Puja

Premiership Winner:
Saracens. They'll find a way to grind out results and keep in touch despite missing so many players for long spells

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

European predictions - how will the English teams do?
Sarries to go the furthest, but not make the final. Tigers to get to the knockouts.

Top try scorer:
Sam Simmonds

Top points scorer:
Pollard

Surprise of the season:
Wasps still being in business at the end of it

Biggest disappointment:
Tom Willis not getting international recognition

Player having a breakthrough season:
Does Tom Pearson count?

Best signing:
Thought about McGinty for Bristol, but think it might be Tizard for Sarries. Think he'll thrive in that environment and get a lot of minutes.

Best unheralded signing:
Seems like all the signings have been trumpeted, but I think Niall Annett will go well for Bath

The [Redacted] Award for lowest performance to hype ratio from a new signing:
Koch for Wasps. He won't solve the problems singlehandedly that some seem to expect him too.

The Jerome Schuster Award for most valueless signing:
Ibitoye for Bristol or Woodward for Sale

Premiership Winner:
Saracens, can’t see past them. I think Leicester while having a good season are slightly rebuilding after having lost the leadership of Genge and Ford.

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

European predictions - how will the English teams do?
I genuinely have no idea, I would hope for last four in the grown up cup and a finalist in the lesser cup.

Top try scorer:
I am going out on a limb and say Tom Collins from Saints. He is a great finisher with a good strike rate but just can’t get a run of games. With the rise of Freeman and his time away on international duty this could be his season.

Top points scorer:
I think Jackson at Irish, he is the most settled of fly halves and never away.

Surprise of the season:
Still having 13 teams in the competition by the end of the season.

Biggest disappointment:
Uncle Eddie returning to type and continuing to experiment with the England Team. Ahhhh, look mate…………

Player having a breakthrough season:
Manny Iyogun at Saints. I think he is destined for international honours (but not yet).

Best signing:
Jimmy Gopperth for Tigers.

Best unheralded signing:
Calum Braley for Saints.

The [Redacted] Award for lowest performance to hype ratio from a new signing:
Anthony Watson who is injured again most of the season.

The Jerome Schuster Award for most valueless signing:
Can’t see past Ibitoye.

Premiership Winner: Saracens - but not sure, just seem the safest bet

Table order:
Saracens
Tigers
Saints
Sale
Quins
Bristol
Exe
Irish
Wasps
Glaws
Bath
Falcons
Wuss

Depresses me that I kept pushing Wasps down as I thought of more sides.

European predictions - how will the English teams do? Sarries, Tigers and Sale to knockouts. Wasps and Bath too (little league cup). Semi final in both.

Top try scorer: Nic Dolly in a crazy maul filled excess.

Top points scorer: Ford (banking on him still not playing for England)

Surprise of the season: Falcons will turnover a couple of sides in the eventual top 4, despite not doing well overall.

Biggest disappointment: Wasps will look like kicking on repeatedly, but not quite put games to bed etc (well it's disappointing for me).

Player having a breakthrough season: Olly Hartley. More a fingers crossed sort of thing. Expecting Mills to be broken.

Best signing: Gopps.

Best unheralded signing: Does someone like Woodward from Glaws to Sale count?

The [Redacted] Award for lowest performance to hype ratio from a new signing: Pollard. Biggest hype I reckon (in as much as he's replacing Ford). Koch will be a close 2nd, as suggested, for not solving all Wasps woes.

The Jerome Schuster Award for most valueless signing: Scott Sio. Not sure why, but I can just see him not working out that well. Perhaps more a reflection on him being a big name too.

Raggs wrote:Top try scorer: Nic Dolly in a crazy maul filled excess.

Dolly's injury is likely to keep him out till December, just FYI.

Puja

Puja wrote:

Raggs wrote:Top try scorer: Nic Dolly in a crazy maul filled excess.

Dolly's injury is likely to keep him out till December, just FYI.

Puja

I stand by my ignorance....

Raggs wrote:

Puja wrote:

Raggs wrote:Top try scorer: Nic Dolly in a crazy maul filled excess.

