Premiership preview (3 days to go): London Irish, Bath, Gloucester

With the start of the Aviva Premiership only three days away, we take a look at what lays ahead for the 12 teams. Today, London Irish, Bath and Gloucester.
 
London Irish
It’s a changing of the guard in almost every respect at the Exiles. With Brian Smith returning to replace Toby Booth as head honcho, and stalwarts like Bob Casey, Clarke Dermody and a large supporting cast either retiring alongside them, or heading for the exit, the Irish could be in for a transitional season despite the impressive goal-kicking of last season’s top scorer, Tom Homer.
There is a strong sense that with the departure of Nick Kennedy and all the Armitages to Toulon, and Dan Bowden and Adam Thompstone bound for Welford Road, there are too many parts of the jigsaw that need replacing for Smith to produce the perfect picture. Incomers such as scrum-half Tomas O’Leary and fly-halves Shane Geraghty and Ian Humphreys have earned a reputation for blowing hot and cold, so consistency of performance – and therefore selection – could be hard to come by despite flanker Declan Danaher’s blood-and-guts leader- ship and rocket power in a back three of Sailosi Tagicakibau, Topsy Ojo and Homer.
One of Smith’s most urgent assignments will be a front five rebuild, with Alex Corbisiero the linchpin at loosehead. However, with Max Lahiff in his Premiership infancy and new signing Cai Griffiths rarely a starter at the Ospreys, the Irish front row could lack ballast. George Skivington, who was solid rather than spectacular during his stint at Leicester, arrives to partner the mobile Matt Garvey in the second row, while Alex Gray, Jamie Gibson, and penalty magnet Chris Hala’ufia will fight it out for the remaining back row places in a re-shaped pack.

Player to watch – Alex Corbisiero, Prop
The New York-born Corbisiero was hot as a chilli-dog last season, coming of age as an England prop. This season the Irish will require him to utilise all his power and savvy as a Test practitioner to help the new front five to bed-in because if there is no set-piece base the job of the back row, and the backs, becomes doubly difficult. It is a big ask of a 23-year-old, but he can scrum on both sides, and if he and veteran hooker David Paice can keep it solid – and stay fit for most of the season – then mid-table is not out of the question.
SQUAD:  Brian Blaney, James Buckland, Scott Lawson, David Paice, Halani Aulika, Alex Corbisiero, Cai Griffiths, Leo Halavatau, Max Lahiff, Jerry Yanuyanutawa, Bryn Evans, Matthew Garvey, James Sandford, George Skivington, Declan Danaher, Jon Fisher, Jamie Gibson, Alex Gray, Ofisa Treviranus, Chris Hala’ufia, Jebb Sinclair, Darren Allinson, Tomas O’Leary, Shane Geraghty, Ian Humphreys, Joe Ansbro, Jonathan Joseph, Setaimata Sa, Steven Shingler, Topsy Ojo, Sailosi Tagicakibau, Marland Yarde, Michael Worrincy, Tom Homer.
VERDICT: 10th
Bath
Bath were “disappointing and inconsistent” last season, according to owner Bruce Craig, so it has been all change on the coaching front with Sir Ian McGeechan shown the door after barely a year at the club.
Missing out on the Heineken Cup after finishing eighth in the table did not amuse Craig, and that is why the hard-working, hard-nosed former Springbok assistant coach, Gary Gold, has been brought in to fix the endemic failings that have made the West Country giant a shadow of its former self.
Gold has an army of coaches to help him work the oracle, with Toby Booth (attack), Mike Ford (defence), Neal Hatley (setpiece/breakdown), and  Brad Davis (counter-attack/
kicking) completing the template. Gold promises work and more work, and if there are any shop stewards in the Bath squad he has inherited who fail to buy into his blood, sweat and tears ethos they will be on their way.
However, the big question is whether, with a coaching staff stacked with forwards coaches in Gold, Booth and Hatley, they are able to produce enough cut-and-thrust to go with the forward grind.
Star signings like England centre Dan Hipkiss, rugby league speedster Kyle Eastmond, and All Black fly-half Stephen Donald have so far been either below par or invisible despite being at the club for a year. Gold has a well-earned reputation for being a good organiser and motivator, but, even if there are big improvements up front, if the Bath backline fails to fire he and his coaches will soon feel the heat.

