The Guinness Premiership is well and truly in full flow, with Saracens proudly at the summit as we near the half way point. Can they keep their place at the top though, or will the chasing pack hunt them down? It should be an exciting second half of the season, but what needs to be done ensure your team keeps place at the top or just in the league at all?

Bath
After their fourth placed finish last season, this year was built up as an exciting time to be at The Rec. The club was building and moving forward, but have now come to somewhat of a standstill. Eleventh and just three point above bottom side Leeds, with the playoffs now a mere pipe dream.  Surviving is paramount, and a big turnaround is certainly needed in order to climb the table.  Central to this goal are the flair players who so far have failed to recapture some of the form they showed last season. England internationals Nick Abendanon and Matt Banahan will be keen to prove themselves to Martin Johnson ahead of the Six Nations in February, while fellow internationals in the forward line also need to become more convincing.  Big performances are needed - and fast. Or come May they could find themselves in a very sticky situation indeed.

Gloucester
Another side who haven’t quite lived up to the pre-season expectations. Bryan Redpath’s troops are entering a crucial stage of their season, where they will either climb away from the basement or get dragged into a relegation dog fight.  Signings such as Carlos Spencer and Tom Voyce were supposed to be the missing links, but it hasn’t clicked so far. A struggling Bath side looms next, and a win could be the boost they need heading into the New Year.

Harlequins
Following on from their second place finish in the Guinness Premiership table last season, Harlequins are keeping pace with top four and could once again feature in the end of season play offs.  They have however missed former boss Dean Richards who left after the controversial ‘bloodgate’ scandal and with him at the helm you can’t help but think they would be further up the table.  Boosted by the fitness of David Strettle and New Zealand fly half Nick Evans, one of the standout performers so far, they will no doubt be there or there abouts come the season’s close.

Leeds Carnegie
The League’s bottom side at the moment seem too lightweight for the Guinness Premiership, despite some impressive results. Wins at Wasps and at home to Leicester were muted as the catalyst for Carnegie’s season, but they since dropped back into the losing habit.  High profile signings such as Henry Paul, Andy Gommersall and Andy Titterall signalled the side’s intention heading into this season. However despite the gap to mid table not being too great it’s hard to see how they could turn around their season.

Leicester Tigers
Reigning champions Leicester Tigers have not been at their best as yet, but are still in fourth and looking good to make the playoffs once again. Fly Half Jeremy Staunton currently sits second overall in both the top points scorers (105) and goal kickers (36) lists, and is responsible for a large chunk of the points that the Tigers have so far amassed. Always an exciting and well-drilled side, they could well go all the way once again.

London Irish
Toby Booth is quickly becoming one of the best coaches around, as he builds a London Irish team capable of beating any side in the country. Currently second in the league, following on from last year third spot, they have put the disappointment of losing in the final at Twickenham behind them and have their sights on the top prize in 2009/10.  Ryan Lamb seems an inspired signing, and he currently tops the point’s scorers (116) and goal kickers (39) tallies with team mate Sailosi Tagicakibau second for tries with six. Next up is unbeaten Saracens, who could well fall to their first defeat of the season.

London Wasps
After a disappointing seventh placed finish last season, Wasps have regrouped and have come back showing that they mean business. In Tom Varndell they now have one of the best finishers in the League, and the flair that was so often missing during the 2008/09 campaign.  They currently occupy fifth place, but are crucially just one point off fourth with a game in hand at Sale Sharks.  Surely a side of this stature isn’t going to miss out on the play-offs two seasons in a row.

Newcastle Falcons
Very much a side in transition, the Falcons are performing above the level expected when the season began. Led by Carl Heyman in the front row, they have a blend of youth and experience that has gelled perfectly. Jimmy Gopperth, signed in the summer, has been an integral part of the side and so far is proving to be a very good addition to the team. Building on last season 10th placed finish, and the departure of Jonny Wilkinson, they currently sit 7th and don’t show any signs of slipping.

Northampton Saints
Sitting third in the lead, Jim Mallinder’s side have transformed themselves into one of the toughest sides to beat in the entire Premiership.  A well drilled free scoring outfit, with Chris Ashton currently top try scorer with seven and Ben Foden fast becoming one of the best full backs in the League and throwing his hat into the ring for the upcoming six nations. They will surely make the end of season play offs, and could just spring a surprise or two if they get there.

Sale Sharks
Very much a season of transition for the Sharks, after the big name departures of the summer left them without a director of rugby and a core of players. Since winning the Premiership in 2006 they haven’t managed to replicate anything near to that kind of form, but under the stewardship of Kingsley Jones they are slowly putting in good performances and showing their potential. They finished fifth last season, but are ninth at the moment this term and seem to be heading for a mid table finish.

Saracens
Early pace setters Saracens have under gone major upheavals through the summer to transform themselves into genuine title challengers. With nine wins and one draw in their ten games so far, they are certainly the envy of the league after finishing ninth in 2008/09. The expectations of a drop of form haven’t materialised, and are almost a certainty to be contending in the play offs come the end of the season.

Worcester Warriors
Sixways outfit Worcester have been consistently one of the poorer performers in the league, but are more than capable of upsetting the odds on their day. An eleventh place finish last season is being followed up with the club currently sitting tenth, and it is hard to see any major improvements coming during the rest of the season.

By Craig Davies