Dolly's injury is likely to keep him out till December, just FYI.

Puja

I stand by my ignorance....

Ford is also out until late December so will have to go be in fire in the second half of the season to be top points scorer.

Premiership Winner:
Gloucester. Doing it for Ed.

Table order:

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

European predictions - how will the English teams do?
Couple in the quarter finals but the semis to be three French teams and Leinster again.

Top try scorer:
Skosan

Top points scorer:
Joe Simmonds.

Surprise of the season:
Both Wasps and Worcester are in business by the end of it.

Biggest disappointment:
The Worcester cowboys don't face jail time or at least bans from being directors.

Player having a breakthrough season:
Freddie Lockwood or Iwan Stephens at Falcons. Hayden Hyde at Quins, if he stays fit Ilione at Tigers. I have liked the look of Phil Cokanasiga in pre season though.

Best signing:
AJ McGinty, give Bristol some of the control they desperately lacked last season.

Best unheralded signing:
Burger Odendaal for Wasps, not much chat about him but he could be very hand, Robbie Smith at Saints will be their starting hooker by end of the season. Cracknell at Tigers though, that looks a great fit.

The [Redacted] Award for lowest performance to hype ratio from a new signing:
Johnny Hill

The Jerome Schuster Award for most valueless signing:
Piers Francis

Premiership Winner: Exeter

Table order:

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

European predictions - how will the English teams do?
Complete lottery with the current format. One semi finalist, probably Sarries or Leicester. French team to win it again.

Top try scorer: Sam Simmonds

Top points scorer: AJ Macginty

Surprise of the season: Leinster trophyless again.

Biggest disappointment: Quins have an inconsistent struggle of a season.

Player having a breakthrough season: Maybe Groves, the Sale lock signed from Bristol. Should get a bit of game time at least.

Best signing: AJ Macginty

Best unheralded signing: Van Heerden at Chiefs

The [Redacted] Award for lowest performance to hype ratio from a new signing: Pollard

The Jerome Schuster Award for most valueless signing: Chris Cloete.

Here’s mine

Premiership Winner: Saracens (sadly)

Table order:

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

European predictions - how will the English teams do?

OK. The draw is pretty savage for Quins and Saints. Saracens, Tigers and Exeter have a much kinder set of fixtures so I’d back those three for the QFs. Saracens for the Semis.

Top try scorer:

Cadan Murley

Top points scorer:

Paddy Jackson

Surprise of the season:

Gloucester to put up a really strong challenge

Biggest disappointment:

Anthony Watson spending more time on the treatment table than on the pitch.

Player having a breakthrough season:

James Harper. I think I tipped him last season too before injury ruled him out. Hopefully he’ll be injury free this time out.

*I do think it was a bit harsh to rule out Will Joseph. Yes, he might have picked up a couple of caps, but he was an extremely leftfield selection to tour and I don’t think I’d really class last season as his ‘breakthrough’ given he barely featured for Irish.

Best signing:
I find this useful: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_2 ... _transfers

Hugh Tizard

Best unheralded signing:

Angus Scott-Young

The [Redacted] Award for lowest performance to hype ratio from a new signing:

Anthony Watson (see above)

The Jerome Schuster Award for most valueless signing:

Eduardo Bello. Argentinian props have been poor in the Premiership since Figallo left.

Premiership Winner: Bristol

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


European predictions - how will the English teams do? Poorly. Maybe 1 QF.

Top try scorer: Cadan Murley

Top points scorer: Joe Simmonds

Surprise of the season: We dont lose a team

Biggest disappointment: Our teams struggle in Europe and England lose to NZ in the autumn.

Player having a breakthrough season: Sam Riley

Best signing: AJ McGinty / Ellis Genge. Good business by Pat, both players will add a lot to the Bristol effort.

Best unheralded signing: Will Haydon-Wood. Very surprised Newcastle let him go. The lad definitely has something.

The [Redacted] Award for lowest performance to hype ratio from a new signing: Pollard. The downgrade from Ford will be obvious.

The Jerome Schuster Award for most valueless signing: Fear it might be Gopperth. One season too many?

