Top 14 kicks off tomorrow, with even more fans and even more money. Yay!
I'll do a run down of my predicted rankings, team movements and going ons:
Bottom half:
Predicted list
14th/promoted from ProD2
Vannes have been promoted from ProD2, they have recruited okayish with Salesi Rayasi, Michael Ruru, Pat Leafa, Francis Saili and Mako Vunipola. I think they might actually be in with a shot with avoiding relegation which is of course their premiership. Either way, a long road ahead of them and any injuries to key players and they're boned and chances are their squad just isn't up to it. I can't see Montpellier fucking up again, so only hope is bringing Bayonne/Perpignan down with them. Odds are not in their favour.
13th
Perpignan finished in 10th last year but I can't see them getting that high again, they have a rubbish squad led by Jake McIntyre. No go. Uninspiring, lame, not fun.
12th
Bayonne (12th last year) have fan favourite Reece Hodge who played very little last year, but he's back to full health. They've also recruited big bad Manu Tuilagi but I think he's already injured and will probably stay injured forever. A decent amount of talented Argentinians in Bosch, Bruni and Carreras but I think Hodge will be enjoying more surfing than his rugby this year, at least Bayonne's closest beach is slightly better than St Kilda Beach.
11th
Sadly, I think Pau will drop down the rankings from their lofty 9th last year. Maddocks and Reece Hewat won't be enough to make up for their largely unimpressive squad. Pau have picked up Tom Franklins from the Force and two super young academy players from Australia (Max Meagher and Toshi Butlin).
10th
Sadly I think my moneyball favourites Castres will go poorly this year despite their admirable 7th last year. Their talismanic big chonky boy Tom Staniforth is injured for the first half of the season, but he's an absolute crowd favourite, constantly getting named lock of the competition. They have Jack Goodhue and signed baby faced English capped prop Will Collier but don't think they've got much in the tank.
9th
Lyon did poorly last year in 11th. I predict they'll be moving up the rankings despite losing star prop Demba Bamba to Racing. They've recruited/retained Monty Ioane, Jermaine Ainsley, Feao Foutaika, Lavanini, Dylan Cretin, Semi Radradra and Vincent Rattez. Don't think they hvae it in the forwards, though I do love Dylan Cretin. Can't really see Radradra pulling out the good stuff, I think he's there for a good time not a try really hard time.
8th
Montpellier will be lead by their star recruit Jordan Uelese on a big winning streak till a season ending injury. Montpellier have splashed the cash and continue investing in freaks and criminals with players like Stuart Hogg. Beyond him they have heaps of great players and it's impressive that they finished so low last season in 13th. They've got Ryan Louwrens, Willemse, Billy Vunipola, Sam Simmonds, Cobus Reinach, George Bridge, and new recruit Madosh Tambwe. They might even crack the top half of the table but their terrible season last year has me calming my expectations. Still I'm expecting a big climb up the ladder.
Alrighty! Top half of the table, allleeezzz!
7th
My first actual controversial call. Stade Francais, they finished the table in 2nd last year! I just think their squad is not great. Good props in the Les Alo-Emile Freres. Brad Weber is at 9, great. Leo Barre is a young exciting winger but that sounds like a middle table squad. Not a finals squad. I dunno, their favourites for their opening round clash against Bordeaux who I think are way better. They have recruited an actually good flyhalf in Louis Carbonel which is promising. Maybe I'll eat my words but I think they'll miss finals.
6th
Clermont will go way better than last year's 8th and make the finals! They have a great Aussie contingent so recommend for anyone following at home. Mike Ala'alatoa, Irae Simone, Alex Newsome, Folau Fainga'a, Rob Simmons then big strong boys in Marcos Kremer, Peceli Yato, Pita-Gus Sowakula. Sounds like a great forward pack with some mid backs. Hope they go well, should be fun to watch.
This is now getting tough. We know who's on top spot. But the four spots after number one are pretty close.
5th
I'll go with Racing 92, last year's 6th. Despite recruiting super serious man Owen Farrell they've also jettisoned 'fat & lazy' two time RWC winner Siya Kolisi. They have such a good squad, Camille Chat at hooker, Arrundell on the wing, Fickou in the centres, Woki in the backrow. But I don't think winners come from Paris. Too much fun stuff, we'll call it the Melbourne curse.
4th
I think Toulon (came 4th last year too) have a deeper squad than Racing: Kyle Sinckler, Facundo Isa, Lewis Ludlam, Baptise Serin, Paia'aua, Gabin Villiere, Fainga'anuku, Dan Biggar, Dave Ribbans. Good forwards and good backs. Maybe they won't have Melvyn Jaminet? He was a naughty boy and said some pretty islamophobic stuff. Probably turn up at Montpellier with Stuart Hogg.
3rd
Even deeper squad is Bordeaux who finished 2nd in the big dance. I think they are great, 2nd best fly half in France Jalibert with an overrated Lucu will have fun behind a great pack with Pete Samu, Adam Coleman, Lachie Swinton, Petti and Scotland's Jonny Gray. Also in the wing is a winger who I never rate then I watch him and turns out he's arguably top 2 wingers in the world, Damian Penaud. They will suffer from La Rochelle's return to form.
2nd
Most people get La Rochelle, they're a champion team. They've recruited Kane Douglas actually, so you can now have a forward pack of Tolu Latu Uini Antonio, Douglas, Skelton and Greg Alldritt in the third row with Botia on the side. Pretty handy. Great backs in Kerr-Barlow, Ihaia West, Danty, Teddy Thomas, Brice Dulin, Jack Nowell, Dillyn Leyds, Raymond Rhule. I think they had an off year last year, finishing 5th. They'll be back to the top this year. Most other competitions they're probably winning. Only one issue of course:
1st
Toulouse.
Not much of an explanation needed. Finished last year winning the double.
They have France's best tight head in Cyril Baille.
France's best hooker in Mauvaka, then 2nd best hooker in Marchand.
Best French lock in Meafou and take your pick to accompany him from Flament or Richie Arnold.
The best back row combination by far, with (my personal world number 1 for blindside) Anthony Jelonch, Francois Cros and of course England's Jack Willis.
Best player in the world - Dupont (though apparently he wants to play outside centre?)
France's best flyhalf by a country mile in Ntamack.
Outside this it gets a bit fuzzy actually and if they're to slip, it's their centres and wingers. Pita Ahki is great but not world class. Same for Chocobares, Matthis Lebel and Capuooooozzzzooo.
Thomas Ramos is France's best fullback and they also have Scotland's best fullback too, Blair Kinghorn. I think they'll be fine.
They haven't recruited much, their biggest recruit is actually Japan's starting scrumhalf, Naoto Saito. Guess he's expecting to play 9 whilst Dupont competes for France in fencing or something.
As an aside:
The tallest players in the Top 14 are Richie Arnold, then Adam Coleman. The heaviest locks are Skelton then Meafou.
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