Last season Sam Simmonds (4/1, Boyle Sports) broke the mould to finish as the Gallagher Premiership top try-scorer.
The Exeter Chiefs No.8 smashed Richmond winger Dominic Chapman’s long-standing record to top the charts with 22. Not a bad return for a back-rower.
Back-rowers have won the accolade before – Ben Earl shared it with Ollie Thorley in 2019/20, while Thomas Waldrom (twice) and Neil Back (the year after Chapman in 1999) have also been the most prolific in the league.
But, generally speaking, it is wingers and full-backs who have dominated in this respect and we reckon the back-three brigade will remind us why this season.
For a club that has only missed one season of Premiership rugby and one that traditionally likes to play rugby ‘the right way’, the absence of any Harlequins players from the top-scorer charts is surprising.
LL is a cool bet
We think Louis Lynagh will put that right this year.
The son of Wallabies legend, Michael, finished off the season in style with four tries including a memorable brace in the final as Quins landed their second Premiership crown.
Some may argue second season syndrome will slow him up but all the signs in pre-season are that he is ready to blaze a trail again in a team that will look to get the ball wide to him at every opportunity.
Scoring chances should come readily and, at 40/1 (Paddy Power), the 20-year-old represents really good value.
Bear essential
Elsewhere, Bristol Bears will be there or thereabouts in the title race and Siva Naulago (20/1 Skybet) looks primed to step out of the shadows of Semi Radradra and Charles Piutau and become one of the stars of the team.
Naulago had a really encouraging first season in Rugby Union following his switch of codes, scoring seven tries in nine starts.
If he stays free from injury the Fijian should at least double his game time now he has settled into what was previously an alien game and the 20/1 on him being top try-scorer could prove to be a steal.
Sean Maitland (25/1, Paddy Power and Boyle Sports) is another to catch the eye. The Saracens man was in sensational form in the Championship last season, and while defences will be a lot tougher to crack in the Premiership, the former Lion has it in him to bag a hatful of tries.