Premiership Winner: Sarries

Table order:
Sarries
Tigers
Sale
Exeter
Northampton
Quins
LI
Bristol
Bath
Gloucester
Wasps
Newcastle
Worcester

European predictions - how will the English teams do?
Can’t be bothered to look at the fixture list as it’s such a mess

Top try scorer:
Lynagh

Top points scorer:
MacGinty

Surprise of the season:
Bath to be top half. I know I have predicted them to be in the bottom half but that’s how much of a surprise it will be.

Biggest disappointment:
Expansive teams struggle more than last season.

Player having a breakthrough season:
Nordli-Kelemeti

Best signing:
Quinn Roux

Best unheralded signing:
RICH LANE!!! obvs

The [Redacted] Award for lowest performance to hype ratio from a new signing:
Pollard

The Jerome Schuster Award for most valueless signing:
Piers Francis

Scrumhead, pretty tough for most Argie props when they get compared to the likes of Figallo or arguably the Prem's best ever loosehead Ayerza.

Fivepointer, I don't think Falcons wanted Haydon-Wood to go, more of a case of Wasps offering him more. Unsure when Wasps got the deal done but if it was before he took over the starting 10 berth before the last few months of the season after which Falcons had already agreed to bring in another 10, could be a case of Wasps getting him on a good deal before Falcons could. Possibly slightly under market rate. The Falcons fans I knew were pretty annoyed he was going and seemed to think the club weren't pleased about it either.

True, but that’s why I referenced Figallo (very good but not a great) rather than Ayerza and there’s no getting away from the fact that the last few Argentine international props in the Premiership have been poor. From the top of my head, Noguera Paz and Tetaz Chapparo made little no impact and how Garcia Botta got an extension at Quins (despite being comfortably the worst player in our senior squad) is beyond me. Gigena has been OK I guess, but no more than that.

Prem winners: Saracens. The formula still works annoyingly. Can’t see any signings or leavers that are going to change the status quo unfortunately.

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

European predictions - how will the English teams do?
Sarries to Semi’s undone by French or Irish opposition. Quins and Tigers to quarters at best.

Top try scorer:
LRZ

Top points scorer:
McGinty

Surprise of the season:
No red cards for high hits in round 1

Biggest disappointment:
Aside from Sarries winning again? All games v Worcester become dead rubbers.

Player having a breakthrough season:
Tricky one this. Basham at LI.

Best signing:
Probably Ford.

Best unheralded signing:
If it happens, Finn Smith to Saints

The [Redacted] Award for lowest performance to hype ratio from a new signing:
Sadly Watson to Tigers. I hope it doesn’t come to pass, would love to see him flying again, for England more so than Tigers of course.

The Jerome Schuster Award for most valueless signing:
Woodward for Sale, too injury prone.

Gloskarlos wrote:Player having a breakthrough season:
Tricky one this. Genge probably, he might consolidate Brizz into a more cohesive force.

I feel that possibly goes a little bit against the guidelines of "not capped or 20+ games per season Prem player"!

Puja

Puja wrote:

Gloskarlos wrote:Player having a breakthrough season:
Tricky one this. Genge probably, he might consolidate Brizz into a more cohesive force.

I feel that possibly goes a little bit against the guidelines of "not capped or 20+ games per season Prem player"!

Puja

That Tigers prop that came through the academy, Dan Cole, I reckon he might have a breakout year and be pretty key to their scrum this season.

Puja wrote:

Gloskarlos wrote:Player having a breakthrough season:
Tricky one this. Genge probably, he might consolidate Brizz into a more cohesive force.

I feel that possibly goes a little bit against the guidelines of "not capped or 20+ games per season Prem player"!

Puja

Yes fair enough. It was between Genge and Ford for the best signing category. I did a bloke look before I posted.

Will change to Basham at LI

Gloskarlos wrote:

Puja wrote:

Gloskarlos wrote:Player having a breakthrough season:
Tricky one this. Genge probably, he might consolidate Brizz into a more cohesive force.

I feel that possibly goes a little bit against the guidelines of "not capped or 20+ games per season Prem player"!

