RabodirectPro12 preview: players to watch

As the RaboDirectPro12 season starts tomorrow, we take a look at the key players and the ones to watch in each of the 12 teams.
Cardiff

Key player – Sam Warburton: the talisman for club and country, Warburton’s ability and prowess at the breakdown is unparalleled in the Northern Hemisphere.
Sorely missed when he was out with a nerve problem in his shoulder for two-and-a-half months last term but he has the bit between his teeth again and is relishing the battle with Ospreys’ Justin Tipuric.
Player to watch – Josh Navidi: if Tipuric is threatening Warburton’s international place then Navidi is hoping to do the same at the Blues.
Caught the eye a number of times last season, not least because of his wiry dreadlocks.
Connacht

Key Player – Dan Parks: his international career may have come to an end in ignominious fashion but Parks remains one of the most consistent performers in the competition.
He was the first player to rack up 1,000 points in the league’s history and Eric Elwood believes his reliability from the tee can turn Connacht’s narrow defeats into victories.
Player to watch – Rodney Ah You: a colossal front row who schooled Joe Marler in Heineken Cup action last season. One of the IRFU’s ‘special projects’, the Kiwi becomes Irish qualified within a year.
Edinburgh

Key Player:  – Tim Visser: the Flying Dutchman has become the Flying Scotsman but Visser is still the same try machine for Edinburgh.
He’s been the league’s top try-scorer for the last three seasons, was instrumental in Edinburgh’s historic march to the Heineken Cup semi-finals and poses as dangerous a threat as anyone in the competition.
Player to watch – Sep Visser: Tim’s younger brother with similar pace to burn, Visser was snapped up from Tynedale, where he boasted a similar strike-rate to his sibling, and may be introduced to more first-team rugby this season.
Glasgow

Key Player – John Barclay: more than 16 stone of Glasgow granite, Barclay’s defensive qualities are paramount to the Warriors.
The tough-tackling openside never takes a step backwards – aside from missing Scotland’s summer clash with Fiji to get married – he was unrelenting in the historic win over Australia.
Player to watch – Taylor Paris: a Sevens star, this Canadian teenager was the youngest player at last year’s World Cup although he didn’t make it onto the pitch. Expect fireworks.
Leinster

Key Player – Isa Nacewa: this Fijian flier has quicksilver in his boots and in 2011 became the first overseas import to be voted players’ player of the year in Ireland.
Arguably overtaking Brian O’Driscoll and Jonny Sexton in the fans’ favourite stakes, Nacewa stepped seamlessly from full-back to wing last term to accommodate a rejuvenated Rob Kearney.
Player to watch – Andrew Conway: another from the Blackrock conveyor belt, this dashing winger tied the record for the most tries with Christian Wade at the 2011 Junior World Championships.
Munster

Key Player – BJ Botha: incoming Munster coach Rob Penney may be seeking to build a new empire at Thomond Park, based on a more expansive style of play but BJ Botha will provide the platform.
The uncompromising South African prop may not help the short-term development of Irish front rows but Munster simply can’t afford to do without him in their pack.
Player to watch – JJ Hanrahan: for a while now Hanrahan has been tipped as Ronan O’Gara’s long-term successor. A genuine reason for optimism in what could be a transitional season.
Dragons

Key Player – Toby Faletau: a whirlwind 18 months for Faletau saw him bulldoze his way around New Zealand last year before taking his wrecking ball destructiveness on to the Six Nations scene.
Injury forced him home from Wales‘ summer tour of Australia early but Dragons coach Darren Edwards believes that will be a blessing in disguise for the Welsh region.
Player to watch – Adam Hughes: an outside centre with sleight of hand and fleetness of foot, Hughes has been singled out by Darren Edwards as potentially one of the outstanding 13s to come out of Wales.
Ospreys

Key Player – Dan Biggar: last season’s top points scorer, Biggar’s sangfroid sealed the title for Ospreys in May and he can count himself extremely unlucky to miss out on Wales’ trip to Australia.
Biggar is the fulcrum upon which Ospreys’ efficient, if not eye-catching strategy, is based but he has displayed his shoulders are big enough to bear the burden.
Player to watch – Tom Grabham: a diminutive scrum-half, Grabham’s name may ring a few bells after his memorable try at the Glasgow Sevens saw him expertly trap a loose pass with his foot. Steve Tandy is predicting big things.
Scarlets

Key Player – Matthew Rees: for all the explosive pace and power the Scarlets’ backline can boast, Matthew Rees’ importance was all too evident in his absence last season.
The hooker looks to have put his lengthy injury problems behind him, however, and has fire in his belly after losing the Welsh captaincy and with a place on the Lions tour to pin down.
Player to watch – Adam Warren: the latest addition to a frightening backline at the Scarlets, classy centre Warren has already made his senior international debut, aged just 21.
Treviso

Key player – Brendan Williams: a Treviso stalwart, Australian flier Williams made his 200th appearance for the Italians last season and again proved their most dangerous weapon.
When Treviso win, Williams generally scores – he touched down in victories over the Scarlets and Connacht last term as well as in a first bonus point win over the Dragons.
Player to watch – Tommaso Benvenuti: He gave England an almighty scare by outstripping Chris Ashton in Rome – no mean feat in itself. No little trickery, either.
Ulster

Key Player – Ruan Pienaar: the only player based outside of South Africa to be selected in the Springboks squad, Pienaar’s abundant talent has dazzled in the white of Ulster.
Raised his game even further in the Heineken Cup last season – his kicking performance in the quarter-final win at Munster in a swirling gale was breathtaking.
Player to watch – Jared Payne: while not an up-and-coming player, Payne will be desperate to impress the Ravenhill faithful after rupturing Achilles back in October in just his third appearance for the club.
Zebre

Key Player – Salvatore Perugini: Perugini’s experience will be fundamental as Zebre step into the unknown as newcomers to the competition.
Even though there remains a core from the now defunct Aironi, Zebre will struggle this season but having one of the most grizzled scrummagers in Europe to lay a platform will be a huge help.
Player to watch – Giovanbattista Venditti: having cut his teeth at the Junior World Championships, Venditti wasted little time showing his finishing abilities on the senior stage. Just ask England and Scotland.