Premiership Winner: Leicester
As with BPM, the 50:22 law could have been written by Borthwick is asked what new thing he'd introduce that would most benefit Leicester. Add to that, that Ford will be properly rested, and may stay with the club during international weekends...
Table order:
1. Bristol
2. Leicester
3. Exeter
4. Saracens
5. Sale
6. Harlequins
7. Wasps
8. Bath
9. Gloucester
10. Northampton
11. Newcastle
12. Worcester
13. L.Irish
Principally, Leicester I expect Leicester to have a fantastic season, led by Ford, Sarries to be strong, but vulnerable - especially before Christmas. Exeter to be struggling to know what to do now that they can't just flop at the try line 20 times in as many phases (I exaggerate, obviously). I expect Quins to react similarly to last time they won the Prem with a squad full of youthful ambition, and flatter to deceive, maybe believing their own hype until it's too late. Sale to be strong, but lack of depth to hamper their chances at reaching the play-offs.
Beyond that, there's the also rans who will have plenty of matches where they look like champions elect, and plenty where they look like they met for the first time during the warm-up.
Of course, with no relegation again; everything's up in the air, and some clubs will really push to create their plan, and bring on the youth whilst not so much caring about results, whilst others will see this as a golden opportunity to get some confidence whilst chaos reigns.
And then, of course, there's Covid, which still has the opportunity to throw a great big spanner into the works, especially in Devon and London, for different reasons
Player having a breakthrough season: Max Ojomo
I like to keep this to Bath, as I just don't know all that many new players for other clubs. For those that I do, I don't generally know their club situation well enough to judge their route through.
Of course, if we're using the Premiership's own definition of "breakthrough" to mean a player in his 5th season with fewer starts than he had in his first season... A Barbeary or M Smith