Rabo team by team guide...

[browner]

Compiled by GERRY THORNLEY

BENETTON TREVISO

Head coach: Franco Smith.

Captain: TBC

Ground: Stadio Monigo (cap: 6,000).

Last five seasons: DC (Didn’t compete), DC, DC, 10th, 10th.

INS: J Ambrosini (Queensland), D Budd (NEC Green Rockets), A de Marchi (Aironi), A Esposito (Tarvisium), S Favaro (Aironi), G la Grange (Lions), C Loamanu (Toulon), G Maistri (Calvisano), L Morisi (Crociati), J Roux (Bordeaux-Begles), G Toniolatti (Aironi).

OUTS: A Chillon (Zebre), C Fazzari (Zebre), E Galon (Mogliano), G Garcia (Zebre), E Pavanello (Mogliano).

Fell away badly last season when losing their last 10 but until then Treviso had looked a well-drilled team under Smith, competitive away as well as at home. The signing of Azzurri-qualified James Ambrosini, the great white hope of Italian rugby, from Queensland will be interesting.

Forecast: 6th.

DRAGONS

Head coach: Darren Edwards.

Captain: Lewis Evans.

Ground: Rodney Parade (9,092).

Last five seasons: 8th, 9th, 7th, 7th, 9th.

INS: D Evans (Scarlets), I Nimmo (Cornish Pirates), T Prydie (Ospreys), T Ryan (Prato), H Stoddart (Newport).

OUTS: A Brew (Biarritz), R Buckley, L Burns (retired), R Cadman, L Charteris (Perpignan), H Ellis, R Jenkins, J Leadbeater, T Riley (Cornish Pirates), G Robinson, M Thomas (Gloucester), J Tovey (Cardiff Blues).

Retaining Dan Lydiate was a coup, but this has been more than offset by further trimming of their sails with the departure of Luke Charteris, Aled Brew, Martyn Thomas and Jason Tovey. Have oscillated between 7th and 9th for the last seven seasons thanks in the main to their competitiveness at Rodney Parade, but may even dip below that.

Forecast: 10th

MUNSTER

Head coach: Rob Penney.

Captain: Doug Howlett.

Ground: Thomond Park (25,000) and Musgrave Park (9,251).

Last five seasons: 3rd, 1st, 4th (semi-final), 1st (winners), 3rd (semi-final).

INS: S Dougall (Rotherham Titans), J Downey (Northampton Saints), C Laulala (Cardiff Blues), CJ Stander (Bulls).

OUTS: P Borlase, D Cusack, J Flannery (retired), D Fogarty (Aurillac), T Gleeson, J Hayes (retired), D Hurley (retired), D Leamy (retired), L Mafi (Perpignan), M O’Driscoll (retired), T O’Leary (London Irish), D Wallace (retired).

Unless Tommy O’Donnell or Dave O’Callaghan come on a ton, or the 22-year-old Stander (ex-Boks under-21 capt) hits the ground sprinting in October, Munster look thinner at backrow and elsewhere. Rob Penney can only work with what he’s got and the transitional era continues.

Forecast: 4th.

GLASGOW

Head coach: Gregor Townsend.

Captain: Alastair Kellock.

Ground: Scotstoun Stadium (cap 5,250).

Last five seasons: 5th, 7th, 3rd (s/f), 11th, 4th (s/f).

INS: S Lamont (Scarlets), V Ma’afu (Mitsubishi Dynaboars), A MacDonald (Coca Cola Red Sparks), N Matawalu (Suva), B McGuigan (Border Bulldogs), T Paris (Canada 7s), T Swinson (Newcastle Falcons), J White (Clermont Auvergne).

OUTS: F M Aramburu (retired), J Beattie (Montpellier), R Dewey, C Forrester (Ayr), R Gray (Sale Sharks), D Lemi (Worcester Warriors), R McAlpine (Edinburgh), C Shaw, F Thomson, R Verbakel.

