2022-23 Championship - Season Predictions

No idea, really. Pirates have lost some very high quality, experienced players (Caulfield, Cutmore, Patterson, De Batista) but seem to have recruited well. We may be a little light in the forwards. If the set piece holds up we should be OK. My heart says top 4, my head says mid-table.

Very few people at Caldy have any experience of the Championship and most Caldy supporters are completely flabbergasted that a village club has risen to this exalted level in the rugby pyramid.

Edited by Big Eddie - 30 Aug 2022 at 12:48

I remember Ealing’s first foray into the Championship about a decade ago. The biggest differences I noticed was the relentless power of the forward play and the sheer pace at which the game was played. It took until Christmas to get our first win and eventually got relegated on the last day of the season due to a ‘freak’ away win by Jersey (although they won’t remember it that way!). It would not be a disaster for Caldy if a similar thing happened to them. They would benefit hugely from the experience and come back even stronger - look at Ealing now. I’m certainly not wishing relegation on them, they absolutely deserve this opportunity - just make sure you enjoy the ride, however long it may be.

Edited by oneagainstthehead - 30 Aug 2022 at 12:34

I have no doubt Ealing will win the league, and they need to as only they and Doncaster would have any credibility in the Premiership, currently. 

And can I snap the other hand off? Ampthill to finish third! I wish.

gerg_861 wrote: Ealing has spent a lot of money on squad depth this year, proven by losing by 1 to the relegated Pro14 side on Thursday, and still having a separate team to go win convincingly at Rosslyn Park on Saturday. I'm sure that they'll slip up a couple of times due to weird selections, bad weather, or an inspired opposite number, but I can't see them not coming top over the course of the season. 1. Ealing  2. Cornish Pirates - massive homefield advantage, plus strong support and secure funding the next couple of years. 3. Doncaster - Seemed to lose a few key players, and were thumped in preseason. Still strong. 4. Jersey - They have seemed strong in pre-season, and I could easily seem them higher. 5. Bedford - Could be 5th, could be 10th. Depends on loanees. 6. Coventry -I don't know much about Cov. 7. Ampthill - I'm pulling for the mob as I like their club ethos. 8. Hartpury - Gloucester A have both a ceiling and a floor to their perfomances. 9. Nottingham - Seem to have spent a bit more this year on a few key signings. 10. Richmond - Still have the immortal Mark Bright, so can't put them lower. 11. London Scottish - Probably could be several places higher with Quins tie-up, but need to see who they get. 12. Caldy - Long, long road trips.

Rabbie Burns wrote: I don’t think that the journeys in the Champ will be much different from Nat 1 for Caldy in fact could be less as there are fewer fixtures

tricky this year (no different from any other I guess), but let's start at the bottom and I hate to say it, but I think that Caldy will find the step up very tough. I'm not saying that it is beyond them, but being realistic, a successful season is likely to be 11th. If they do avoid the basement, then I think that Caldy will be fighting with either LS or Richmond.
At the other end, I can see Donny just pipping Pirates to third and at the top I think that we will see a shock and Jersey will take the crown from Ealing.
Yes, Ealing are definitely the team to beat, yes, I am biased, but I honestly can see Jersey getting the better of our old rivals. My rationale, is that in the 2 pre-season games against Tigers & Irish (yes, I know that pre-season normally means diddly) Jersey really competed with them throughout the games. Didn't just hang on against sides who were going through the motions and then put the fringe players on. No, we really competed against the likes of Cole, Youngs etc. and when the 2nd half changes came we beat them.
There is a confidence that I have not seen since we were promoted to this level and I just think that it could be our year...famous last words no doubt.
As for the rest. Almost impossible to rank them. Bedford should be 5th or 6th, but it depends on DR's/loans. Cov are always a tough team to beat and Ampthill are going from strength to strength, as are Hartpury. Nottingham are an unknown for me, but they are a great club with very high standards, so I can see them being competitive again.

Can't wait for it to all kick off again!

Edited by Brizzer - 31 Aug 2022 at 16:34

It is interesting and a bit daunting to have the views ahead of the season, from supporters of other clubs who have significant experience at this level.