How the RaboDirect Pro 12 teams will fare this year
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BENETTON TREVISO
Coach: Franco Smith
Captain: Antonia Pavanello
Last season: Tenth
This season: A little higher... eighth.
Tell me more: The Italians are being tipped as dark horses for a play-off place although that seems optimistic. Look out for the Australian under-20 stand-off James Ambrosini, who qualifies for Italy and may even appear in the Six Nations.
Opening match: v Ospreys (H)
Odds on winning: 150/1
CARDIFF BLUES
Coach: Phil Davies
Captain: Andries Pretorius
Last season: Seventh
This season: Mid-table.
Tell me more: A return to the Arms Park but will it herald a return to the glory days? Despite losing several key players the Blues should remain competitive with Jason Tovey pulling the strings at No.10.
Opening match: v Connacht (A)
Odds: 25/1
CONNACHT
Coach: Eric Elwood
Captain: Gavin Duffy
This season: An excellent eighth
Best guess: Lower... tenth.
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Hide AdTell me more: Last season was a good one for Eric Elwood and Co when they finished eighth in the league and bested Quins, England’s eventual champions, in the Amlin Challenge Cup.
Opening match: v Cardiff Blues (A)
Odds: 250/1
EDINBURGH
Coach: Michael Bradley
Captain: Greig Laidlaw
Last season: An ugly 11th
This season: Higher. Please God, higher.
Tell me more: The capital club have recruited well in the summer and, if Bradley can get the new boys singing in time and in tune, then Edinburgh will have no excuse for another no show in the league.
Opening match: v Munster (H)
Odds: 30/1
GLASGOW
Coach: Gregor Townsend
Captain: Al Kellock (for the seventh year)
Last season: A fighting fourth
This season: There or thereabouts.
Tell me more: Richie Gray will be a loss but Glasgow have several new exciting faces including lock Tim Swinson and Tongan breakaway Viliami Fa’afu. All they need now is a shirt sponsor. Anyone?
Opening match: v Ulster (A)
Odds: 25/1
LEINSTER
Coach: Joe Schmidt
Captain: Leo Cullen.
Last season: Losing finalists for the third time
This season: First.
Tell me more: Champions of Europe but chumps in the domestic league after letting Ospreys pip them by a point in a Dublin final. Rather than spend money on transfers Leinster are relying upon their academy products.
Opening match:v Scarlets (A)
Odds: 10/11 favourites
MUNSTER
Coach: Rob Penney
Captain: Doug Howlett
Last season: Third
This season: Fourth or fifth.
Tell me more: Can Ronan O’Gara still cut it at 35? Will Penney pick him? Can Munster afford to lose their veterans or will it be their making? Will there be a reaction to last season? Can they still play with that potent mix of prose and poetry?
Opening match: v Edinburgh (A)
Odds: 5/1
NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS
Coach: Darren Edwards
Captain: Lewis Evans
Last season: Ninth
This season: 11th.
Tell me more: The Dragons have lost some of their teeth over the summer with the departure of Jason Tovey, Luke Charteris and Aled Brew. Scottish lock Ian Nimmo, once of Heriot’s, joins from the Cornish Pirates.
Opening match: v Zebre (H)
Odds: 150/1
OSPREYS
Coach: Steve Tandy
Captain: Alun-Wyn Jones
Last season: Champions
This season: Not champions.
Tell me more: Coach Steve Tandy worked wonders after taking over from Scott Johnson mid-season but he has lost players hand over fist and hasn’t got the budget to replace them.
Opening match: v Benetton Treviso (A)
Odds: 7/2
SCARLETS
Coach: Simon Easterby
Captain: Rob McCusker
Last season: Fifth
This season: Sixth.
Tell me more: The Scarlets are a team who run hot and cold, sometimes in the same 80-minute match. Simon Easterby is new to the job but he can always get advice from brother Guy, who manages Leinster.
Opening match: v Leinster (H)
Odds: 22/1
ULSTER
Coach: Mark Anscombe
Captain: Johann Muller
Last season: Sixth
This season: Top four.
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Hide AdTell me more: If you thought Gregor Townsend was under pressure, spare a thought for new Kiwi coach Anscombe who must emulate Ulsterman Brian McLaughlin in reaching the Heineken Cup final or risk being run out of town.
Opening match: v Glasgow Warriors (H)
Odds: 8/1
ZEBRE
Coach: Alessandro Troncon
Captain: Marco Bortolami
Last season: They didn’t exist
This season: Last, probably.
Tell me more: Emerging from Aironi’s ashes, they should be dubbed “Phoenix”. The fact that Italian rugby federation president Giancarlo Dondi is the chief executive says all you need to know about who controls this club.
Opening match: v Newport Gwent Dragons (A)
Odds: 250/1
• Odds provided by Paddy Power and are correct as of August 27th.