AFTER the inevitable disruption caused by last year’s Rugby World Cup, a semblance of serenity returns to the Guinness PRO12 this season, at least in terms of organisation. Coaches will have their best players available for far longer, and will thus be able to operate with smaller, more manageable squads.

When it comes to the action itself, however, serenity is likely to be the last word on anyone’s lips. The quality of competition has grown steadily in a league that already boasts higher average time in play than any other major tournament in the world, as well as the fewest TMO referrals. This year, there are likely to be more genuine contenders for the title than ever.

With more than a score of players away at the World Cup, Glasgow coach Gregor Townsend had to reshuffle his resources to a greater extent than any of his rivals. The Warriors’ defence of the title suffered during the autumn, and it was no coincidence their best run of the season came when everyone was back in camp.

Connacht brought that run to a halt in the last round of the regular fixtures and beat the Scots again in the semi-final before lifting the title for the first time with victory over Leinster at Murrayfield. The erstwhile also-rans of Irish rugby are unlikely to slink back into obscurity any time soon, and can be expected to challenge towards the top of the table along with the other three provinces, Leinster, Munster and Ulster.

Having been in the play-offs every season since Townsend took over, the Warriors will be determined to keep up that record in their head coach’s last season at the helm before he moves into the Scotland job.

Of the Welsh teams, Scarlets were pace-setters for parts of the autumn, and Cardiff, while finishing seventh, did enough to suggest their sights will be set far higher. The Dragons have some way to go before finding the consistency needed to end up in a top-four play-off slot, but the Ospreys finished eighth, just a point behind Cardiff, and know that a relatively minor improvement might have a major impact on their fortunes.

Edinburgh, meanwhile, are desperate to say goodbye to a period of underachievement and get into the upper half of the table at last. The two Italian clubs, Zebre and Treviso, may be dangerous no more than occasionally, lacking the tenacity and consistency required to break into the top six.

Speaking at the launch of the new season in Dublin last week, Townsend suggested the league is wide open this season. “I genuinely mean this – any one of seven or eight teams could win,” he said.

“Connacht are obviously going to be in the mix, but when you look at some of the other teams there are a lot that I believe will show a huge improvement. Cardiff were the fastest improving team at the end of last season and have added to their coaching and playing staff, so they’re a really dangerous side.

“Edinburgh had a great start to the season and after they beat us home and away were second in the league at the start of the year. They now have some key players back from injury and have made some good signings, too. I do believe this year is going to be the most competitive from more teams than we have seen before.

“Irish rugby is very strong. All four teams qualified for Europe, which is great, and the two teams in the final were both Irish.

“The Ospreys are always in the mix and just missed out last year – they were probably affected by the World Cup, not just with the Welsh players but they also have a couple of key Canadian players who got injured. They have some really good young players coming through the system so they will be a huge threat.

“We, as coaches, were chatting the other day about the backline that Scarlets could put out. If they are all fit, it could be the best in Europe, and Dragons have always been one of the toughest teams to play against.”

Edinburgh have suffered from an inability to maintain high standards week after week, but it is a fault that Stuart McInally, the team’s new captain along with Grant Gilchrist, is determined to rectify.

“The players are sick of finishing eighth and ninth,” the Scotland hooker said. “We can talk all we want about how we’re scoring more league points. That’s good, and our defence has improved a lot and we’re very proud of that, but we’re still finishing eighth and ninth and it’s not good enough.

“We feel we can bring our attack up to that level. We don’t believe it’s going to take a lot. We had eight losing bonus points last year, and if we can turn a few of them into four-point wins, that’s all you need to get into the top six and before you know it you’re pushing for that top four.”

Turning narrow defeats into slender wins is easier said than done, of course, but the quality in their ranks – above all, in the pack – justifies Edinburgh’s optimism. It would still rate as a seismic surprise, however, if they were to finish above Glasgow, who should again be in the top four along with Connacht, Leinster and Scarlets.