Big four to dominate Premiership?

Simple questions can often prove the hardest to answer and club rugby in England is a case in point. How does anyone stop Leicester?

Simple questions can often prove the hardest to answer and English rugby's flagship competition is a case in point. How does anyone stop Leicester?
The Premiership might have a new sponsor – insurance giants Aviva – but whether it will boast a new champion club in nine months' time is highly debatable.
It is difficult to bet against the Tigers – one leading bookmaker has already installed them as 15/8 title favourites – given their enviable Premiership pedigree.
They have been crowned champions nine times in 23 seasons of English league rugby – three more than any other club – and contested every Premiership final for the past six years.
This term, they are on the trail of a title hat-trick, and although Leicester cannot now call upon summer departures like Lewis Moody, Ben Kay and Aaron Mauger, they still possess a squad packed with enviable riches.
England scrum-half Ben Youngs, a home-grown Tigers talent, is set to lead Leicester's new generation on the trail of yet more silverware, while former club favourite Richard Cockerill offers astute leadership in his role as rugby director.
Welford Road will be packed to its 24,000 capacity more often than not this season as Leicester target success on domestic and European stages.
While each new campaign always brings optimism that it might be somebody else's turn, Tigers time and time again are there when it matters, setting the standards for others to follow.
Last season it was Saracens – revitalised under their South African supremo Brendan Venter – who came closest to halting Leicester's title march, succeeding London Irish in that role from the previous campaign.
Ultimately though, Tigers still made off with the English game's biggest prize, and their vice-like grip on it will take some releasing.
If the bookies are to be believed, then Bath, Northampton and Saracens – in that order of preference – are the only clubs with a realistic chance.
It has been a long time between drinks for Bath, winners of six league crowns during the 1980s and 1990s, but whose last league trophy arrived at the Recreation Ground 14 years ago.
An eventful few months in the Georgian city have witnessed the arrival of a new owner in multi-millionaire businessman Bruce Craig, Sir Ian McGeechan's appointment as performance director and current England captain Moody also signing on the dotted line.
Everything, it would appear, is in place for Bath to knock Leicester off their perch, but they must be far more consistent than last term when pre-Christmas relegation fears were banished by an unlikely charge into the Premiership play-offs.
Northampton, upwardly mobile with former England full-back Jim Mallinder at the helm, are probably still feeling the pain of last season's play-off agony inflicted by Saracens.
Another appearance in the Premiership's knockout phase will be Mallinder's minimum requirement this time around, while Saracens – especially with Scotland star Kelly Brown on board – can build on last season's Twickenham final appearance.
It is difficult to imagine that quartet not filling the top-four places, despite London Irish, Wasps and Gloucester holding realistic chances of reaching the play-offs.
Leeds Carnegie, coached by the outstanding Andy Key/Neil Back partnership, should improve on last season's 10th place, with the bottom four positions looking destined for Harlequins, Sale Sharks, Newcastle and Exeter.
Premiership newcomers Exeter are warm favourites to make a swift return to the Championship, but if they can turn Sandy Park into a winning home fortress, then Sale, especially, should start sweating.

By Andrew Baldock