Tigers snarl, Saracens surge and Chiefs imports deliver - Prem talking points

Image source, Getty Images

• Published11 minutes ago

That Northampton's away fans has been allocated block 'FU' at Mattioli Woods Welford Road at the East Midlands derby summed up Leicester's predictably confrontational approach to the fixture.

Inside three minutes Tigers prop Nicky Smith's snarling had sparked a 30-man melee of pushing and shoving, and his relentless team kept up the aggro all afternoon.

In total, six cards were shared between the two teams - two yellows and Izaia Perese's 20-minute red for Leicester, and three yellows for Saints - but the scoreline was a lot more lopsided, with Tigers triumphing 41-17 to register an eighth straight home win in the Prem.

Northampton were pummelled up front as a formidable front five of Smith, Jamie Blamire, Joe Heyes, George Martin and Ollie Chessum turned the screw on a pack which had lost second row Tom Lockett in the warm-up.

Northampton leaked possession at scrum and line-out, and their back division could not conjure the get-out-of-jail card that has been their trump in recent weeks.

Instead it was Leicester's England stars who sparkled.

Jack van Poortvliet produced a delicious bump-and-run kick-through for Adam Radwan to score the first try of the second half. Freddie Steward, whose torpedo mis-pass has earlier set up Ollie Hassell-Collins' score, weaved over for Leicester's sixth try – a derby record.

And a mention for James O'Connor. The Australian was ushered in for only his second start since February after first-choice fly-half Billy Searle picked up an injury in training, but revelled in a fast-paced, frenetic game.

With Searle, the undisputed signing of the season, potentially being out for the rest of the campaign, O'Connor or Orlando Bailey, who flipped into the fly-half role for the final quarter, are set for a starring role in the run-in.

Tigers are now only one point off Bath, who have lost three in a row in all competitions, and the second spot which would book them a semi-final in their home fortress.

A fair bit can change between now and then, but the two meet at the Rec in the final match of the regular season.

Northampton will need to regroup. They remain top, but there was a sense that this defeat has been in the pipeline, with their defence and set-piece creaking in recent weeks.

Pollock plays the villain

Every pantomime needs a villain. A bit of comedy is essential as well. Northampton's Henry Pollock gladly supplied on both fronts at Welford Road.

Introduced after 51 minutes to boos, his first act was to step in for sin-binned hooker Craig Wright and, with the hindrance of a dreadful lift, overthrow a line-out.

When Pollock was called back to the oche shortly afterwards, the 26,000-strong crowd anticipated his second line-out throw – to the front, but not straight - with a rising rumble of ironic cheers.

He reacted by pushing Van Poortvliet, facing up to Hanro Liebenberg and getting into a slanging match with Steward.

"What did you call me?" Steward was picked up replying to his some-time TikTok sidekick., external "Let's get that on camera."

Image source, Getty Images

New guard at heart of Saracens surge

Saracens have hit on a formula that might yet propel them into the play-offs.

In the wake of defeats by Bath and Northampton, they have switched to a starting 9-10-12 combination of Charlie Bracken, Fergus Burke and Olly Hartley, relegating the older guard of Ivan van Zyl, Owen Farrell and Lucio Cinti to the bench and beyond.

Burke, who made his Scotland debut against Tonga in November, is particularly repaying Mark McCall's faith.

The way Burke wafted a dummy and strode through from first receiver to set up Rotimi Segun's try was delightful in the 41-26 win over Bristol.

Two players at opposite end of their careers also did special things at Ashton Gate.

Teenager Noah Caluori continues to make the extraordinary his everyday, leaping head, shoulders and socks above everyone to claim aerial balls like a prime Israel Folau.

Meanwhile, Jamie George, who made his Saracens debut shortly after Caluori turned three, produced the most sumptuous back-of-the-hand no-look pass to open the door for Burke's try.

England head coach Steve Borthwick will be paying particular attention, with a training squad convening next week.

Sixth-placed Sarries have seven points to make up on fourth-placed Exeter over the final three rounds of games if they are to extend their season to the semi-finals, with Bristol - in fifth and two points better off - also still in the mix.

It is going to be fascinating.

Exeter doing the business

Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter warned after victory over Bath that it may take time for extra funds from the club's ongoing takeover talks to show on the pitch.

But if he can keep scouting and signing like he did last summer, the biggest bucks can wait a while.

Len Ikitau was the most eye-catching import for 2025-26.

The Australia centre's campaign has been interrupted by injury, but he delivered one of the best performances of his time at Sandy Park, carving through on a superb line to open up the lead in the second half.

Tom Hooper, his fellow Wallaby, has been a keystone of the back row all year and helped Chiefs earn supremacy over the stacked unit opposite.

Stephen Varney and Andrea Zambonin, signed from Vannes and Zebre respectively, arrived to less fanfare, but have been superb as well.

There are a couple of intriguing additions to come for next season.

As well as Bath's Will Butt, who played against his future employers on Sunday, Baxter has signed Crusaders' one-cap All Black Dallas McLeod to strengthen his midfield, with Georgian Nika Abuladze returning to beef up the front row.

If those signings prove as canny as recent business, Exeter's time back at the right end of the table will continue.

Image source, Getty Images

A round of upsets

The 'race for eighth' - and the final Champions Cup spot that comes with it - is not a great tagline, but it produced a decent match at Kingsholm on Friday night as Gloucester, dominant up front, finally found a way to quell Sale.

Visiting fly-half George Ford has endured a difficult season, demoted by England and at the centre of a misfiring Sharks side.

But his game smarts were in full effect as he almost single-handedly wrestled the match his way late on, with a brilliant 50:22 and then a long-range drop-goal.

Ultimately, though, it was Charlie Atkinson, Ford's opposite number, whose running ability produced two tries to decide things.

The upwardly mobile hosts built on their win over Exeter last time out and, with their coaching situation settled, there is reason for Cherry and White optimism.

In four of the five matches in this round of action the lower-ranked team were victorious.

None of those wins bridged the big divide that separates sixth-placed Saracens and Sale in seventh, but the end of the season is shaping up to be a lot more appetising than some feared a few weeks back.

Related topics

• Rugby Union

More on this story

• Listen to the latest Rugby Union Weekly podcast