Player to Watch – Michael Claassens
At his best the South African No.9 has given Bath a different dimension with his speed of thought and sniping runs around the fringes. However, he has not been consistent in recent seasons, and his once impressive option-taking has faltered. Claassens is the senior pro in the Bath backline, and it will be his ability to forge a partnership with Stephen Donald which dictates whether they spring a surprise by developing multiple strike threats, or are typecast as one-dimensional bashers.
SQUAD: Ross Batty, Lee Mears, Rob Webber, Charlie Beech, Nathan Catt, Paul James, Kane Palma-Newport, Anthony Perenise, Dave Wilson, Dave Attwood, Ryan Caldwell, Dominic Day, Stuart Hooper, Carl Fearns, Francois Louw, Guy Mercer, Josh Ovens, Ben Skirving, Simon Taylor, Chris Cook, Michael Claassens, Mark McMillan, Stephen Donald, Tom Heathcote, Sam Vesty, Olly Barkley, Dan Hipkiss, Ben Williams, Horacio Agulla, Matt Banahan, Tom Biggs, Kyle Eastmond, Nick Abendanon.
VERDICT: 7th
Gloucester
There were times last season when the Gloucester backs played some sublime rugby, notably in the victory over Toulouse at Kingsholm in the Heineken Cup, and in young guns like Jonny May, Charlie Sharples, Henry Trinder and Freddie Burns they have the makings of a strike force that could have The Shed singing their praises for years to come. Add to that the sinewy scrum-half skills and know-how of All Black import Jimmy Cowan and the sublime conjuring of James Simpson-Daniel – who at 30 should still have an international future – and the possibilities look limitless.
The only problem for Gloucester is that while everything from numbers 9 to 15 looks golden, the pack has a distinctly second rate record, and, surprisingly, nothing too dramatic has been done over the close season to remedy the lack of clout. The arrivals of England No.8 Ben Morgan and the Tongan blindside Sione Kalamafoni from Nottingham will strengthen the back row, especially with Akapusi Qera still on the books – but that is not the area in which Gloucester have struggled.
The cherry-and-whites Achilles heel is in the front five, once an area of traditional strength, but for a number of seasons now a distinct weakness. Gloucester have promising young tighthead in Shaun Knight, Darren Dawidiuk has the makings at hooker, and new skipper Jim Hamilton is a heavy duty lock, but that is where the gnarled element ends – and new coach Nigel Davies’s worries begin. Brilliant looking backs is one thing, getting them good ball to play with is another.

Player to Watch – Jim Hamilton, Lock
Big Jim blotted his copybook when he was banned for fighting with London Irish hooker David Paice at the end of last season, and as Gloucester captain he will need to keep a tighter rein on his temper, if not his combativeness, during this campaign. Hamilton is absolutely crucial to Gloucester’s hopes because if he can stay fit, and uses his experience to influence selection and stiffen the backbone of the front five, then the most exciting back line in the Premiership will take wing. If not, it will be another frustrating season for Gloucester supporters.
SQUAD: Huia Edmonds, Darren Dawidiuk, Dario Chistolini, Rupert Harden, Shaun Knight, Dan Murphy, Yann Thomas, Nick Wood, Alex Brown, Jim Hamilton,  Will James, Peter Buxton, Andy Hazell, Akapusi Qera, Matthew Cox, Ben Morgan, Sione Kalamafoni, Dave Lewis, Jimmy Cowan, Freddie Burns, Tim Taylor, Billy Twelvetrees, Jonny May, Tim Molenaar, Henry Trinder, Drew Locke, Charlie Sharples, James Simpson-Daniel, Shane Monahan, Rob Cook, Olly Morgan, Martyn Thomas.
VERDICT: 8th