Fin Smith resurgence quells Falcons challenge
The Newcastle Falcons had obviously targeted this game due to the injuries and rotations that impacted Northampton going into Friday's game. Newcastle were in the game throughout and made life tough for the Falcons but ultimately lack the quality of other teams due to a lack of budget - proven once again by the news of Ben Redshaw joining Gloucester next season being announced this week. There was one man who proved to be the defining difference - Fin Smith. The young star controlled the game for the Saints, picked apart the Falcons defence and ultimately took charge in the biggest moments to give his side the narrowest of victories.
Harlequins face same old problems
Harlequins entered their game against Sale needing a win to keep themselves well in the mix and failed miserably with the act that sealed their fate being a loose pass to nobody in their own '22 which was quickly finished by Tom Roebuck. The Londoners are still in the chase but are now on the outside and have a number of questions that were obvious issues before a ball was kicked or a man tackled; they still don't have the physicality or the coaching to beat the best and that doesn't necessarily look like changing anytime soon. Sale, on the other hand, are a well-coached team full of quality and is built perfectly to compete with the likes of Bath and Bristol.
Exeter take painful defeat but can look on the bright side
The Chiefs were the underdogs at home to Bath but stepped up massively. It has been a tricky season for Exeter but there a reasons to look forward to the 2025/26 season. Their midfield looks to be improved with Slade potentially partnering an Australian international in Ikitau and the pack looks strong. Questions remain over the half-backs but Exeter clearly have the beginnings of a much better team. Bath came into this with a heavily rotated squad but still got the job done and have earned themselves a nice lead at the top of the table as a result of Bristol's loss to Leicester.
Experience showed its worth at the StoneX
Gloucester and Saracens entered this game sitting fourth and fifth in the table and were evenly-matched teams. That was certainly the case in the first half. The second half proved to be the differentiator with Saracens turning a 2-point, half-time deficit into a 22-point victory by the time the clock went red. As I mentioned before, these two sides are very even, however their is one difference. The Saracens squad is vastly more experienced at the highest level and is full of world-class stars who are accustomed to winning under pressure which is not something that can be said for Gloucester. The Westerners are a good team that can definitely make the top four but they ran into a Saracens team in its natural habitat and came off second best by a mile.
Bears falling away
Bristol started this season on fire and has done well to maintain its position as the nearest challenger to Bath. However, there are some consistent issues that have persisted throughout the season. Their home record is far worse than their away form and they have struggled against physical teams. Leicester overpowered them with a heavy pack and Sale's mite destroyed Bristol at Ashton Gate a while ago. Their loss at the weekend means that the Bears have to look over their shoulders rather than upwards at the league-leaders.
Week 14 scores
Newcastke 34 vs 35 Northampton
Exeter 24 vs 26 Bath
Harlequins 29 vs 43 Sale
Saracens 36 vs 14 Gloucester
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