Magners League Preview
By DC


Change comes to the Magners League this season, following in the tracks of the Super 14 and the Guinness Premiership. This season for the first time, the winner will be decided in a Grand Final Play-off. I have never been a huge fan of this format, I am of the belief that in order to win the league you should finish on top of the pile, not come 3rd or 4th and then go into the play offs!

Many of you will be reading this and thinking “Celtic League .... come on its not a patch on the Super 14 or the Guinness Premiership!” I can hear you all already, but wait one second, a couple of things that you might want to think about before you continue on the Celtic league bashing. The last two years have seen the winners of the Heineken Cup & the EDF cup come from the Magners League, and those doubters that continue and say that the EDF Cup is a Mickey Mouse Cup, are obviously Leicester or Gloucester fans still smarting from the beatings they took at the hands of Celtic League teams.

Possibly it is my Nation pride taking over, but I enjoy the Rugby of the Magners League. Dare I say it I love it, the league after all has - local derbies, underdogs, young talent & world class super stars. The league does have a few weaker teams – but not different to any league in the world. It’s these weaker teams that provide the upsets and the dramas. I have highlighted the teams that I see as contenders for the crown of champions, and also some players to watch out for.

MUNSTER

The Red Army, League Champions packed with Grand slam winners and Lions. They know how to win, and are just as comfortable grinding out a narrow ugly win as they are handing out try fests. Last season’s demolition of the Gwent Dragons marked the arrival on the scene of young Keith Earls, a new breed of Munster man not rolling maul more darting dancer he finished the season in a Lions shirt. This boy has a massive future ahead of him and playing from full back will suit his style, he hits running lines that are simply sublime.

They have a squad packed with quality and they have added even more talent. Jean de Villiers is a gifted Centre he has the whole package and has to be a shoe in for a starting berth. De Villiers would not look out of place in any international side let alone a league side. But it’s the signing of Felix Jones that is more exciting. His performance for Ireland A in the Churchill Cup this season was breath taking and if he can bring that kind of form to the Mangers League then watch out. One for the future, a points machine and a future full Irish international.

Munster as a team are getting on, they have more players approaching the top of the hill than at the bottom of it. Munster will save a fortune on team travel this year, as the majority of the side will be able to use bus passes to get away games. However, those senior players do bring the clichéd experience to the side. The new league format is perfect for the mighty Irish province, they are world class when it comes to knock out games. Home games at a full Thomond park are almost a formality, a 26,000 strong Red Army all singing Fields of Athenry will put the fear of God it to any travelling side. This team knows that they can stay in the top 4 and qualify for the play offs without coming out of 3rd gear – once the knock out stages start watch Munster pull away.

I have just posted my thank you card to 10Bet , I love the Munster Grand Final Winners @ 3.30 that they have on offer.


Leinster

Heineken Cup Champions, for years they have lived in the shadow of the passionate Munster, but this team has evolved and last year they were simply

"Treebeard Hines"

 stunning. They have always had the backs to run points in from anywhere, but have lacked grunt in the boiler room. The loss of Rocky Elsom is massive and last season he dragged the pack around the field single handily. The signing of Nathan Hines will add a massive amount of strength to the pack, is awesome in the line out and a giant at scrum time. Those of you who have seen the Lord of the Rings films will be familiar with Hines.

A squad packed with Irish internationals that will be still sobering up from the first Irish Grand slam since 1756!! Irish internationals a plenty and more Lions than an average zoo. Brian O’Driscoll is genuine class and Leinster fans will be hoping that he continues with his Lions form. They might have lost Dr Contepomi but they have a fantastic understudy in Johnny Sexton, who was a lynch pin in the breathtaking performance of Ireland A in this seasons Churchill Cup. The two players that I am tipping to have massive seasons:

The Lion’s full back Rob Kearney, who I am sure, is actually ten feet tall after the last two tests down in South Africa and Fergus McFadden – if he continues with the form that he showed last year he should be fighting his way into the Irish squad for the Autumn Internationals, possibly even a starting place alongside BOD.

Ladbrokes are offering the same odds for Leinster to win the league and the Grand Final, but there is not enough value in the 4.5 on offer for me.


Cardiff Blues

Last year they Blues stood up and people took notice. The Heineken Cup penalty kicks off will go down in Rugby history. They have a squad

peter_cech

 that’s finally clicking and produced some performances last year that were superb. The rise and rise of Jamie Roberts has been magnificent from playing in the Welsh Premiership to Lions player of the tour inside two years. Roberts has the physique of a Titan and I am sure that the name Zeus appears on his birth certificate.  He has brains, strength, ability and youth all on his side, a place in Welsh rugby folklore awaits for the monolith of a man.

They will start the season missing two key players – Martin Williams and Gethin Jenkins, you cannot find substitutes for these boys. The Blues

Sam Norton Knight

 will miss their work around the park and their presence at the break down. Not only are they missing the foundations of last year’s performances they will be missing the game changing ability of Nicky Robinson. Robinson, who has decided to head across the Severn Bridge, has spent years blowing hot and cold – then last year he just went Supernova. He had the kind of season that had him mentioned in the same breath of Ronan O Gara and Steven Jones for a Lions place.

To fill the void left by Robinson, the Blues have signed Sam Norton Knight. I have a few issues with Norton Knight at 10, he just does not cut it for me and lacks the ability to make the right decision at the right time. Ok this is gonna come from out of left field, buy my main issue with Norton Knight, the fact that he wears a scrum cap! If they are so desperate to get involved with the rucks and mauls then strap on a pair and get involved. Why is it that players who wear scrum caps have to take them off to kick, they don’td o it when they are playing!! I don’t know it just seems a little bit strange to me.

