Which Premiership newcomers will do well?

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Scrumhead
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Which Premiership newcomers will do well?

Post by Scrumhead »

There's a good amount of new talent in the Premiership this season. Obviously some are more high profile than others, but there's a decent squad of newcomers.

1. Reid (London Irish) / van Wyk (Northampton) / Boyce (Harlequins)
2. Tolofua (Saracens) / Fainga'a (London Irish)
3. Saulo (London Irish) / Tarus (Sale) / John (Sale) / Kerrod (Worcester)
4. Van der Sluys (Exeter) / Lomidze (London Irish)
5. Skelton (Saracens) / Paulo (London Irish)
6. Ackermann (Gloucester) / Ross (Sale) / Ryan (Leicester) / Mapapalangi (Leicester)
7. Underhill (Bath) / Polledri (Gloucester)
8. Strauss (Sale) / Bothma (Harlequins) / Burrows (Newcastle) / Schatz (London Irish)
9. White (Exeter) / De Klerk (Sale) / Reinach (Northampton) / Meehan (London Irish)
10. Catrakilis (Harlequins) / Francis (Northampton) / Marshall (London Irish)
11. Nalaga (London Irish) / van der Merwe (Newcastle)
12. De Jongh (Wasps) / Matavesi (Newcastle)
13. Horne (Northampton) / Saili (Harlequins) / Lovabalu (Wasps)
14. Cokanasiga (London Irish) / Malouf (Leicester)
15. Williams (Saracens) / McLean (London Irish)

I was also tempted to include Toomua becasue he didn't play last season and Flood as a returnee.

Who do you reckon will do well?

I think there will be a few surprises from unheralded players. I reckon some of the players stepping-up from the Championship will do well and I think players who haven't attracted much attention like van der Merwe or Jono Ross could be surprise hits.
Last edited by Scrumhead on Sat Aug 12, 2017 3:40 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Mellsblue
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Re: Which Premiership newcomers will do well?

Post by Mellsblue »

Williams if the play him at 15. Hopefully not White due to the youngsters playing most of matches.
16th man
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Re: Which Premiership newcomers will do well?

Post by 16th man »

I reckon you need to put O'Connor in with the 10s.
Tigersman
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Re: Which Premiership newcomers will do well?

Post by Tigersman »

Holmes played prem rugby for Wasps.
Scrumhead
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Re: Which Premiership newcomers will do well?

Post by Scrumhead »

OK - I'll take Holmes out ...

Re. O'Connor at 10 or 15. I guess Sale have said they see him as a 10, so I'll swap him around.

Any opinions on who will do well rather than nitpicking at the list of players? ;)
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Adam_P
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Re: Which Premiership newcomers will do well?

Post by Adam_P »

Scrumhead wrote: Any opinions on who will do well rather than nitpicking at the list of players? ;)
Saints have signed Francis as a 10 as well...
16th man
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Re: Which Premiership newcomers will do well?

Post by 16th man »

Scrumhead wrote:OK - I'll take Holmes out ...

Re. O'Connor at 10 or 15. I guess Sale have said they see him as a 10, so I'll swap him around.

Any opinions on who will do well rather than nitpicking at the list of players? ;)
Well if you're going to be like that.....

It's hard to see how De Klerk and O'Connor won't be a massive improvement on Phillips and McGinty or Mugford. I think Jono Ross could be a top signing too.
Timbo
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Re: Which Premiership newcomers will do well?

Post by Timbo »

O'Connor has played Prem too...sorry.

I fancy 2 of the more effective signings might be Lovabavalu at Wasps and Don Ryan at Leicester. Potentially just the kinds of players those two teams have been missing.
Scrumhead
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Re: Which Premiership newcomers will do well?

Post by Scrumhead »

OK - fair point. I forgot about O'Connor's stint at London Irish TBH ...

According to Google, Don Ryan is a solicitor in Cork, so I'll assume you mean Dom Ryan ;) ?

I agree that Ryan could be a good signing. Tigers have lacked a hard-hitting, aggressive back rower and I think he could definitely offer the abrasiveness they've been missing.

Jono Ross is my tip to shine. I think he'll do really well in the Premiership and signing him along with Strauss will really help to add muscle to the Sharks' back row.

My tip for a young player who will make a surprise impression is Jake Polledri at Gloucester.
fivepointer
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Re: Which Premiership newcomers will do well?

Post by fivepointer »

I'm interested to see how Boyce goes at Quins and Francis at Saints.

O'Connor at Sale might be a glorious success - or a disaster. Should be fun finding out.
Tigersman
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Re: Which Premiership newcomers will do well?

Post by Tigersman »

My worry about Ross is the sale tight 5 platform.

the locks or props are not heavy hitter esp is Beaumont and Nott are playing lock.

ross might have to be involved in the tight too much.
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