Saracens may have missed out on a third successive Aviva Premiership title last season, but our Steve Bramley expects them to deliver profits this term.
Last season I tipped Saracens to top the regular season but they let me down badly as Exeter Chiefs surprised everyone by claiming their first Aviva Premiership title.
There was every reason to think that Mark McCall’s side, fresh from winning a first league and European Cup double, were the safest of bets to clinch a third successive Premiership crown.
But I didn’t account for little old Exeter or record points-scorers Wasps, who dominated the league campaign and then went on to fight it out in a thrilling Grand Final, Gareth Steenson’s dramatic extra-time penalty securing the west country side a first title.
Saracens finished third after the Chiefs snatched a late win in the play-off semi-final, but they did regroup and go on and retain their European crown in style at Murrayfield, so in truth it was still a pretty good season for the Men In Black.
Twelve months on and I’m more certain than ever that this year the European Cup holders will bounce back in style and re-establish themselves as the best team in the English game and repay my faith at 17/10 (general).
Their failure on the domestic front last season (they finished seven points adrift of Wasps and Exeter) must have really grated and that can only be worrying for their title rivals this time around.
McCall has bolstered the club’s squad depth in the summer months to help cover for the inevitable losses during the international fixtures, which was probably the key reason to them missing out last season, and now has probably the biggest and most talented group in the Premiership.
France international hooker Christopher Tolofua and Australian Test lock Will Skelton have been added to the ranks, while Liam Williams, one of the outstanding players during the British and Irish Lions’ successful tour of New Zealand, looks a perfect replacement for Chris Ashton, who has moved to Toulon.
Free-scoring Wasps, 5/2 (general) to win the regular season, will again push Saracens all the way, but as last season, I expect things to end in disappointment for Dai Young's men.
Exeter were around 6/1 shots to win the title last season. This time around they are best-price 7/2 (general) but despite their remarkable achievements can they reach such great heights again? I seriously doubt it.
Leicester Tigers reached the play-offs last but like Saracens, were denied by a late try as Wasps booked their place at Twickenham. The return of England fly-half George Ford to Welford Road and wing Jonny May has shown their desire but a top-four finish is the best they can hope for.
So it’s Saracens to win the regular season and Sky Bet also have them chalked up at 11/4, as one of their RequestABets, to go on and win the play-off final and I’m more than confident they will deliver a healthy profit this time around.
With Saracens my strong fancies for the title, I have a similar feeling about the foot of the table with newly-promoted London Irish odds-on 4/5 (General) to make an immediate return to the Championship.
Worcester Warriors, who are best price of 2/1 to finish bottom, have become battle hardened when it comes to relegation dogfights. They outgunned Irish two years ago to survive and last season finished 13 points clear of relegated Bristol. Experience in these situations is key and Worcester know what is needed to avoid the trapdoor.
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Posted 1045 BST 01/09/17
