HALFBACKS
10. Finn Russell (Racing 92 to Bath Rugby)
9. Will Porter (Bristol Bears to Harlequins)
The biggest signing of the Summer saw Bath Rugby welcome Scotland talisman Finn Russell to the Recreation Ground. The fly-half made the move from Paris, and has been shining in blue, black and white since arriving after Scotland’s pool stage elimination at the Rugby World Cup. Russell is said to be amongst the highest paid players in the Premiership, putting pen to paper for a reported £1 million salary. He has wasted no time bringing his trademark swagger to the Premiership, even ‘shushing’ the Kingsholm Shed after slotting a penalty past Gloucester in the West Country derby.
Set to distribute the ammunition for Russell in our Ultimate XV, is former Wasps and Bristol Bears scrum-half Will Porter. Harlequins’ newest recruit has been putting in strong performances since arriving at the Stoop, and has held down the number nine jersey throughout Danny Care’s Rugby World Cup duties. Making his debut at the close of the Premiership Rugby Cup weeks, Porter has been instrumental for Quins as they currently sit at the top of the table. The number nine scored a nice try against Leicester last weekend, with Danny Care impressed with what he saw from on the replacements bench.
FRONT ROW
1. Tom West (Leicester Tigers to Saracens)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs to Sale Sharks)
3. Eduardo Bello (Saracens to Newcastle Falcons)
Former Leicester and Wasps prop Tom West starts off the front row, with the powerful loose-head set to bolster the scrum at the Stone X Stadium. West has already made six appearances for his new side, and has jostled up the ranks to become a real contender for the starting jersey. West has more recently made replacement appearances behind Mako Vunipola, and offers and explosive option off the bench to lift the Sarries pack in a match’s closing moments.
Alongside West is Luke Cowan-Dickie, who looked all set for a move out of the Premiership at the start of the year. Due to the previous financial difficulties at Exeter Chiefs, Cowan-Dickie was in talks to join Montpellier, along with his Chiefs teammates Sam Simmonds and Harry Williams. However, the move did not materialise due to the Top 14 side’s concerns around Cowan-Dickie’s history of neck injuries. The hooker has since moved up to the North West, and made his Sale debut in last weekend’s away victory against Bristol Bears.
Onto the tight-head of the scrum, and we’ve given Argentina international Eduardo Bello the number three jersey. Bello joins up with his Pumas teammates in what is being increasingly known as ‘Argentoona’, as he joins Pedro Rubiolo, Matias Moroni, Matias Orlando and Matteo Carreras at Newcastle Falcons. The former Saracens man had an impressive run at the Rugby World Cup, as he packed down the scrum in every one of Argentina’s tournament matches. Bello already has his first start under his belt at Kingston Park, coincidentally coming against his former Saracens teammates.