1) Calculated Saints could make a big impact in Europe this season
Never mind the salary cap, Northampton have established themselves as not only the leading club in England but one which has the wherewithal to make an impact in the Champions Cup. Their second successive Premiership victory over Leicester, which followed a run of nine matches without a win against their East Midlands rivals, was telling not just because they played with 14 men for 63 minutes but also the calculating nature of their attacking play: it was not that long ago that the Saints tended to rely on the boot rather than the hands in tight matches, too often falling short, but they have skill to complement their power and were comfortably superior to Leicester in most areas of the game. They will need to reshape their pack in the summer with Toulon confirming the signing of the back-five forward Samu Manoa while having an interest in the prop Salesi Ma’afu, leading to speculation the Saints are after Newcastle’s England prop Kieran Brookes. The composure Northampton showed in possession contrasted with the lack of self-control that earned Dylan Hartley a red card but the players have become used to operating without their captain. Paul Rees
Hartley could face England axe after latest sending-off
2) Wasps’ record-breakers make themselves at home in Coventry
Wasps’ record-breaking debut in Coventry was notable for all kinds of reasons. The fly-half Andy Goode broke the all-time individual points-scoring record for a Premiership match and was witnessed by the biggest crowd ever to attend a regular season game outside Twickenham or Wembley. The crowd of 28,254 was genuinely impressive, even allowing for the several thousand freebies which were handed out locally. Goode’s individual haul of 33 points against London Irish beat Niall Woods, Dave Walder and Tim Stimpson. Given Wasps’ backer, Derek Richardson, was born in Cork and raised in Dublin, it was a thought-provoking day for the Exiles all round. The visiting coach Brian Smith, however, spoke well afterwards, suggesting the widespread interest in the occasion had been good for English rugby at a time when some clubs are seeking to have the league’s salary cap abolished. Smith will be as intrigued as anyone else to see how the salary cap argument develops next year. “That’s for men in blazers, it’s not for men in tracksuits. You can understand the big clubs want to get after the French clubs because they want to be competing in Europe but there’s also the integrity of the domestic league to be sorted out. There are big people put in those positions to make those calls so we’ll trust them to make the right ones.” Robert Kitson
• Match report: Wasps 48-16 London Irish
• House-warming in Coventry gives Wasps feelgood factor
3) Bath assert their West Country dominance
Bath, second in the Premiership and six straight wins behind them, head for next Saturday’s meeting with Exeter at the Rec very much top dogs in the West Country after dismissing Gloucester on Saturday night. The scoreline, 39-16, may not accurately record the balance of the game but Bath were streets ahead in the way they went about securing their biggest ever league triumph over Gloucester at Kingsholm. They let Gloucester’s derby-day fury blow itself out while George Ford administered the pain with a perfect kicking game. By the time Sam Burgess became the last man to leave the replacements’ bench Bath’s third consecutive triumph at Kingsholm was well won. Mike Averis
• Gloucester 16-39 Bath
• Poll: should the Premiership scrap its salary cap
4) Salary cap is a good fit for Dean Richards
The salary cap was the topic of conversation around the grounds this weekend and the chit-chat at The Stoop was no different. Dean Richards, Newcastle’s director of rugby, shrugged his shoulders in that way of his when asked for his tuppence-worth. “I’ve seen that Ed [Griffiths, Saracens’ chief executive] has asked for it to be abolished,” he said. “He must have his reasons for that … I think the cap serves its purpose. You only have to look at Europe this last fortnight. The results of the English teams were not too bad, were they? Although we may be financially hindered in some way by it, we’re far more professional in our approach and get more from our players.” Deano’s colourful coaching career took in a year at Grenoble, during which he was fascinated and bewildered in equal measure by the Gallic temperament – presidents sacking coaches without telling them, coaches storming out of boardrooms in a rage, players refusing to travel, Wild West brawls on the pitch. In that context the salary cap comes across as the perfect expression of Anglo-Saxon moderation. Vive la différence … Michael Aylwin
• Premiership clubs defend salary cap
• Harlequins 15-7 Newcastle
5) Sale have been good value
It could be argued that Steve Diamond’s unheralded side are the success story in the Premiership season. Climbing to fifth after Friday’s defeat of Exeter, they could find a play-off place within their grasp, despite the departure of more high-profile players last summer. The Sharks are not just about their fly-half Danny Cipriani, who once more gave the England coach, Stuart Lancaster, a reminder of his talents. Dan Braid might walk unrecognised in the streets of Eccles but he has led the side superbly and Nathan Hines helps give their pack real oomph. Leicester travel to Salford next weekend and they will pose a sterner test than the Chiefs but the Sharks will be able to enjoy their Christmas. Ian Malin
5) Mako Vunipola will push for an England place
It has not been a good few months for the brothers Vunipola. The prop Mako had knee surgery in May that caused him to miss England’s trip to New Zealand and the autumn internationals; No8 Billy has lost his England starting place to Ben Morgan. But Mako showed his strength in Saracens’ destruction of London Welsh on Saturday, giving Taione Vea an uncomfortable time in the scrum and scattering would-be tacklers to score two tries. England have strength at loosehead, with Alex Corbisiero poised to return from injury and Joe Marler showing his power in the autumn, but Mako can push them for a place by the time England travel to Cardiff for their Six Nations showdown in February. Ian Malin
• Saracens 78-7 London Welsh
• Saracens attempts to end salary cap look set to fail
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