The first weeks

Congrats to South Africa, outright winners of the 2009 Tri-Nations title! They were the hot team coming into the tournament and showed why they deserve the title of World Champions. South Africa is the international team to beat and should keep that title for the time being.

In the Home Nations, the season is starting to take shape. The early season lineup swapping should be easing down as players stamp their names for the season.

Ireland cannot hope to top this past season's glory. A Grand Slam, Six Nations title, Heineken Cup and Magner's League championship all came into Irish hands. At best, they could match it. The only title not in Irish hands that could have ended that way was the European Challenge Cup, a prize that only Connacht was competing for.

England's Guinness Premiership looks to be another good year, with the two big powerhouses of Leicester and London Wasps leading the way. London Irish will be very good this year, and I will be pleasantly surprised to see Mike Catt take the field. He is not on the official team website, but I would bet big money on seeing him pull on the jersey at least a couple of times this season, even if only as a stop-gap. He has proven invaluable with Irish so far. The Saracens pulled off an early season upset over the Irish, and the recent turbulent times for them may not have the lasting impact previously predicted. Nonetheless, the top three teams will remain Irish, Wasps and Leicester. If Cipriani remains healthy, my prediction is another Wasps championship.

As for the Magner's League, it will be the tightest contest yet. That may sound like an easy prediction to make, but I assure you it is not. Munster is just as strong as they were last season, despite Tipoki and Puccarellio leaving, amongst others. Leinster is definitely weaker, if one can say that, with the losses of Whitaker, Elsom and Contepomi. Sexton will gladly take the chance to prove his worth at fly half, but Contepomi is not replaceable. The two Scottish teams will be very good this year, and may even supply a team for the playoffs that have been added. The Welsh teams will struggle this year. Cardiff will play well and Llanelli can always sneak a win, but the Dragons are always bottom feeders and the Ospreys never seem to live up to their potential. Jerry Collins may be the changing factor for the Ospreys, but one man does not make the team. My earliest season prediction on the Magner's League is that Leinster will take the Magner's League in a dramatic final at the new Aviva Stadium (formerly Lansdowne Road).

~Tyler