Premiership preview (4 days to go): Worcester, London Wasps, London Welsh

With the start of the Aviva Premiership only four days away, we take a look at what lays ahead for the 12 teams. Today, Worcester, London Wasps and London Irish.
Worcester
When it comes to coaches who pack a punch Worcester’s take some beating, with Richard Hill assembling a star cast at Sixways including 2003 World Cup-winning defence coach Phil Larder, forwards coach Nigel Redman, assistant forwards coach Phil Vickery, and attack coach Mathieu Rourre, the French national Academy manager for five years.
With Hill’s side winning just seven of their 22 matches on their return to the Premiership last season, and averaging just one try per game – including failure to cross the line in seven matches – it is little wonder that the Worcester boss sees Rourre’s appointment as critical to a shift of emphasis. Hill says that Rourre’s message is to keep the ball up off the ground and make it available: “You take the ball into contact and use multi-phases, but his big philosophy is staying on your feet and keep looking to play. It is a completely different approach and it will take time to bed in…”
The timescale Hill alludes to is understandable given that off-loading accurately out of contact is one of the game’s great skills, but it shows Worcester’s determination to improve – as does Andy Goode’s vow to finish in the top six and secure Heineken Cup qualification. Whether their ability matches their ambition is another matter, and, even with the ballast up front supplied by new captain Dean Schofield, and the heavyweight credentials of their coaches, Worcester will do well to avoid another relegation scrap.

Player to Watch – Matt Kvesic, openside Flanker
When it comes to hunter-gatherers Worcester have one of the most promising in the league in former England U20 openside Matt Kvesic, who has already made such an impression on Hill that he sees him as a senior test candidate in the near future. The Worcester No.7 is a great competitor who is quick to the breakdown, strong over the ball, and tough enough to take the hard knocks and keep coming, whether it’s carrying in attack or cutting them down in defence.
SQUAD: Ollie Hayes, Aleki Lutui, Ed Shervington, John Andress, Ceri Jones, Matt Mullan, Rob O’Donnell, George Porter, Tevita Taumoepeau, Craig Gillies, Chris Jones, James Percival, Dean Schofield (c), Jake Abbott, Neil Best, Sam Betty, Matt Kvesic, Blair Cowan, Semisi Taulava, Jonny Arr, Ollie Frost, Paul Hodgson, Shaun Perry, Joe Carlisle, Andy Goode, Danny Gray, Jon Clarke, Ravai Fatiaki, Alex Grove, Josh Matavesi, Andy Short, Josh Drauniniu, David Lemi, Nikki Walker, Errie Claassens, Chris Pennell.
VERDICT: 11th
London Wasps
There’s a bit of the old refrain about ‘something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue’ about Wasps as they prepare to fight back after last season’s flirtation with disaster. The old and borrowed bit is linked to their continued tenure at Adams Park, the ground that belongs to their former owner, Chris Hayes. The new is Ken Moss, the former Wasps back rower who got the rescue package together not only to allow the club to continue to trade, but to attract players of the calibre of Italian centre Andrea Masi, veteran Wales fly-half, Stephen Jones, Springbok No.8 Ashley Johnston, and two returning England boys in James Haskell and Tom Palmer.
The blue element came last season as Wasps fans were put through the relegation wringer, eventually scraping to safety at Newcastle’s expense. Now that there is some depth and know-how to the squad, complementing Wasps handful of recent England U20s luminaries like Christian Wade, Sam Jones, Elliot Daly and Joe Launchbury, Dai Young has something to work with at last.
Wasps have addressed their problem area at tighthead with the arrival of the 15-cap Italian breezeblock Fabio Staibano, although he will have to work on his mobility. Young, who knows a thing or two about props, has also brought in Phil Swainston (Leeds) and Will Taylor (Ospreys), two up-and-comers in their early twenties to challenge for the anchor role. This recast Wasps side will probably need a season in which to forge itself into a force to be feared, but they should have sufficient firepower to steer clear of the drop.

