Club: London Irish
Last season: 6th
Odds for the title: 25/1
Season opener: away v Harlequins, 15 September
Ins
Tim Curran (ACT Brumbies), Tomas De Vedia (Saracens), Clarke Dermondy (Otago Highlanders), Warren Fury, Jeremy Staunton (Wasps), Peter Hewat (NSW Waratahs), Eoghan Hickey (Munster), Mark Ireland (Newbury), Bryan Rennie (Borders), Peter Richards (Gloucester)
Outs
Justin Bishop (Doncaster), Michael Collins (Glasgow), Barry Everitt (Northampton), Riki Flutey (Wasps), Neal Hatley (retired), Michael Horak (Benetton Treviso), Olivier Magne (Brive), Richie Rees (Cardiff Blues), Robbie Russell (retired), Ben Willis (Esher)
The player preview
London Irish full-back Delon Armitage is hoping to avoid third-season syndrome, he tells rucked.com
Good summer?
It’s been a long pre-season – we’ve been training for nine weeks and we’re getting a bit bored just can’t wait to start. We’re actually getting to the point where we’ve been picking up little niggling injuries in the squad. Other sides have been the same, looking at the Quins team, they’ve picked up a couple of injuries in the centres. It’s one thing to get injured while you’re playing and another to do it in pre-season when you’re not doing anything!
What about pre-season friendlies?
We won all of our pre-season games, we played London Scottish, Nottingham and Worcester, but we’re not there yet. Obviously, that’s due to weather, we’ve not had a hot day.
You’re blaming the weather?
Yeah, I’ll blame it on that, we’re used to pre-season training in the sun and sweating loads but it’s been really cold this year.
Is it good that you’re starting at Twickenham?
Of course it’s good, I’d prefer it to be there than at Quins. It’s great to play at Twickenham and we can use it as our home game as well (although technically it’s Harlequins’). The changing rooms are bigger than at the Stoop and you don’t get any funny stuff happening like the water not working or the showers only running cold. It means we can prepare for the match properly.
Last season was a bit of a let down wasn’t it?
We were really disappointed with our performances, we started slow and struggled to get a string of games together. I also only got one game for Saxons against USA but this year could be a big opportunity for us because there’s a lot of boys at the World Cup and when they get back they could be tired. I want to get started early and then maybe I’ll get a chance in the Six Nations.
What went wrong then, did they figure London Irish out?
I think they knew we could counter attack and so put every ball into the stand – sides were always kicking it out into touch. Hopefully this year sides might have forgotten about doing that because me and Topsy (Ojo) love to run it. We’re told to play safe but we want to attack.
Not many new signings, but a settled side perhaps?
We’ve been together quite a while now and we’ve had pretty much the same team for three seasons, so we know what’s going on with each other, we gel together well. The other clubs that have all these new boys coming in might struggle to gel, so we’ve got to capitalise on that.
In a young side, is it good to have an old boy like Mike Catt?
It’s always good to have an old head to settle us down. We’ve got a chance to go out now without him, and if it doesn’t work then when he comes back he can put us back o the right track.
What’s the aim for the season?
Two years ago, we were aiming top six and finished third. Then last year we finished six, so I guess we’re aiming for the top four again and we can do it if we work hard. We know we can be there, we’ve got one of best lineouts and scrums in the Premiership and if we steal a lot of ball we’ve got exciting backs.
Good to have your brother Steffon around, he had a decent first season with Irish last year?
He did really well and it’s nice to have him here, I never used to see him much when he was at Saracens but now I go around his house a lot and eat his food! I just hope he doesn’t get second season syndrome like I had.
Second season syndrome?
Yeah, I could name a handful players who’ve had it and most of them haven’t bounced back – they’ve gone off the radar completely. I just hope I don’t get third season syndrome!
Supporters’ prediction: 8th. “A solid side but not spectacular, I can’t see us topping the achievements of two seasons ago, but we’ll do okay in the cups.” Zoe Quinlan, London
Rucked prediction: 6th. Won’t be struggling but won’t set the world alight either. The potential to beat anyone but probably don’t have the squad to maintain a charge for the title.