1) Skelton shows promise for Sarries
There are plenty of high-profile fixtures heading to Newcastle over the next 12 months, with the city to host this season’s European Champions Cup final and England’s final warm-up game prior to the 2019 Rugby World Cup, which will be confirmed this week for a Friday night at St James’ Park. There are currently only around 10,000 public tickets left for the European showpiece next May, which Saracens will be hoping involves another trip to Tyneside for them. If their Australian forward Will Skelton, who has slimmed down by 15kg since the end of last season, can maintain the promising form he showed in Sarries’ bonus-point win at Kingston Park, it will do the north Londoners’ prospects no harm. Robert Kitson
- Match report: Newcastle 21-32 Saracens
2) Kvesic back on the attack under Baxter
Rob Baxter has always been an admirer of Matt Kvesic. He tried to sign him a few years ago, but the flanker chose Gloucester. Now the Exeter director of rugby has had his man for a season, and showed off the revamped version to great effect. Baxter reckons he had become too fixated on the defensive aspects of his game, but the reason he had wanted him was as much for his attacking prowess, which now looks as if it has been rekindled. Much more of this, and he will join a host of younger men who might appeal to England as conforming to the conventional model of a “seven”. Michael Aywlin
- Match report: Exeter 40-6 Leicester
3) Cipriani and Biggar offer intriguing contrast
Two international fly-halves made their competitive debuts for their new clubs and in their markedly different ways, Danny Cipriani and Dan Biggar will be pivotal if Gloucester and Northampton are to break into the top four. Cipriani has sometimes been tagged as too individual for a team sport, but he is calculating rather than impetuous, and if he occasionally flits to the margins of a gameplan, he is always mindful of it. It is not so much that opponents do not know what he is going to do but more, at crucial times, that they cannot stop him. He measures his involvement in a match, unlike Biggar who likes to be at the centre of events. Cipriani profited from the dominant pack on Saturday and his ability to create space was the catalyst for his side’s two tries. Biggar will have more fulfilling afternoons for the Saints, but standing flat rather than deep, kicking the ball less than Cipriani despite touching it more, he was the eyes of his side’s new attacking ambition. Paul Rees
- Match report: Gloucester 27-16 Northampton
4) Wasps relieved by win as Worcester defy odds
Plenty about Worcester’s 21-20 defeat beyond the final scoreline will have given pause for thought among the other Premiership clubs and the pundits who almost universally tipped them for the drop. The hosts caused Wasps a raft of problems, much of it stemming from their Springbok-Scottish half-back combination of Francois Hougaard and Duncan Weir. Having established a rapid 13-0 lead, Worcester did not go behind until the 69th minute and could still have clawed it back when a late Weir drop-goal went wide. Wasps, who stuttered in the early part of last season, will be relieved to get the win and eager to put in their southern hemisphere signings, Brad Shields and Lima Sopoaga, sooner rather than later. Claire Tolley
5) Smith grateful for England Under-20s experience
Marcus Smith believes a summer spent at the world under-20 championship rather than with England in South Africa is behind his blistering start to the season after scoring 26 points against Sale to ensure Paul Gustard’s reign at Harlequins began with a bang. The 19-year-old is well known to Gustard having been included as an apprentice in a number of Eddie Jones’s senior squads, but was overlooked for the South Africa tour, instead helping England’s Under-20s to the final in France. “I learned a lot from that experience,” said Smith. “I learned how to take control and try and lead a team, and I tried to take what I learned from the seniors experience into that World Cup. I want to add a bit of control to my game. It’s every kid’s dream to play for England but I need to let my performances do the talking here and hopefully get Eddie calling me.” Gerard Meagher
- Match report: Harlequins 51-23 Sale
6) Friday launch proves a big success
There was no London double-header at Twickenham this year but those in charge of the new Gallagher Premiership could not have wished for a more stimulating way to launch the season. While Bath were disappointing, the occasion was first class and the appetite for big-time rugby in Bristol has been gloriously refreshed. If Stephen Luatua, George Smith, Ian Madigan and Luke Morahan can sustain their opening-night form the Bears will not just be good to watch but will ask questions of most visitors to Ashton Gate. Bath, surely, will not be as sluggish in this weekend’s clash with another rising West Country force, Gloucester. One early setback does not automatically define a season but they will have to sharpen up considerably, not least at half-back, to avoid another chastening derby experience. Robert Kitson
- Match report: Bristol 17-10 Bath
Team of the weekend
15 Simon Hammersley Newcastle
14 Luke Morahan Bristol
13 Alex Lozowski Saracens
12 Ben Tapuai Harlequins
11 Olly Woodburn Exeter
10 Marcus Smith Harlequins
9 Richard Wigglesworth Saracens
1 Val Rapava Ruskin Gloucester
2 Jack Yeandle Exeter
3 Kieran Brookes Wasps
4 Matt Symons Harlequins
5 Will Skelton Saracens
6 Steven Luatua Bristol
7 Matt Kvesic Exeter
8 Sam Simmonds Exeter
Best player – Matt Kvesic Exeter Chiefs
A try, a delightful assist and a nigh-on flawless performance from the Exeter openside . His name used to come up regularly in the debate over who should be England’s No 7, less so now, but much more of this and he will be hard to ignore. Renewed focus on his club career seems to be paying off.
Try of the weekend - Charlie Sharples Gloucester v Northampton
With one flick of those golden wrists, Danny Cipriani announced his arrival at Gloucester. Cipriani waited for the right moment to open his box of tricks and his long, looping pass for Charlie Sharples to run in was simply sublime.
Quote of the weekend
"He’s come in and observed training and given me feedback on my meetings and the programmes I’ve put in place" – Paul Gustard reveals that while he no longer works for Eddie Jones, England’s head coach is never far away.
Did you see?
Leinster’s team selection, in their thrilling 33-32 win at Cardiff Blues, raised a few eyebrows with only two players who started their Champions Cup final win in May. That they managed to claim a bonus point victory highlights their depth.
