Last year was likeno other, with Covid wreaking havoc, and sadly the signs are that 2022 might be no better. That said, a lot happened last year, and much of it was really good.
People had respected Exeter Chiefs' ability to grind out wins – it may not have been the most attractive rugby, but my goodness it was effective.
However, at Twickenham at the end of June, Harlequins burst Exeter's bubble, and I suspect that from all bar the Chiefs' loyal fans, there was a collective sigh of relief.
When a team dominates, irrespective of how they play the game, it's pointless to criticise their style of play – we should instead criticise the coaches of their rivals for not finding a way to neutralise that game plan. In the early days of Saracens domination their kicking game was deeply effective, but it was also pretty boring.
Like Exeter, why would a team change a game plan that won them trophies?
However, Quins, without a head coach in place, simply took the attitude that however many tries the opposition scored, they'd score more. Whether it's down to Quins influence, the lack of relegation, or whatever, the Premiership has been more exciting than ever this season, and my unscientific survey at the golf club tells me that even diehard football fans are noticing the change.
Players like Marcus Smith, Quins and England's wunderkind 10, are becoming household names outside of the narrow confines of Premiership fans, and this can only be great for English rugby.
At one time when Premiership clubs were looking for a new head coach, it seemed they cast their eyes south to New Zealand. Looking at the 13 Premiership clubs today, all bar a couple have northern hemisphere coaches, and that has to be good. There are also young(ish) English coaches in there like Steve Borthwick, George Skivington and Lee Blackett, which gives hope that a future England team could have an English head coach.
Similarly, the practice of looking south for big name players seems to be on the wane, and a good thing too. For every former All Black or Wallaby who pitched up on these shores and made a real go of it, there was another one where fans concluded that boosting their pension pot was their primary motivation.
The salary cap cuts have made a huge difference to the make-up of clubs' squads, with the need for a strong Academy becoming ever more important.
When the changes to the salary cap were agreed back in June 2020, they were announced as being temporary until the end of the 2023-24 season, revert ing after that to a minimum of the former £6.4m. That was a sap to the richest owners to get them to agree to the new £5m figure, and the campaign needs to start now to get rid of that commitment to go back to the former level, and for any future change to the cap to need agreement by, say, 75 per cent of the clubs.
It's crucial that the influence of mega-rich owners is curtailed, and that the cap is set at a level where every club sees it as affordable. My vision of a league predominantly comprised of English players, with as many of them as possible being brought up in their club's catchment area is, I believe, the best way to get fans on board.
As for that hoary old chestnut of promotion and relegation, presumably Ealing will become the 14th team for the start of next season, and they will have that campaign, and the following one to establish themselves in the top level. At the end of the 2023-24 season there will be a play-off of some sort between the bottom club in the Premiership, and the top Championship club. The presumption is that promotion and relegation will be reintroduced for 2024-25, but I have my doubts!
