Quins shut out

It was a truly dismal display from the Londoners in Gloucestershire that led to Quins being shut out for the first time in a decade. Even the magic of Marcus Smith was not enough to penetrate a stout Gloucester defence. The truly worrying thing for Harlequins is that they put out a strong team but suffered the same issues that have plagued them all season. Lennox Anyanwu has played well at inside centre this season but it has become impossible to deny that the departure of Andre Esterhuizen has dented the attacking ability of this team. Harlequins' biggest problem offensively is an inability to punch holes in a defensive line with brute force and that was his forte. As for the home team, this was a strong performance and proof that defensive frailties of previous seasons are dissipating. The only concern is an injury to young star Afolabi Fasogbon who limped off the pitch with the help of a physio.

Bears win away again

On paper this was a top of the table clash between two evenly matched heavyweights; on the pitch it was a different story. This game was over by halftime with the Bears leading 40-12 and the home crowd booing upon hearing the half-time whistle. Bristol were up to their usual antics with many impressive tries including one off a turnover that was returned 95 metres for a try without a single ruck. This continues Bristol's incredible streak of away wins which helps to separate them along with Bath from the other 8 teams. As for Leicester, their biggest frustration, other than the scoreline, will surely be that they abandoned their identity and tried to outplay Bristol which is a foolhardy strategy at best. It is particularly puzzling when you take into consideration their selection of Ben Youngs and Handre Pollard as the halfbacks. 

Bath show their class

Newcastle's method of winning in recent weeks has been to scrap hard at home in challenging conditions for their opponents giving the Falcons an advantage. On Saturday they faced arguably their sternest home test of the season so far in the form of Bath. In the first half it seemed like Newcastle were having some success with this formula, going into the break at 21-15 down. However, the second half was a different story. Realistically, given the quality possessed by the visitors, it was only a matter of time until their superior ability started to show. The Bath bench spurred their dominance as Newcastle's battling players were worn down by the relentlessness of Bath. Overall, this was a good win for Bath against a team which is tricky to beat at their home but Newcastle shouldn't be discouraged. This wasn't a game they were expected to win and now they can look to take the positives from a strong first half and move on to next week whilst still being above the bottom of the table which is something that was unimaginable after last season.

Ford proves his value once again

Conditions on Saturday evening were brutal in Salford. In that scenario, the importance of experienced players at crucial positions to bring leadership is immense. George Ford stepped up. He managed the game perfectly in a difficult situation and showed the gulf in class between himself and his opposite number.This is not a criticism of Henry Slade so much as praise for George Ford. Only so much can be expected of Slade whilst playing out of position in those circumstances. This was another defeat which highlighted the lack of quality at premium positions in the Exeter squad.

Saints Still Staggering

This was a tough test for Northampton and a good litmus test of where they are this season. It was not a positive outcome. They faced a strong Saracens team and were comprehensively beaten by half time. The home team were simply mpre physical and punched through the Saints defence with ease. Northampton now have a mighty task on their hands if they are to make the playoffs this year. Saracens, meanwhile, have once again shown that they are an institutional winning machine. Despite the departures of key leaders, they have continued to win big games and are once again contenders as they are annually.