With the megadollars of the French Top 14 taking more and
more players each season one would be forgiven for forgetting the talent in the
Aviva Premiership but there’s a stellar cast that’s come out to play this
season and that leaves us with a wealth of top scorer options.
Wasps’ electric pairing of Christian Wade and Tom Varndell
lit up the league last season with scorching pace and wonderful sidestepping,
the pair finishing clear with 13 each, 4 clear of Jamie Elliott for
Northampton. They are worthy favourites once again and actually quite tasty at
8/1 in a place and a general 7/1, but there are reasons to believe they may not
have things quite as sown up this time.
Wade made 20 appearances alongside Varndell this season but
his considerable talents have been recognised by England’s Stuart Lancaster,
who has given him a place in England’s elite squad and his test debut last
year, while he was called up for the Lions’ tour and given a start in the
midweek game against the ACT Brumbies. Likely to make it into every England
matchday squad for the foreseeable future, Wade’s unlikely to reach anything
close to the 20 appearances he made last year and while he should still score
plenty, those missed appearances could take away from his tally.
That would lead one to think that Tom Varndell can take
advantage, and he does make considerable appeal, but the arrival of Andy Goode
as replacement for the retiring Stephen Jones isn’t an exciting one and
suggests a more reserved gameplan to try and pug a defence that leaked 51 tries
last year. Both players have the best turn of foot in the league, but might not
have the condtions to dominte the tryscoring charts like they did last year.
Jamie Elliott’s 9 from 15 was a cracking effort but he now
has George North in his backline at Northampton while the change in flyhalf to
Stephen Myler and Glenn Dickson may limit his chances further still.
Gloucester’s Johnny May scored 8 from 13 last season but starts the season on
the sidelines, but next down the list David Strettle notched eight from his 16
games and could be set to go well.
On the edge of the England squad, he plays for a side that
was rapidly opening up it’s gameplan at the end of the year and using and
offloading game whenever possible at Allianz Park. With so much competition on
the wing, he may not be called upon for international games and holds a
realistic chance at 20’s for a finisher with an underrated step, good foot
skill, and plenty of pace – he certainty makes more appeal than Chris Ashton
given how much he’s likely to be away with England even given how disappointing
he was at times last year.
Anyone of Leicester’s backline could be considered but they
share their tried around a lot at Welford Road and as such it’s hard to
recommend any of them.
There are few such questions surrounding Nick Evans, who can
rack up the most points this season. Heading the field, the New Zealander is
known for being a key kingpin in one of the most attractive club sides going,
but is also of the league’s most metronomic kickers and has been in the top
three points scorers at the end of the last three seasons, and with the Quins
pack more refreshed this season he should get plenty of opportunities.
Crucially, he has no international commitments, and as such should play close
to 20 games, and a combination of the two is likely to see him prove tough to
beat.
With Toby Flood missing early games, and Owen Farrell and
Freddie Burns likely to be in England’s plans, there’s opportunity for someone
to break the top three and Gareth Steenson of the Exeter Chiefs, the
designated man for the 10 shirt, can take advantage. Third last year but just 6
points off Burns’s winning total, he should be close and is worth each/way
support at a reduced 7/1 for the ¼ for Hills’ three each/way places.
Advice – Top Tryscorer
1 pt each/way David Strettle (20/1 general)
Advice – Top Pointscorer
2 pts each/way Nick Evans (9/2 Hills)
1 pt each/way Gareth Steenson (7/1 Hills)
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