Aviva Premiership Newcomers 2016/17

We have put together this newcomers team for next season and it is quite a side. To qualify you have to have signed a full time contract for the 2016/17 season and not have played in the Premiership before (with one good exception). Given there are a number of London Irish inclusions and no Newcastle players it is on the basis the Exiles do the job and stay up.

So here is the side:

HOW THEY LOOK ON PAPER

1) Pat Cilliers (Leicester) - It’s always hard to leave a Springbok prop out of a side like this so the Montpellier man just edges out Marty Moore. It may be his eighth club in total but he is still only 29 and will add some front row bulk that Ghiraldini is leaving behind.

2) Motu Matu’u (Gloucester) - This hard hitting Samoan is one to keep an eye on. The Hurricanes man has learnt his game from the excellent Dane Coles and is not only brilliant in the loose but can throw too. Hibbard will have some competition next year.

3) Greg Holmes (Exeter) - One of the many Australian faces down at Exeter next year and looks like an astute signing. Holmes may be the wrong side of 30 but has rediscovered great form recently with the Reds and could help the Chiefs reach the very top of the domestic game.

4) Luke Charteris (Bath) - The Welshman has been one of the few successes in France from the Valleys but is not calling it a day to ply his trade in the West Country. After an injury hit season for Dave Attwood it was imperative Bath got an enforcer in and they have that in Charteris.

5) Dave Dennis (Exeter) - Another Aussie who is heading down under (in England terms at least). The Waratahs and Wallabies star has a very impressive CV and his versatility will be crucial. With Ewers, Salvi and Waldrom in the back row, we could see Dennis slot in the second row as he has done many a time in Super Rugby.

6) Taulupe Faletau (Bath) - One of the outstanding signings for next season. It may surprise a few of you to see me putting Faletau in the six jersey but given the number of number 8′s at Mike Ford’s disposal and the fact I have to include a certain Frenchman, I think the Welshman will do a job at blindside as he has before.

7) Schalk Burger (Saracens) - What needs to be said about this World Cup winner. The mammoth Bokke may have won IRB Player of the Year over 10 years ago, but has shown he still has it and we should get used to the sight of seeing his shaggy blond mop all over our screens next year.

8) Louis Picamoles (Saints) - When Samu Manoa left the Saints there was a huge void left that not many players in the world could fill, but they have found one. The Frenchman is a match winner and his hard running and soft hands could propel his new side back into the top two again.

9) Francois Hougaard (Worcester) - You may be thinking you have seen Hougaard this seaosn, which is true but that was purely a short-term contract and he has just been signed for next year on a permanent basis. We have seen what he gives this Warriors side and this shrewd number nine can help achieve Dean Ryan’s ambitious plans.

10) AJ MacGinty (Sale) - Losing Danny Cipriani really hurt Steve Diamond and Sale, but finding a replacement as classy as US international AJ MacGinty must be a relief. He has led Connacht to their best season ever in the PRO12 and has demonstrated he is the complete 10 with not just an accurate passing and kicking game, but also proving his worth in defence too.

11) Savenaca Rawaca (Saracens) - Potentially the bolter of the season next year is the flying Fijian. Rawaca is a Sevens genius and Sarries may have signed a major coup here. We have seen how destructive Virimi Vakatawa was in the Six Nations and Rawaca is a similar player of similar build but arguably more destructive.

12) Matt Toomua (Leicester) - My star signing for next year is this man-bun wearing Wallaby. Toomua is the complete player at 10 or 12 and has proven that time after time with both club and country. Given the strength of the Tigers midfield, he may slot into 10, but seeing his deft touch alongside the brute force of Manu Tuilagi would be something to behold. Throw in Peter Betham and JP Pietersen on the wings and Veainu at 15 and that is some back line!

13) Ben Te’o (Worcester) - Probably the most talked about signing of next year given reports Eddie Jones is looking to fast track him into the England side. I have seen a lot of this man given my time working in the NRL and he certainly offers something unique. The mix of raw power entwined with great hands makes him a rugby league star who could succeed as he has done as Leinster.

14) JP Pietersen (Leicester) - Losing Vereniki Goneva seemed an odd decision to some but when you can replace him with a Rugby World Cup winner then it’s probably justified. JP can fill in at a few positions in the back line and as we know he is a deadly finisher given a metre or two.

15) James Marshall (London Irish) - The emergence of Nehe Milner-Skudder pushed James Marshall down the pecking order at the ’Canes and was the main reason for the move. His brother Tom recently joined Gloucester and despite an injury stricken start to his career there he seems content and I look forward to seeing great counter-attacking from Marshall who can ignite a potentially exciting back division with Alex Lewington, Johnny Williams and others.

Replacements

16) Dave Porecki (London Irish) - Again a little sneaky as Australian born Porecki has been at Saracens this year but hardly made an appearance so counts as a newbie. He hails from the Manly Marlins, the same club as Michael Hooper and my friends over there tell me he is one to watch for the future and with David Paice getting on and Tom Cruse leaving, 2016 could be his year to shine.

17) Marty Moore (Wasps) - Very unlucky not to make my starting side given how impressive Moore has been with Leinster this year but he can provide a big impact from the bench in this side. Arguably one weakness of Wasps has been their depth in the front row and if that is now sorted then the sky is the limit.

18) Josh Hohneck (Gloucester) - The Cherry and Whites used to have a powerhouse of a pack which would terrify all who came to Kingsholm, but that reputation has long since vanished. Hohneck is a Super Rugby winner with the Highlanders last year and alongside Matu’u could bring some power to a front five that desperately needs it.

19) Juandre Kruger (Sale) - Earlier I mentioned a strange five year clause and that is to cater for Juandre. The former Saints legend has been out of England for so long he will feel new but some players still have scars left from him I am sure. The Racing man is leaving sunny France for Sale but the future is bright in Manchester and his experience will be invaluable to help mount their European challenge.

20) Dewald Potgieter (Worcester) - Remember Lewis Moody? Well this is the South African version. Shaggy blonde haired flanker with a face only a mother could love after putting it in places normal humans wouldn’t dare. After a stint in Japan Potgieter wants to return to the big time and the Warriors are lucky to have him.

21) Matt Scott (Gloucester) - There has been a real shortage of halves signed for next season so the versatile Matt Scott gets a place amongst the replacements. The Edinburgh man has fallen down the pecking order for Vern Cotter but a big season for a struggling English side could bolster his chances.

22) Jackson Willison (Worcester) - Another player ready to swap the TOP14 for the Aviva is the talented Jackson Willison. The former Maori All Black is a superb club player who has plenty of experience in Super Rugby and now at Grenoble. If the Warriors want to mount a serious European challenge they needs strength in depth and Willison will provide that and more.

23) Lachlan Turner (Exeter) - The final Australian who is off to Exeter is Lachie Turner and like Hougaard he is down at Sandy Park already but the main contract starts from next year. Turner has played for a number of huge clubs in recent years from his 67 consecutive appearance for the Waratahs to a year in Toulon he has seen it all. His raw pace and strong kicking game gives Rob Baxter a lovely selection headache for next year.

Written by Ollie Silverton for The Rugby Pod - www.therugbypod.com