Preview to the Guinness Pro12

It is a new era for the Pro12; Guinness has come on board to take the competition forward. The competition now has an added European qualification element. This can only make the league more entertaining and a better product going forward. The league also has the SKY factor this year. The Pro12 has been signed to be on SKY Sports this year. Some traditionalists may believe that this is a bad move and the league should be kept on terrestrial television. However, the extra income to the league and the glossy presentation that SKY provides can only help the Pro12 as a product.

Guinness provide the big name sponsor the league needed

Off the field then, much has changed; a new league sponsor, a new television deal and peace in Welsh rugby. On the field, how much has changed? There are new names in the league and big ones at that. Mils Muliaina and Gareth Anscombe are new to the Pro12, add to this returning faces such as Regan King, Lee Byrne and Andy Powell. Alongside the new names we have seen a lot of world class talent leave over the summer break. Leigh Halfpenny, Jon Davies and Casey Laulala have all left the league meaning some quality has been taken away from the league.

So what can be expected from the new season, will the usual suspects be found at the top of the table? Something that needs to be put into context is that all teams will be fielding their strongest line ups week in week out. The risk of missing out on European qualification is too great and therefore, the league will become the main focus for all teams. For Munster and Leinster in recent times it has felt as though the Heineken cup was their main focus, as they rested key players in the Pro12.

Granted, Munster and Leinster still have more strength in depth that most other teams and their rotated squad will be stronger than other sides in the league. This is what separates the top teams in league from the chasing pack. This is why Leinster and Munster will both make the Top 4.

Below this the squads are becoming closer and more evenly matched. Glasgow Warriors have made the top four in the last three seasons. However, this year they may have to settle for the Top 6 and European qualification.

Ulster are always in the mix and they will have enough about them to get into the Top 4 but I cannot see them challenging for the title once the playoffs begin.

The Cardiff Blues will be the surprise package of the year, with a new coach and several new players they will be a match for most teams this year. The starting XV for the Blues is amongst the best in the league, if they can avoid too many injuries they can challenge for the Top 4.

They will be taking the Welsh berth which is normally filled by the Scarlets or Ospreys. The Ospreys have weakened their pack dramatically over the summer and will struggle to make the Top 6 and could miss European qualification. The Scarlets should make the Top 6 and should be in Europe next year.

Outside of the top 6 the Italian teams Zebre and Benetton Treviso will be propping up the table once more. The battle between the two teams will be interesting to see who takes the Italian European spot. I would tip Zebre to scrape 11^th and take qualification, leaving Treviso in 12^th.

The Dragons, Edinburgh and Connacht will be fighting it out for the remaining positions from 8^th to 10^th. The Dragons have recruited well, as have Connacht; I see them reaching 8^th and 9^th respectively. This leaves Edinburgh in 10^th as they simply lack the quality to achieve the results required to gain a higher position.

The debate is now open and many people will have many different views on how the season will pan out. One thing that everyone can agree on is that it will be entertaining!