PREMIERSHIP RUGBY RETURNS! | SEASON PREVIEW

It's Premiership Rugby Eve. English rugby's top tier goes back into battle. Here are some thoughts ahead of a brand new season, including who I expect to make the playoffs and win.

[@ritchiebirnie6124]

I'm with you. Bath to win and dark horse Bristol

[@rorysteyn9805]

As a Scotland and Springbok supporter, I love the Gallagher Premiership. almost never a poor match - the rugby is superb!

[@glennaston2412]

I genuinely think the Premiership is the best league competition in Rugby and the standard is consistently better than the other leagues in the northern hemisphere (don’t watch southern hemisphere rugby so can’t speak for them but suspect the Prem wins there too). I realise that’s not everyone’s opinion but I would argue that the performance of the English teams in last seasons Champions Cup bears this out with the Premiership teams winning more games in the pool stages (P 19 v URC 16 v T14 13) and having more teams in each of the knockout stages up to the final where, admittedly the two best teams were from the URC (Leinster; who’s 1st team rarely played in the URC) and Toulouse who are the best team overall but are still just one of the teams in the T14). This season is incredibly difficult to predict but I fully expect the standard of the competition to match, or better, last seasons. The fact that those responsible for marketing the game aren’t as successful as their oppo’s in France is something that really needs to be addressed because the product is outstanding.

[@DM-rp9ik]

That doesn't add up

[@Zveebo]

English clubs tend to better in the CC because they have fewer games to play in the league, so can focus more on that. In comparison a lot of Top 14 clubs (outside your Toulouse, La Rochelle etc, obviously) don’t really give the European competitions much attention, because for them the Top 14 is where the money is and they have so many games to play. No shame on England for that - I thought Saints could very well have made it to the final - but that’s just the factual background. The Premiership’s marketing is dire though, not just compared to Top 14, but also compared to URC. They really need to dramatically up their game there.

[@imspinningfree]

Really competitive again this year. Top four outside of Bath is a bit of a lottery, can see any one of lat years top 8 getting in to the play-off spots. Excited to have the prem back.

[@Ausman-k2m]

An awesome league - top rugby. Love this comp - Sad there’s no Wasps and London Irish ...So much tradition.. The Rec , The Stoop, Welford , Franklins, - Saracens to win this time around

[@jameswilkinson3949]

Just booked my ticket for the falcons tomorrow night. Really looking forward to the season. So many good games last season, hope for a repeat of that!

[@iang4662]

Got to say that last season I enjoyed the Premiership much more than the Champions Cup

[@StanWilks]

I personally feel that a myriad of changes to the format and the inclusion of South African teams has made it a far less interesting competition. Nothing against the South Africans, but it's no longer the Heineken Champions Cup of old.

[@tompicken490]

Would be good to see all teams get off on the right foot this season with no World Cup for players to be at. I do think Bath will win since they kept most their squad. Feel injuries play a massive role in who climbs the table, and squad depth to rotate players is key. Hopefully everyone stays fit so the league can be as competitive as possible Looking forward to see the new signings play! Lots of good story lines to unfold this season.

[@dewellsy]

What timing, was just looking for where and how to start watching more NH rugby As a South African living in Australia it is a pain in the ass to get into, need multiple subs for every league out there, least this is included in on Stan here

[@howardjones1180]

Great vid. I thought the bit on Saints was interesting - exiting leaders all forwards; remaining leaders you name checked, all backs. (Then mentioned Pearson, admittedly). But that’s a big ask. Big back personalities are rarely enough. Also, be great to see one of these team-by-team assessments for URC and, particularly, the home nations ahead of the Autumn Internationals.

[@akawd41]

The prem is a great product yeah there been issues but maybe drop the doom and gloom and enjoy the product and get behind it

[@brizzleb-n2r]

Come on Bristol! 🐻🔵⚪🔵⚪

[@EggchasersRugby]

LOVE watching Bears

[@anthonylees5735]

I really hope that you wife loves rugby Tim! You have a dream job.... for a single person.🤣

[@shaunmahon3415]

I'd totally agree with you on Sale being second favourites, though I'd like them to win the title 😀 but I would certainly have Harlequins just pipping Bristol to the Top 4. I fully agree with you regarding Newcastle ending bottom, what they need is stability so they have to stick with Steve Diamond for at least 2 seasons, it's no use sacking him mid season, what difference can a coach make if their only there for a short period of time 🤷🤷.

[@timslade5808]

I'm sure you're best videos all have something South African related as they as probably take up the bulk of your subscribers

[@rowan_8755]

As a quins fan i want Tommaso Menenchello at 12

[@06alepea1]

That's just cheating. He's so good.

[@Zveebo]

You might want him, but you won’t be getting him! A number of Top 14 clubs very much have him in their sights.

[@rowan_8755]

@@Zveebo True. But Esturhazen was marchee (idk how to spell that) so in smith becomes that then there’s like £400,000 for him

[@IverKnackerov]

As a Bath fan … I look at Sale and Leicester definitely ahead of Bristol, to run us close. That’s assuming Cheika sorts out Leicester’s backs …the pack will more than look after itself…And Finn Russell stays fit of course.

[@KamogeloRakgalakane]

Excited to see "the horse" Will Muir😂🔥

[@RugbyfirstEnglishsecond]

Please be right Tim, pleeeeaaase. Bath 🎉🎉

[@jacquesboaza5676]

Good point

[@fawltyoldboybasil.2178]

Tim, great preview for the season ahead. On an unrelated (but important matter) topic, could you give us your thoughts on the ongoing search for the new head of World Rugby? John Jeffries (Scotland) just withdrew his name from consideration after his own SRU refused to support his bid!! By all accounts, he is labelling this as a betrayal.

