I’m in a hotel room and a bit bored, and realised i never did my full season review!
the BOLD type will be the full season review, the normal type is what i wrote at the 13 game mark of the season…..and because i’m lazy, they won’t be listed as their final league positions.
Harlequins :- Started brightly, took advantage of not being overly disrupted by World Cup call ups. Evans is a REAL star, he would walk any team in the Premiership. Clegg as his replacement needs improve fast if he’s to fulfil his potential. Couple of bad results recently, but will be delighted with the first part of the season. I will give them an A
The A at half season is a big fat A star now! Conor’s boys were fantastic, recovered from a mini blip to deservedly take the crown. I admit in Care, Marler and Brown, the Quins have 3 of my least favourite players, but i cheered them on in the Prem finale and was delighted for them, and their fans! A**
Saracens :- Some big injury losses, especially at scrum half led to Peter Stringer being brought in on the ever rotating Saracens squad list, still possibly not hit their peak, which will worry the rest of the league, although with a lot of international calls for their key players during the 6 nations, they may be content to finish top 4 and push through the playoffs to defend their title. I think they will be a tad disappointed at being 2nd, for this reason, they can have a B+
Still an odd side to call. Never seemed comfortable as defending champs and were left wanting at the seasons end. Never hit their potential, and with the money being ploughed into Sarries, the owners will NOT be pleased! Their grade in my eyes, C+.
Northampton :- A bigger squad than last season and some real star turns in Lamb, Dickson and Artemyev have took Saints to third despite their key players being away at the World cup. Another side that may suffer during the 6 nations. I think Saints may well end up as the team to beat this season. Sorry Saints fans. Thats usually the kiss of death! Its an A for Jim Mallinders boys!
Saints are an enigma, they have a conveyer belt of top quality players coming through, yet never seem to show up for the big games. A lot of international call ups won’t have helped, but another ‘growth’ season for Saints. Mallinder has signed a new contract, but unless they win something big and SOON, i can’t see him getting his next one. B-
Leicester :- Absolute wretched start to the season when injuries and World Cup absentees depleted their squad. Great recovery, as you would expect, and looking like they may be a little less hampered by call ups for the 6 nations than usual! Can you ever bet against the Tigers? They are certainly no toothless kitties this season, they are the dictionary definition of resilience! Bad start would have given them a D, but strong recovery, a well earned B
Resilient, i called them, and they were ALMOST the recovery story of the season. Few big names leaving Welford Rd this summer, but some decent looking replacements rumoured/confirmed to be signing so far, not to mention George Ford starting to look the part, but how they’d have loved to send Alesana Tuilagi off to Japan with another winners medal, Alas not to be. Because of the recovery, and the outright style they played in for the second half of the season. Tigers get an A
London Irish:- As an outsider, i can’t say i’ve really noticed the Exiles this season, apart from the game at Kingsholm when Nick Wood single handedly destroyed their scrummage, but apart from Delon’s dalliances with the powers that be, They’ve seemingly flown under the radar. That said, Joseph and Schingler may well become the top centre pairing in the league. VERY promising!! Due to league position i’ll have to give them a decent grade, so i’ll give them a B-
I stand by my half way assessment of Irish. Workmanlike and effective. Could struggle next season with some big players off and Toby Booth heading to Bath, but this season, they can have a B-
Exeter Chiefs:- The Devonians are suprising everyone again. Well, everyone outside Exeter! They seemingly have no star players, but they are so well drilled and experts in what they do, that they are right in the race for Heineken cup places! I’m really impressed with the Chiefs, and they can have an A because i feel they are over achieving and if they can qualify for the Heineken cup next season, that A will get a * by it!
No need to review the Exiles. AWESOME season. They are on the map now, and have the Heineken cup spot. As promised….. A+
Sale Sharks:- Odd one. MASSIVE turnover of playing staff and on paper a really strong squad, but they don’t have any consistency. Maybe this will come when they have had more time to gel, but i think they will be disappointed this season so far. B-
Heineken cup spot cemented, new home ground and a new coach next season, added to the signings of the ilk of big Richie Grey, pressure is on, the owner has backed his team, time for the faith to be repaid. This season, C+
Gloucester :- As a Gloucester fan, its certainly a roller coaster ride this season. Some great performances have been put in, they were arguably robbed against Sarries at home,(and got a draw away against them) but also some lackluster displays have cost us points against the teams in the lower reaches, hampered by injuries in the second row, but buoyed by some fantastic performances by the young guns, May, Trinder, Sharples and Burns especially! Many prospects for the future, but Heineken qualification may be the best we can hope for this season! C
Think Glaws ended up with a 7 game losing streak, not good enough for the players or the fans. Redpath quit late season and made the highly UNSURPRISING switch to Sale and an exodus of top quality players didn’t really help, but things look bright with Ben Morgan, Jimmy Cowan, Billy Twelvetrees et al coming in. for this season though. No Heineken Cup place. awful. D.
Worcester Warriors:- The Warriors seem to be at a turning point, a great, Andy Goode inspired win over Glos at Sixways may very well be the catalyst to pushing on to the hallowed Heineken cup. Tipped by many as candidates for relegation, but Richard Hill’s boys seem to be intent on proving everyone wrong. B+
MUST TRY HARDER. see me after class.
Warriors fans want improvement year on year, and i’m not sure they are getting it. Need to kick on now and prove they are a good side. The lack of significant improvement, gets them a C-
Bath:- Ah….the old enemy! Lost Butch James, signed Stephen Donald as a replacement, got Olly Barkley back to fitness and shed the dead weight of Shontayne Hape, plus having Sir Ian McGeechan at the club SHOULD have made Bath strong contenders this season. Donald hasn’t set the league on fire, OB seems to be finding his feet again but the team are still struggling! definitely have the capacity to improve, but need a turnaround, and FAST! D-
BIG money going on next seasons coaching team, they have the players, the coaches could be the missing piece of the puzzle. Not a good season, and with the players and hype they had, i can only give them a D. Well. I gave Glos a D, so i’ll give Bath a D-. I’m horrible like that!
Wasps :- Another side in unfamiliar territory. They are used to sprinting to the finish line, but will need to be Usain Bolt to hit the top 4 this season. Had a couple of real prospects emerge in Wade and Daly, but will be mortified with their current standings! D-
Awful season, on and off field. No money, almost bankrupt (yet have signed Stephen Jones for next season) but will want to see the back of the 11/12 season. F
Newcastle :- Hard to rate the Falcons. They are in the position most people will have expected them to be in, but showing no real signs of fight. Replacing the head honcho may provide a spark to set them off and running, but can they claw back the gap already formed, and will the teams above them continue to struggle? I personally can’t see a way back for them, and i honestly hope i’m wrong. F
Almost did the impossible, but looks like it doesn’t matter anyway as the RFU seem to be ringfencing the premiership. Dean Richards in as next seasons Head Coach and some big names on their way to Kingston Park. The Falcons will be a tougher prospect next season! D
so there ya go.
off for a swim!
byeeeeeee
RC-K
xx
pyr8speaks 