5 PLAYERS TO WATCH

BILLY VUNIPOLA SARACENS, left

Has been a frustrated spectator for so long now but has returned looking very trim and in good nick. He now needs a run of hightempo games against top-quality opposition to get back to his world-beating best.

JOHNNY SEXTON LEINSTER

HAS always run the show but now officially in charge as skipper. He’s 33, but playing as well as ever. Will be key in knitting talented Leinster outfit together as they go for a record fifth title.

JULIAN SAVEA TOULON

PHENOMENAL try-scorer who turned his back on the All Blacks at the age of 27. He lives for the marquee occasions like a big Heineken Cup game and Toulon must find a way of getting Savea involved as much as possible.

JONATHAN DAVIES SCARLETS

FANTASTIC tour of New Zealand for the Lions in 2017 but injured almost all of last season. Scarlets did well without him but Davies is a great all-round centre looking to make up for lost time.

FINN RUSSELL RACING 92

A fly-half with great vision and a spectacular range of passes, Russell has taken himself out of his comfort zone at Glasgow and now has world-class talents to bring into play at Racing. Onus is not so much on him and that will help.