On top of that you had Butch's genius and some top class aggressive defending left by Crockett. I'll admit to having quite a few fears before this season about whether we'd be able to step up again. I still have some concerns, notably regarding the balance or our back row and reserves at half-back and open-side flanker, but we seem to have started gaining a really hard edge in our attitude and defence. This bodes very well for the crunch games later in the season. Our ability to learn the lessons of Gloucester and Toulouse is very encouraging and, once more, Steve Meehan and his team should take a lot of credit.

In other news, England have failed to learn the lessons of the last 2-3 years of premiership rugby forward play and they won't really progress until they do learn this. There's a core of potentially world-class players there, especially in the back row and back line (Jamie Noon excepted). They now need to match that with a modern forwards coach who isn't stuck in the past.

Anyway, to the Premiership...

Tadpoles vs Boilers

Prediction: Sale 4, Worcester 1.

Actual: Sale 0, Worcester 4.

Sale have scored 3 tries in 6 games. While their defence has generally been solid, they've now been turned over by both London Irish and Worcester - they need to start turning something around and doing it pretty damn quick. For Worcester, Chris Latham showed everyone what top-class fullback play is. Secure, incisive, decisive and a top-line goal kicker. Extremely impressive. Worcester now need to reinforce this win with a home fixture vs Newcastle, Sale will try and bounce back at a very shaky Wasps.

Brilliance vs Meaaaaaaaaaaaaaat

Prediction: Bath 4, Tigers 0.

Actual: Bath 4, Tigers 1.

A game of two halves was decided by two kicks. With mere seconds left on the clock, Leicester missed touch with a kick. 2 minutes of largely blunt bluster later, a chip of genius from Butch James to Alex Crockett resulted in an explosion of ecstasy at The Rec. I say it was genius after the result obviously, at the time I was bemoaning the stupidity of kicking it away! Butch knows best. Next week, Bath travel to Saints and Tigers host a very good Quins side.

Brizzle vs Cobblers

Prediction: Bristol 4, Northampton 0.

Actual: Bristol 4, Northampton 1.

Well, they managed to squeak it, fair play. An absolute must-win game was won and they've closed up to the rest of the pack. Unfortunately they may have to wait a bit for the next win, they travel to Gloucester next weekend. Saints host top of the table Bath.

Sequins vs Pests

Prediction: Quins 5, Wasps 0.

Actual: Quins 4, Wasps 0.

Well Quins missed out on a bonus point, which they'll probably be irritated about, but I as predicted, they humped Wasps. Wasps are in real trouble at the moment, their lack of form and missing England players can't be helped by the divided attentions of their coaches. They host Sale next Sunday and then travel to Newcastle for the following Friday night, so the fixture list isn't really helping them either. Quins have their biggest challenge so far - up at Leicester.

Relegated vs Reading

Prediction: Newcastle 1, Irish 4.

Actual: Newcastle 0, Irish 4.

Irish are pretty good this season. Newcastle are so rubbish that it doesn't really matter. Next week, Newcastle will get humped at Worcester, Irish have a challenging home derby vs Sarries.

Watford vs Glorsduh

Prediction: Saracens 1, Gloucester 4.

Actual: Saracens 1, Gloucester 4.

A close, but very good win for Gloucester - not that many teams will take points away from Vicarage Road this season. Glaws should look for a bonus point win next week at home to Bristol, Sarries have a tough journey to Irish, but will benefit from not losing too much to England.

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