The signing of Gareth Cooper at scrum half is a massive boost for the Blues, its shows that they want to carry the form of last year. I don’t think that an assault on the league is going to be possible with Martin Williams and Gethin Jenkins in the Physio room and Peter Cech at 10.



  Ospreys

The Ospreys have the kind of squad that should see them winning every game at a canter, internationals in every position including the bench. A squad that when not winning games should be planning world domination. However they always fall short, always struggle in the big games and more worrying seem to struggle to score tries. With the likes of Williams, Bowe, Byrne, Hook, Phillips they should be scoring record amounts of tries, but they don’t!!! Some questions spring to mind when I look at the Ospreys squad.

First of all, the outside half, Hook, still only 24, is a phenomenal talent and has won international caps & Lions caps. He was a surprise call up for the Lions this summer, but did more than enough to justify his

James Hook

inclusion. However I think that the younger Biggar is the better 10. He bosses the game and controls his back line like he has been doing it for decades. Hook seems to want to do everything himself while Biggar allows the game to flow around him. For me Hook has to be in the team and a starting birth at 13 would give him time and space.

The next question is the back row, Ryan Jones has to start for the good of Welsh rugby and start him at 8, that leaves the flankers. The Ospreys have Holah and the ever youthful Jerry Collins but where does that leave the fit again Ben Lewis, the heir apparent to Martin William's number 7 crown. Ben Lewis was highly tipped as the next big thing in Welsh rugby two years ago but missed the entire of last season through injury. He is back he is fit and the Welsh public wait slowly readying the weight of their expectations for his broad shoulders. Also back from a season of injury is Jonathan Thomas, the national team will want him back fit and ready, his presence has been seriously missed at the line out and defensively. But will these two players get any game time with the Kiwi’s leading the way for starting places in the Ospreys team.

The squad has so much depth, most it young and desperate to impress. How will the coaching staff juggle the likes of Henson, Bishop, Gareth Owen, Kristian Phillips, and Ashley Beck with only two possible places to play them. This is where the final question comes in, the Coaching team. The Ospreys have not looked the same team going forward since the departure of Lyn Jones. The arrival of Scott Johnson will either bring the simmer to a boil or it will blow out the flame. There is no doubt he can create a team spirit but can he mould and develop players in to a winning team. I am not convinced by his ageing hippy approach to life and rugby, but I do not mind being proved wrong if it means I see some fantastic rugby from a squad of players that owe their fans and the rugby fraternity. You can get them to win the league in the regular season with most bookies @ 4.5 but Boylesports are offering 5’s. Bit of a bet to nothing as this team will either explode into a points fest or implode into a hippy led directionless mess.

Edinburgh

Last years’ surprise package fantastic at home and under the guidance of Andy Robinson became a difficult team to break down and even harder to score against. They had a good disciplinary record and gave very few opportunities to teams to punish them. They might not have the world wide super stars like Howlett at Munster or Roberts at the Blues, but they have a core of street brawlers who will slug it out with anyone. Jim Hamilton, Scott MacLeod, Ali Hogg & Ross Ford are warriors that leave their blood and sweat on the playing field.  The backs have flair and talent without having to spend hours in the Hair Salon and Tanning Centre to attract attention. Mike Blair, Paterson, Cairns, De Luca (currently injured) are solid performers and know each over so well that they seem to communicate via telepathy. Webster is an impressive utility back who can break the gain line from almost anywhere, but he is part of the scrum cap brigade so unfortunately under DC law section 3 has to play the game in custard filled willies!!

The massive change to Edinburgh this year is the loss of Robinson to the national coaching set up, last year he had a huge impact on the team and was influential in the 2nd place finish they had in the league. Edinburgh has selected Rob Moffat to replace the international bound Robinson, and he has the kind of credentials that can only impress. He has cut his coaching teeth with Scotland A in the Churchill cup in 2008 and recently taken the Scottish under 20s side to the world championships. Additionally he was Robinson second in command so he knows the squad the training set up and the game plays. I really fancy Edinburgh to move to the next stage this season, they have the ability and the talent of compete and beat the super star teams.

I am predicting a top three finish again this season so will be looking at the best each way odds around.

The eventual winner of the Magners league will come from one of these teams – I cannot see the other teams holding together a consistent enough league campaign. Each of the other teams has the ability on their day to upset but I cannot see enough upsets to decide a league title.

Ulster – good side but without a coach this season will be like an uphill marathon – long & very hard.

  Scarlets – some great individual players, look out for Tavis Knoyle another of DC’s many tip for stardom, however they have a pack made of jelly and a coaching side that still uses the coaching manual that they had for Christmas in 1973.

Connacht – teams hate travelling the Craggy Island to play Connacht, however they do not travel well and do not have anywhere near the strength in depth that they need.

Dragons – some young players that will turn a few heads on the international stage in the coming years. Watch out for Tovey, Lydiate and the newly acquired Harries. However they have no Centres and in Shaun Connor they have an outside half that needs to drop his Zimmer frame to catch the ball.

Glasgow – the Evans boys like the Bo and Luke Duke live life at fast pace and know how the entertain, however the rest of the team is a bit like the music you listen to in lifts, it’s ok but you’re not gonna buy it.

Picks:

Edinburgh to win the league in regular season, 1pt Each way @ 11.0 (1/5 odds for first 3 finish) Paddy Power

Munster to win the Grand Final 2pts @ 3.30 10Bet