[@garyambrosini1427]

But what is the springbok angle on this Tim?

[@coldpete]

Leave the Premiership as it is. South Africa not only own the World Cup, we also own the URC now. Go dem bokke!

[@kevindevane6175]

BOT!

[@Steve-gr6jm]

Delusional bot at that. Only two of their teams has a chance of winning it.

[@IverKnackerov]

It’s good to see England fans can no longer be (wrongly)accused of arrogance ….these guys are starting to make it theirs

[@henryburton6529]

@@IverKnackerov Starting??!!?? Its like humility is completely missing from their culture. AB fans too if I'm being honest.

[@coldpete]

@@Steve-gr6jm We took Ireland on the pitch, now we've taken their league!

[@Lattman460]

Think Bath were very unlucky to lose last year as thought they were still the better team with the red (biased), another year with Finn means he's more settled so think they can win this year

[@Lattman460]

Plus Bill Mata to Bristol is massive, he was fantastic for Edinburgh

[@daeganmartin2527]

Hey, will you do one like this for the urc?

[@jamesriggans1677]

I love the channel. However, if you miss the URC then i'll be disappointed.

[@queasybeetle]

They should adopt the Pro14 and ProD2 format.

[@jakeclough8090]

How have we not got that already?

[@Zveebo]

To make that work, you have to have the top clubs be willing to pool TV money with the clubs in the second division (in France, Pro D2 gets about ⅓). And that’s never going to happen in England - Premiership clubs have shown again and again they want as little money as possible going to Championship clubs.

[@jayknox-crichton3130]

Bath, Sharks, Saints, Bears as a top 4, no hope for Quins, Sarries, Tigers strong call considering previous implosions from Bears & Sharks

[@jakeclough8090]

Yes I think it’s difficult to prove to fans it is such an amazing league a do product when you criticise it and are always negative unnecessarily in every single video

[@DM-rp9ik]

You don't have to tell fans something is worth watching

[@jakeclough8090]

@@DM-rp9ik actually you do. You have to always subconsciously reinforce it. But also eggchasers is a massive channel with all sorts of rugby fans, it won’t be just premiership fans

[@DM-rp9ik]

@@jakeclough8090 Fans aren't stupid

[@jakeclough8090]

@@DM-rp9ik but they are

[@beneardley8875]

Why does Adam Radwan stay at Falcons? He won't get picked by Borthers in that team and it is wasting his career. Get to a better Prem team or over to France.

[@scottgraham1716]

There won't be a English Gallagher Premiership league merge with the URC League And the EPCR Investec Champion Cup and Challenge Cup competitions are been broadcast on premier sports

[@henryburton6529]

Exeter to win the whole thing - crazy, I know, but Rob Baxter is just better than everyone else

[@no99mnecfw]

COYQ!

[@andrewharris1837]

Sad only 10 Teams.gotta bring in promotion and relegation,Pirates deserve a chance otherwise English rugby will never develop😮

[@chesterdonnelly1212]

The Welsh should join the English Premiership. Not because they're good (they're not) but because it would be easier to market and promote to the English and Welsh people.

[@Steve-gr6jm]

If that's what the people of Wales want then ye should go for it. I personally think three of your teams will be relegated to the Championship within a year and you'll only have Ospreys playing top flight rugby but maybe it's for the best.

[@petrusvanderMerwe-o9k]

great rugby at timesshprter less income

[@bristowezt9751]

Bristol making top 4 and not Saracens is a terrible shout. Come on Tim, like or loathe them for hey will be knocking around in the top 4 all season

[@StanWilks]

I do think that Saints are fooked if they have to play Bears in a semi-final, regardless of whether it's home or away. They are the Saints' bogey team.

[@benvandermerwe4934]

Stormers have a 1st and 2nd, Bulls have a 2nd. Both have stalwarts with the Boks, someone else's turn this season. 👏🏻🏉⚡🥃🇿🇦

[@somenamethatdoesntmatter]

@@benvandermerwe4934 brah lay off the castle lager, wrong league.

[@andreemurray7039]

Too many subscriptions and will their be relegation?

[@FG-ul6yi]

Can you do a preview for the URC please?

[@alanrickett2537]

No tigers in the top 4 a brave veiw this early

[@IverKnackerov]

Leave it alone ! If needs more teams, take them from the English Championship ….NOT Ireland, Wales, Scotland.

[@kevindevane6175]

Hey Tim is the Premiership still hoping the URC will take you sorry lot on???🤣

[@Steve-gr6jm]

Absolutely no need for that. Show some class.

[@guyportersfootstep4553]

The URC is massively overrated. Globalist league.

[@somenamethatdoesntmatter]

@@kevindevane6175 i wish there was a remindmein5 years button for this post.

[@Steve-gr6jm]

Apparently the classless attract each other.

[@NickyDunne-l7z]

The premiership league could not lace the boots of the URC. Sorry lads.

[@somenamethatdoesntmatter]

@@NickyDunne-l7z well done, the combined might of 6 countries and you finally have a league that isnt shite, just bat shit. When reality hits and the international teams decide to cut the subsidies, lets see how good it is then.

[@NickyDunne-l7z]

@@somenamethatdoesntmatter oops, must have hit a nerve..

[@somenamethatdoesntmatter]

@@NickyDunne-l7z did i? Sorry pal. We can hug if you want🤗

[@Steve-gr6jm]

It's actually a very good league competition wise. But if one more team goes into receivership they are absolutely screwed and will probably have to ask to just join the URC as another member.