Player to Watch – Tom Palmer, lock
When Palmer puts his shoulder to the wheel there are few better locks in the northern hemisphere, because he is durable, tough and athletic. The debit side is that he’s been criticised for playing within himself too often rather than pushing the boundaries, but with Marco Wentzel and Richard Birkett there to share the workload Wasps could see the best of a forward who can be inspirational. With a Lions tour on the horizon and still in good shape at 33, Palmer has it all to play for.
SQUAD: Tom Lindsay, T. Rhys Thomas, Simon McIntyre, Tim Payne, Fabio Staibano, Phil Swainston, Sakaria Taulafo, Will Taylor, Lewis Thiede, Richard Birkett, James Cannon, Tom Palmer, Marco Wentzel, Tinus du Plessis, Matt Everard, James Haskell, Sam Jones, Joe Launchbury, Jonathan Poff, Ashley Johnson, Billy Vunipola, Nic Berry, Charlie Davies, Joe Simpson, Ryan Davis, Stephen Jones, Nicky Robinson, Chris Bell, Elliot Daly, Andrea Masi, Chris Mayor, Lee Thomas, James Bailey, Tom Varndell, Christian Wade, Tommy Bell, Hugo Southwell, Jack Wallace.
VERDICT: 9th
London Welsh
What comes up often goes down the following season, unless you are Exeter – and London Welsh, having only learned that they had been promoted on July 1st, when most of the Premiership transfer deals were long done – are not Exeter. However, despite having to start the season with one arm tied behind their back, the Welsh Exiles will bring a splash of colour to the top tier of the English game, and, above all, will want to be competitive even if they are outgunned.
We will get an early indicator of what is in store for coach Lyn Jones and his Championship-winning hopefuls after the most brutal start that could have been devised for the newcomers, with a home game at the Kassam against Leicester as their inaugural match in the top tier, followed by a visit to champions Harlequins in round two. Get through those two with their confidence intact and they get a crack against their old Championship foes, Exeter, which will give them a yardstick of just how far they have to improve to become a regular fixture in the Premiership.
The Welsh pack, led by back rower Jonathan Mills, has been augmented by the inclusion of hooker Neil Briggs (Sale) and Ed Williamson (Newcastle). Yet, even with those imports and a couple of livewire flankers in Mike Denbee and Lee Beach, it could be uphill skiing adjusting to the superior power and pace in the top league. As for the backs, if Gavin Henson can get his line moving, then Tom Arscott and big Joe Ajuwa have got the finishing skills to add a flourish.

Player to Watch – Gavin Henson, fly-half
The “fannying around” is behind Henson according to Lyn Jones, and he has put his trust in his former Ospreys charge not to repeat the disciplinary nosedives that saw the reality television celebrity axed over the past year by both Toulon and Cardiff. Henson is in the last chance saloon as a rugby player, and he has been put in the star role at fly-half “to express himself” according to Jones, who has also hailed him as the defensive No.10 to rank alongside Jonny Wilkinson. Here’s hoping Henson gets stuck in and lives up to his billing.
SQUAD: Neil Briggs, Gareth Evans, Dan George, Nathan Morris (Wasps), Greg Bateman, Paulica Ion, Billy Moss, Lewis Thiede (Wasps), James Tideswell, Adam Brown, Matt Corker, Kirill Kulemin, Martin Purdy, Lee Beach, Mike Denbee, Michael Hills, Jonathan Mills, Ed Williamson, Daniel Browne, Alfie To’oala, Ed Jackson, Jonah Holmes (Wasps), Matt Keyte, Nick Runciman, Gavin Henson, Gordon Ross, Seb Jewell, James Lewis, Sonny Parker, Hudson Tonga’uiha, Simon Whatling, Joe Ajuwa, Phil Mackenzie, Nick Scott, Ashley Smith, Tom Arscott, Alex Davies, Franck Montanella, Arthur Joly.
VERDICT: 12th
Tomorrow: London Irish, Bath and Gloucester.