Curious how Sean Lineen effectively rebuilt a financially shredded squad to make them improbable semi-finalists for a second time in his tenure and was then moved aside for Gregor Townsend. Richie Gray will be a huge loss.

Forecast: 7th.

ZEBRE

Head coach: Roberto Manghi.

Captain: Marco Bortolami.

Ground: XXV Aprile Stadium (5,000).

Last five seasons: Didn’t compete.

INS: Everybody.

OUTS: Nobody.

These are a new Italian outfit to replace bottom-of-the-table Aironi, although the new Parma-based professional region have taken 22 players from the now defunct Viadana-based franchise.

In the process, they have has become very much a plaything of the Italian Federation, with much of their academy and under-age management also operating out of the Zebres.

Liable to be particularly competitive at their own compact home, and it could be Connacht’s misfortune to be served up there first.

Forecast: 12th.

CONNACHT

Head coach: Eric Elwood

Captain: Gavin Duffy

Ground: The Sportsground (cap 6,000).

Last five seasons: 10th, 10th, 10th, 9th, 8th.

INS: W Faloon (Ulster), J Harris-Wright (Bristol), B Murphy (Galwegians), D Parks (Cardiff Blues), D Poolman (Stormers), N White (Leinster)

OUTS: H Fa’afili, D Murphy, N O’Connor (Ulster), R Ofisa, D Rogers, J Stephens, B Tuohy.

All-time high of eighth last season was all the more remarkable given the extra demands placed on them of their first H Cup campaign and a mid-season losing sequence of 13 in both competitions and there was significant progress off the pitch too.

The addition of Dan Parks could potentially be the key to turning near misses into wins.

Forecast: 8th.

LEINSTER

Head coach: Joe Schmidt

Captain: Leo Cullen

Ground: RDS (cap 18,000).

Last five seasons: 1st, 3rd, 1st (finalists), 2nd (finalists), 1st (finalists)

INS: M Bent (Hurricanes), T Denton (Leeds Carnegie), A Goodman (Tasman Makos), Q Roux (Stormers).

OUTS: M Berquist (Biarritz), S Horgan (retired), E Sheridan (Rotherham Titans), N White (Connacht).

The best side, pound for pound, last season (bar the final) and the last three seasons (bar three finals!). That must rankle, but given they also have the most settled squad in the league, with no changes to a quality coaching staff, and have again sought to improve their less than impressive recruitment of locks with Roux and Denton, look to have the means to overcome another weakened start and reach a holy grail.

Forecast: 1st and champions.

SCARLETS

Head coach: Simon Easterby.

Captain: Gran Evans.

Ground: Parc y Scarlets (14,800).

Last five seasons : 6th, 5th, 9th, 5th, 5th.

INS : G Earle (Cheetahs), G Owen (Ospreys), K Phillips (Ospreys), T Vallejos (Harlequins), J Adriaanse (MTN Lions).

OUTS: D Day (Bath), D Evans (Newport Gwent Dragons), M Gilbert (Mogliano), S Jones (London Wasps), S Lamont (Glasgow Warriors), B Morgan (Gloucester), L Reed (Cardiff Blues), I Thomas (retired), R Thomas (retired), D Welch (Exeter Chiefs).

Already lacking oomph in the tight five, Simon Easterby inherited a squad which lost both Thomas props to retirement along with locks Lou Reed, Damien Welch and Dominic Day. If the new signings can provide the ammunition the Scarlets have a gifted array of young backs to capitalise.

Forecast: 3rd.

EDINBURGH

Head coach: Michael Bradley.

Captain: Greig Laidlaw.

Ground: Murrayfield (cap 67,144).

Last five seasons : 4th, 2nd, 6th, 8th, 11th.

INS: B Atiga (Highlanders), D Basilaia (Georgia), R McAlpine (Glasgow Warriors), W Petrus Nel (Free State Cheetahs), P-J Parker (Esher), M Penn (Worcester Warriors), R Rees (Cardiff Blues), G Tonks (Northampton), I Van der Westhuizen (Free State Cheetahs), J Yapp (Cardiff Blues).