Puja

Yes fair enough. It was between Genge and Ford for the best signing category. I did a bloke look before I posted.

Will change to Basham at LI

Basham's a great shout; I reserve the right to steal that one.

Puja

Puja wrote:

Gloskarlos wrote:

Puja wrote:
I feel that possibly goes a little bit against the guidelines of "not capped or 20+ games per season Prem player"!

Puja

Yes fair enough. It was between Genge and Ford for the best signing category. I did a bloke look before I posted.

Will change to Basham at LI

Basham's a great shout; I reserve the right to steal that one.

Puja

Yep. I flip flopped between him and Nordli-Kelemeti

Basham is a very good young player, don't think Falcons were happy LI signed him back. Canny pick as well as he's on 19 Prem appearances so just inside Puja's cut off.

Premiership Winner: Saracens

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

European predictions - how will the English teams do? Like a drain. OK, maybe 1 semi-final for Saracens

Top try scorer: Lynagh

Top points scorer: Smith

Surprise of the season: Manu doesn't break!

Biggest disappointment: Wuss situation.

Player having a breakthrough season: I'm going to go for Tizard here. He's been mentioned elsewhere as a good signing, and he's a damn fine player.

Best signing: Ford. Qualified by the fact Sale don't win a game he misses

Best unheralded signing: Charlie Matthews back for Quins. With Lewies' injury record last year, he'll play a lot of games. I think he'll go well.

The [Redacted] Award for lowest performance to hype ratio from a new signing: Pollard.

The Jerome Schuster Award for most valueless signing: This is the most difficult one, but it's hard to look past the 2 mentioned the most: Woodward or GJvV. I'll go with Woodward.

Feel pretty out of touch running into this season. The build up has been quiet.

Premiership Winner: Bristol

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

European predictions - how will the English teams do?
Don't really care anymore after last year's format. Maybe two in the semi-finals - say Leicester and Sarries

Top try scorer:
Freeman (Jones to take a random dislike to a form player)

Top points scorer:
Ford

Surprise of the season:
As above - Bristol to completely turnaround from last season

Biggest disappointment:
Leicester and Sarries at top of the table and the game trends back towards forward orientated grind.

Player having a breakthrough season:
Take a punt - Hendy or Litchfield at Saints, displacing Dingwall. Atkinson at Wasps broke out last year but could take another step.

Best signing:
Can I have Hinckley? If not, Haydon-Wood.

Best unheralded signing:
Bradbury to Bristol - a bit of Scottish bias but should suit him and there's a lot of potential there

The [Redacted] Award for lowest performance to hype ratio from a new signing:
Francis to Bath - the youngsters keep the jerseys and make him a bit redundant

The Jerome Schuster Award for most valueless signing:
Moroni to Newcastle. Just don't rate him and think they've got better players.

Premiership Winner:
Leicester Tigers

Table order:
Saracens
Leicester
Quins
Exeter
Saints
Gloucester
Sale
London Irish
Bath
Falcons
Bristol
Wasps
Worcester

European predictions - how will the English teams do? Tigers and Sarries too the quarter's potentially semi's depending who they face

Top try scorer: McGuigan

Top points scorer: Jackson

Surprise of the season: Harry Potter to get a England call up

Biggest disappointment: Reckon 2 head coaches will get sacked end of season.

Player having a breakthrough season: Litchfield or Whitcombe

Best signing: Was going to say Ford BUT he's out for half the season already, Salakaia-Loto or Hugh Tizard to get a England cap and be the Sarries starting lock with Itoje

Best unheralded signing: Cracknell

The [Redacted] Award for lowest performance to hype ratio from a new signing: Honestly going with Genge just don't think he will gel at Bristol. Going to be a Sinckler repeat couple of great games but overall not been good. He's not coming back because he believes in the club he's coming back to be closer to his family, and I just don't think his style will fit Lam's he works well with straight talking coaches and I think he will struggle (My prediction is this will be Lam's last year and I do think Genge will pick up with a different coach and Bristol will depending on said coach).

The Jerome Schuster Award for most valueless signing: AJ Mcginty I think he will play less than 10 games this season was between him and Watson really.