My First team prediction of the Season

This Sunday sees the start of our Championship season.  2014/15 promises to be an exciting season with a big clash at either end of the regular season – Bristol.

Dean Ryan has some very tough choices ahead of him. With only 3 preseason games played and not all of the squad getting a competitive run, we may see some new and some old faces for the first time at Bristol.

Preseason ended 1-2 in terms of victories but considering we played a Pro 12 side and 2 top 6 premiership sides we should not be too down about the results.

Yet again Ben Howard has had a great preseason, he has scored 2 tries having played 160 minutes of rugby and then being an unused sub against Exeter. Last season Chris Pennell was so prolific that Ben did not get a look in, but Ryan has already stated that there will be more rotation in the backs this season and therefore hopefully he will get his chance. Is Bristol away too big of an introduction to first team rugby for him?

Here are my selections for Sunday and a little bit about why. I will probably be miles off the mark, as usual, but here goes:

This is arguably our biggest match of 2014, a strong away performance would set the bar high for the rest of the season and this means we need our strongest team. Smith has already shown that he can score in a Warriors shirt, Biggs seems to be fit and bursting to play and Pennell is just Chris Pennell, our best player by far last season and therefore must start Sunday.

These boys could be facing Worcester old boys David Lemi and Andy Short, plenty to prove there!!

Centres
13. Stelling
12. Symons

Bristol may start with Tovey and Mosses who paired up very well last year in the Championship. Stelling and Symons are giants, they are athletic, they both have good hands and can defend well. This could be a very good partnership for seasons to come, in my opinion.

Half Backs
10. Mieres
9. Mulchrone

We do not really have much choice at 10 but 9 is looking to be a great competition this season. Mieres is there based on experience, not really preseason form. Eden matched his kicking even though he played 28 minutes less rugby than Ignacio.

Scrum half is a tough call for me, Charlie is the right choice for me. If for no other reason than he will want to banish memories of his last game against Bristol in last season’s play-offs.

I would say these guys are almost certainly going to face Morgan and Peel. Both new to Bristol but both exceptional players. If Mieres is not on top form then this could be our undoing on Sunday.

Front Row

This is a big worry for me. For my prediction I have had to hope that Schonert is not injured!

1. Ofa
2. George
3. Schonert

Here is the first of the squad I think we may see for the first time this season, Ofa. I have not heard of injuries and assume that as he started preseason late due to international duty, he has missed the games through timing. Schonert has been brilliant. He is very much like Mike Williams and as has been commented a few times, it looks like they are having a competition in each game to see who can put in the biggest tackle.

Bristol may go for a front row of Traynor, Brooker and Perenise. If we were playing Top Trumps I think the Bristol front row would have us beat in most departments, but they are new guys again and so we may stand up OK. Our lineout has been terrible in preseason but I think this is more down to the jumping than the throwing, hence going with the seemingly favoured George at 2.

The Second Row

Bristol’s second row options are crazy. Evans and Sorenson will probably start but that will still leave the very talented youngster Ben Glynn on the bench.

I would go with:
4. Percy
5. Sanderson

Percy is a rock. Actually he is like a stick of rock, cut him in half and it would say “Worcester Warriors” and is easily the second name on any team sheet for me. Sanderson I am not so impressed with yet. I know in preseason, especially at a new club, it can be hard to follow the calls. I also know that coaches do not like to show off too many of their new calls in front of future competitors but Sanderson has looked like he is wearing concrete boots. Rotherham fans assure me he is the real deal, but I am yet to see it.

Christian Scotland-Williamson is a bit unlucky in my selection. I think, like Ben Howard, he just lacks experience to start against Bristol in the league. Though if he carries on the way he has started preseason then the reverse fixture may well see him starting in the 5 shirt!

The Back Row

Almost impossible to call. Is Thomas still injured? Has Pretorius arrived yet? Will GJVV promise to knock out an opponent in every game? All these things need to be considered when selecting 3 back row forwards from our squad choice of 8 plus academy. For this game I think

6. Williams
7. Betty
8. GJ van Velze (Captain)

Williams and Betty were great last season and have performed well in preseason. This selection is made a bit easier with Thomas injured and Senatore on international duty.

GJVV has started brilliantly. He is a monster and a brilliant 8.

Bristol also have plenty to choose from in the back row and will potentially include new signing Lam and 7 Rennie. Hard to know but whatever combination they go with will be of high quality and I see this as being a great battle this weekend.

So, my team would be:
1. Ofa
2. George
3. Schonert
4. Percy
5. Sanderson
6. Williams
7. Betty
8. GJVV (Captain)
9. Mulchrone
10. Mieres
11. Biggs
12. Symons
13. Stelling
14. Smith
15. Pennell

On the Bench
16. Annett
17. Bower
18. Daniels (Not seen or heard anything of ROD)
19. Cox
20. Arr
21. Eden
22. Howard

Now that is the youngest bench I could ever imagine. Although young, that replacement front row performed very well in preseason. Cox is versatile and has already played 7 and 8 for us. Arr gives us a different option to Charlie Mulchrone and Eden is there on merit. Ben as already mentioned has had another great preseason and is more than capable at 11,14 & 15.

All I can say now is Bring on Bristol and Come On You Warriors!!