Hopes for this season ?

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Realistically IMHO the best we can achieve is sixth, the worst will be 10th.

Sixth has to still be the minimum aim, and I don't see why it shouldn't be achievable.

Timing of fixtures with the 6 Nations could make things interesting and difficult to predict.

Tigers will certainly lose Lenny, Ford and May. Manu, Genge, Cole and Holmes are all possible/likely as well depending on selection.

Saracens (a) - 16th Feb (6 Nations rest weekend)
Worcester (a) - 24th Feb (6 Nations weekend)
Wasps (h) - 2nd March (6 Nations rest weekend)
Sale (a) - 8th March (6 Nations weekend)
Saints (h) - 22nd March
Exeter (h) - 5th April
Falcons (a) - 12th April
Bristol (h) - 26th April
Quins (a) - 3rd May
Bath (h) - 18th May

Sarries will almost certainly be without Farrell, both Vunipolas, George, Itoje and Kruis. I believe that Maitland and Williams will need to be released but whether Sarries play them is a different matter.

Worcester will be near full strength and hard to break down at home. That will be a critical game in my opinion.

Wasps will lose Launchbury. I wouldn't be surprised to see Robson feature ahead of Care, then Shields and Hughes will depend on injuries and selection.

Sale will be without Tom Curry, probably Ashton and the du Preez brothers are back in South Africa now. Along with Worcester this is a vital target for an away victory.


Something as simple as Exeter almost certainly missing out on European quarter finals could be critical. That will give them a weekend off before their Welford Road visit.

If the side can get momentum up during the 6 Nations then the stage is built for a late season charge with 4 home games in the last 6 fixtures. The final 4 fixtures of Falcons (a), Bristol (h), Quins (a) and Bath (h) are very winnable with the stars back.

If pushed I'd predict that 3-5 in the table will be taken by Gloucester, Wasps and Tigers. What order they will be in feels impossible to call. I think Sale with fade without Rob and Jean-Luc du Preez, I'd predict that Quins will fall back late in the season due to their inconsistent set-piece.

Nice work, Darling. I agree on the last 4 fixtures - should see us clear of the drop, but earlier losses will keep us out of the top 4. WE may make The Eurochamps, but not sure that would be a good thing at this stage.

Worcester away v their full strength team will be a spanking I'm afraid. I can't see us getting anything from the 3 away games during the 6N...

Have we "now got a full set of coaches in place" though? Hope not.

Kindly name the missing coaching positions and likely coaches to fill them ?

Lineout specialist, potentially.

Geoff Parling please for the above.

A breakdown specialist. Backy?

I do wonder/worry about our analysis of past performances (as nothing seems to change especially what we have done badly) and our analysis of opponents as we often don't seemed prepared for the way they will play. Or was this an MOC ignoring the info thing?

Not being relegated.

Jamie Hamilton to return from NZ for the video analysis.

Wayne Barnes to ref us each game

Some signings for next season

Happiness and health for all associated with the club.

Not relegated

6th or better

Olowofela's disallowed try to not be material in the outcome.

A good showing v Ulster and Saints at home.

Our showing in Llanelli does not augur well for the Six Nations lottery though the thought losing at home to FaCov must spur on our crew to greater heights, surely

We then have to assess the effects on our called upon internationals from that circus

However, I expect neither relegation nor the Spanish Inquisition. I hope the ice-axe is well and truly anchored into the slippery slope we have been navigating and that our Club will continue to re-build without resorting the the comfy chair

The referee is the final arbitrary ------------------ {The persons and events mentioned in this post are fictitious. Any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual events is purely co-incidental}

We won't be relegated, we will finish 6th

Not being relegated, and properly gelling as a team and coaching team.

Academy winning bringing fresh talent to senior squad
TV back fit
Manu uninjured
Winning some lineouts
Change in management structure allowing full autonomy for a full coaching team
That's it for me.