OUTS: M Blair (Brive), P Godman (London Scottish), J Thompson (London Scottish), S Webster (retired), U Gamboa, J Gilding, A Kelly, E Lozada (Agen), A MacDonald, C Paterson (retired), K Traynor.

Last season’s thrilling run to the Heineken Cup semi-finals masked a continuing decline in the bread and butter stuff which culminated in a worst ever 11th place finish. Neil Back as forwards coach will be interesting.

Forecast: 9th.

CARDIFF BLUES

Head coach: Phil Davies.

Captain: Andreas Pretorius.

Ground: Cardiff Arms Park (cap 13,000).

Last five seasons: 2nd, 6th, 5th, 6th, 7th.

INS: B Borrust (Perpignan), R Copeland (Rotherham Titans), A Kyriacou (Ulster), R Lewis (London Welsh), C Ma’afu (West Harbour Pirates), L Reed (Scarlets), J Tovey (Dragons).

OUTS: B Blair (Agen), G Henson (London Welsh), G Jenkins (Toulon), D Jones (retired), C Laulala (Munster), M Molitika, D Parks (Connacht), R Rees (Edinburgh), R Thomas (London Wasps), P Tito, M Williams (retired), J Yapp (Edinburgh).

After some flawed investments (Cardiff City Stadium and Gavin Henson) the cash-strapped Blues have returned to the Arms Park amid a flight of Wild Geese proportions to pastures new. The net effect will mean a trying, transitional season (or more).

Forecast: 10th.

OSPREYS

Head coach: Steve Tandy

Captain: Alun Wyn Jones.

Ground: Liberty Stadium.

Last five seasons: 7th, 4th, 2nd (Winners), 4th (s/f), 2nd (Winners).

INS: J Spratt (London Irish).

OUTS: H Bennett (Lyon), T Bowe (Ulster), M Davies (Swansea), C Griffiths (London Irish), P James (Bath), G Owen (Scarlets), S Parker (London Welsh), K Phillips (Scarlets), T Prydie (Newport Gwent Dragons), T Smith (London Irish), W Taylor (London Wasps), N Walker (Worcester Warriors), S Williams (Mitsubishi Dynaboars), C Griffiths.

With the remainder of last season’s pack, the Ospreys should have the firepower up front to remain the strongest Welsh contenders but more than a sprinkle of stardust has been lost with the retirement of Shane Williams and departure of Tommy Bowe.

Forecast: 2nd.

ULSTER

Head coach: Mark Anscombe.

Captain: Johann Muller.

Ground: Ravenhill (11,600).

Last five seasons: 9th, 8th, 8th, 3rd (s/f), 6th.

INS : T Bowe (Ospreys), S Doyle (Southern Districts), M Heaney (Doncaster), R Herring (Western Province), N O’Connor (Connacht), N Williams (Aironi), R Wilson (Northampton).

OUTS: T Barker (Rainey OB), J Cronin (Doncaster), S Danielli (retired), W Faloon (Connacht), I Humphreys (London Irish), A Kyriacou (Cardiff), J McKinney (Rotherham), I Porter (Banbridge), P Wannenburg (Castres), I Whitten (Exeter Chiefs).

Understandably prioritised the H Cup on the run-in. As ten league defeats and 13 overall in 21 competitive games underline, they lacked the strength in depth to sustain a prolonged charge at two trophies. Need young talent to come through.

Forecast: 5th.

[Mac]

Ulster - Forecast: 5th.

We need to get out of the blocks quick fast or this
could very well come to pass. Our run last year,
end of Sept/Oct, killed it for us and we were always
playing catch up.

[Rooster]

Sky's predicted finish

Predicted 2012/13 table

1 Leinster
2 Glasgow
3 Ospreys
4 Scarlets
5 Munster
6 Ulster
7 Connacht
8 Edinburgh
9 Treviso
10 Cardiff Blues
11 Dragons
12 Zebre
Leinster to finish as champions

http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/n ... ct-preview

[Harold7]

Leinster are obviously the team to beat. After that come the Ospreys, then it's wide open between ourselves, the Scarlets, Munster and probably Glasgow. As Mac says a good start is important, but it won't be easy. With a bit of luck there is no reason why we can't get a home semi final, but we could just as easily finish 5th or 6th, but I fancy we have a bit more depth than last year. I will watch Munster with great interest this season though. I think they might find it tougher than they have done for a good while...

