PRO14 and European champions Leinster will kick off their pre-season on Friday when they head to Montauban for the first of two pre-season friendlies before their season opener against the Cardiff Blues later this month.
Similarly, Munster will play London Irish and Exeter, Ulster will take on Gloucester and Wasps while Connacht will begin their tenure under Andy Friend when they take on Wasps at Dubarry Park in Athlone.
There has been a lot of player movement in the off-season at the provinces with Leinster welcoming Joe Tomane from Montpellier, Munster taking on Joey Carbery from Munster and Ulster capturing the short term services of Wallabies winger Henry Speight and the long term services of Jordi Murphy and Marty Moore.
Here we take a quick look at how each team could line-up in the new season and the list of players that they have acquired since the end of last season.
Leinster
IN: Joe Tomane
OUT:
- Jordi Murphy to Ulster
- Jamie Heaslip retired
- Isa Nacewa retired
- Richardt Strauss retired
- Oisin Heffernan to Nottingham
- Joey Carbery to Munster
- Cathal Marsh released
- Peadar Timmins released
Predicted Team
Bench: James Tracy, Jack McGrath, Andrew Porter, Devin Toner, Josh van der Flier, Jamison Gibson-Park, Ross Byrne, Fergus McFadden.
What’s changed: The addition of Joe Tomane shouldn’t change the starting XV with the Australian most likely to be used in a role off the bench and as cover during the international breaks when the province are routinely raided by the Irish national team.
The team should stay the same for the most part but the pending return of Ireland flankers Sean O’Brien, Josh van der Flier and Rhys Ruddock should complicate matters in both the backrow and second-row.
Leinster can go with any number of options in the backrow but assuming newly appointed vice-captain Rhys Ruddock starts, and is not vice-captain from the bench or further beyond, it should see Scott Fardy move to the second-row while Dan Leavy and Sean O’Brien should accompany him at openside and number eight respectively.
Munster
IN:
- Tadhg Beirne from Scarlets
- Mike Haley from Sale Sharks
- Neil Cronin from Garryowen
- Arno Botha from London Irish
- Joey Carbery from Leinster
OUT:
- Simon Zebo to Racing 92
- Robin Copeland to Connacht
- David Johnston to Ealing Trailfinders
- Gerbrandt Grobler to Gloucester
Predicted Team
Bench: Rhys Marshall, James Cronin, Stephen Archer, Billy Holland, Jack O’Donoghue, Duncan Williams, Tyler Bleyendaal, Mike Haley
What’s changed: Ireland internationals Tadhg Beirne and Joey Carbery are the headline arrivals and should walk straight into the stating side while Chris Farrell should return at outside centre after suffering from a knee injury at the end of last season.
The loss of Simon Zebo to Racing is big and gives Johann van Graan a number of options at the back three with Andrew Conway adept at both full-back and wing.
Munster said at the end of last season that injured fly-half Tyler Bleyendaal should make a full recovery this season and he could move to inside centre when fit, but for the moment, given the uncertainty over his injury, we’ll keep Rory Scannell at second receiver.
Ulster
IN:
- Marty Moore from Wasps
- Jordi Murphy from Leinster
- Will Addison from Sale Sharks
- Alexander Thompson from Terenure
- Billy Burns from Gloucester
- Alan Bennie from Lansdowne
- Henry Speight from Brumbies (short-term deal)
OUT:
- Charles Piutau to Bristol Bears
- Tommy Bowe retired
- Callum Black to Worcester Warriors
- Brett Herron to Jersey Reds
- Paul Marshall retired
- Callum Patterson to Cornish Pirates
- Andrew Trimble retired
- Stuart Olding to Brive
- Jared Payne retired
- Paddy Jackson to Perpignan
- Robbie Diack released
- Aaron Cairns released
Predicted Team
Bench: Rob Herring, Kyle McCall, Tom O’Toole, Kieran Treadwell, Sean Reidy, David Shanahan, Billy Burns, Rob Lyttle
What’s changed: Ulster have had somewhat of a firesale over the off-season with Tommy Bowe, Andrew Trimble, Paul Marshall and Jared Payne all retiring, Paddy Jackson, Stuart Olding and Charles Piutau all leaving and Robbie Diack being released.
They have brought in Henry Speight on a short term contract which should alleviate some of their backline stresses with Louis Ludik ruled out until at least November, while in the forwards the additions of Ireland internationals Marty Moore and Jordi Murphy, and the pending return of Marcell Coetzee, should beef up a much improved forward pack.
Connacht
IN:
- Robin Copeland from Munster
- Kyle Godwin from Brumbies
- David Horwitz from Melbourne Rebels
- Joe Maksymiw from Leicester Tigers
- Jonny Murphy from Rotherham Titans
- Sevu Reece from Waikato
- Colby Fainga’a from Melbourne Rebels
OUT:
- Jake Heenan to Bristol Bears
- John Muldoon retired
- Pita Ahki to Toulouse
- Andrew Deegan to Western Force
- Naulia Dawai to Otago
- Cormac Brennan released
- Denis Coulson released
- Steve Crosbie released
- Stacey Ili released
- Pat O’Toole released
- JP Cooney released
- Andrew Browne released
Predicted Team
Bench: Shane Delahunt, Peter McCabe, Conor Carey, Gavin Thornbury, Eoin McKeon, Caolin Blade, Jack Carty, Cian Kelleher.
What’s Changed: Connacht may have lost long-time captain John Muldoon to retirement but they’ve added some strength to their backrow with the additions of Colby Fainga’a from the Rebels and Robin Copeland from Munster.
Jarrad Butler was their player’s player of the year last season and should retain his spot in the team, potentially at blindside, while the rest of the forward pack should remain unchanged.
Meanwhile in the backline Kyle Godwin and David Horwitz could push Jack Carty onto the bench while the rest of the backline should stay the same, although, new signing Sevu Reece could be one to watch out for.
