Swansea season preview

There is little doubt that the wheels came off the Swansea cart last season as the All Whites nose-dived from champions to also-rans.

Skipper Scott Gibbs stamped his foot in annoyance as Swansea tumbled out of competitions - losing four out of their six Heineken Cup matches and struggling to score tries - and slumped to lacklustre defeats, but it made little difference.

Yet by the end of the season, with Garin Jenkins and Mark Taylor back after long-term knee injuries, Swansea looked awesome and destroyed Newport 52-13, dented Cardiff's title hopes, then ended those of Neath.

On paper there appears to be few weaknesses in the Swansea squad, although lock must be a particular concern to new coach John Connolly with the departure of both Andy Moore and Tyrone Maullin.

But elsewhere in the scrum the signs are good, with a strong front row being reinforced and the gaps in the backrow left by the departure of Geraint Lewis and Hywel Jenkins being largely filled.

Sililo Martens' forthright play from scrum-half will be missed, but Arwel Thomas and Gavin Henson will thrive on the speed of service that former Wallaby Sam Cordingley will provide.