[damianmcr]

We will get a top 4 finish. Im certain of that. We have the team for it.

[Big-al]

Why is everyone rating the Scarlets so highly?

They've lost the majority of an average pack and replaced them with journeymen.

[BuckRogers]

Think the Scarlets are rated because they have a pretty rapid backline that can and will do damage though I'd agree they don't really have a great pack, on paper at least.

I don't think there can be any qualms regarding our predicted finishing spot with Thornley though I suspect Munster may well struggle to get fourth. Ultimately our wider squad is still largely untested and thus the safer bet is to presume they will struggle rather than excel, and a lot of course will come down to how Jackson takes to the ten jersey. If he gets into his stride quickly and doesn't let any of the inevitable set-backs phase him we will do well. If he struggles initially and perhaps even flounders under the weight of expectation and we end up having to juggle Wallace, Pienaar or O'Connor into the 10 jersey then it could be a long season on both fronts.

[darkside lightside]

We will get a top 4 finish. Im certain of that. We have the team for it.

I agree.. I will also be sorely disappointed if we don't finish comfortably ahead of Munster

[bazzaj]

Really interesting to see who has come and gone.
First thing that stood out is the Osperys, as last seasons champs they have signed one and let 14 go!
I would be amazed if they sustained a challenge again based on those stats.
Also looking forward from an Irish point of view to see how Bent gets on at Leinster as he can play both sides of the scrum and Stander at Munster as he is a quality back row who will be Irish qualified in 3 years.
Best signing could well be Laulala at Munster.
Think he will just the player they need to spark their back line.

[ruckover]

I honestly think Munster will struggle this year. Slowly on the down and have sold players who they haven't replaced. I reckon 5th is the best they'll muster.

The Scarlets have recruited quite well though. I think the players they've signed are good solid performers and will push them into the play-offs.

My prediction:
1. Leinster (eventual champions)
2. Ospreys
3. Ulster
4. Scarlets
5. Munster
6. Glasgow
7. Cardiff
8. Edinburgh
9. Connacht
10. Treviso
11. Dragons
12. Zebre

[fuzzylogic]

Find these rankings a little strange.

Teams like Ospreys and Munster who have lost 10/11 players and only signed 2 or 3 are still getting 2nd and 3rd place predictions. Odd.

[bazzaj]

Honestly without my Ulster rose tinted glasses I cannot see now any reason why we cannot be in the top 2 this season in terms of squad strength and quality of player.
Glasgow have lost Beattie and Gray,Cardiff lose Tito, Lualala, Gethin J.
Munster are clearly in transition.
The Ospreys have cleared their squad without adding and the Scarlets lose the likes of Jones, Morgan and Lamont without replacing their quality.
I will be gutted if we do not make the play offs, looking at these squads who all appear to be weaker than last year.
Only Edinburgh have significantly improved their squad by bringing in a number of hard nosed South African forwards to bolster their pack.
Imagine having to do that.

[Gael]

I'm sticking £20 on us to be league winners and play-off winners.

[browner]

Find these rankings a little strange.

Teams like Ospreys and Munster who have lost 10/11 players and only signed 2 or 3 are still getting 2nd and 3rd place predictions. Odd.

In the case of the O's only 2 of those on the out list featured in the Rabo play offs and I suspect the others didn't feature heavily during the course of the season...seems like they're going with home grown talent.
As for predictions a better guide is usually the bookmakers and they have the O's as second favourites...Ulster are fourth or fifth in the betting...and Glasgow were the only Rabo team to win at the Liberty last season as well as making the last 4.

[againstthehead]

I think we'll struggle in the early games without Ruan. Then HC will take priority. 5th is about right on paper.