1) Free-flowing Premiership has New Zealanders entranced
We know it will not last once the winter bites, but this has been quite the September if a points frenzy is your thing. This match was the highest scoring yet, although its 85 points register as only joint 24th on the chart of highest-scoring Premiership games. If we count only those that finish within a score, it comes in at fourth. Even the Kiwis seem impressed. Todd Blackadder the other week was resigned to the need just to score more than the opposition. This week Chris Boyd bemoaned the defence but accepted that when players look for space they are capable of finding it. Michael Aylwin
• Match report: Bristol 40-45 Northampton
2) Chiefs’ home rule gives table air of predictability up top
It is hard to argue with Alan Solomons when he says the Premiership is already a two-horse race between Exeter and Saracens. Both have 100% records and it is hard to see either losing theirs at home, particularly if teams are going to make as many changes as Bath did at Saracens on Saturday. Exeter meanwhile, overcame Solomons’s Worcester with room to spare at Sandy Park and look on course for a Twickenham rematch with Saracens at the season’s end. The 10 places below them may be harder to predict than ever, which is key part of the reason the Premiership has witnessed so many thrilling contests recently. At the top, though, there is an air of predictability to proceedings. Gerard Meagher
3) Harlequins’ newfound backbone faces acid test
Harlequins moved up to fourth after their away win against a Gloucester side who would have frustrated the Shed, so prescriptive was their play. Quins’ next fixture is at home against Saracens on Saturday night. The champions have spent the past two weekends sending opponents who started the round in fourth place, Gloucester and Bath, scuttling down the table and Quins, never mind their first away league win for a year, are in similarly fickle form. But they have won their past three home league fixtures against Saracens and are developing some backbone. Paul Rees
• Match report: Gloucester 25-27 Harlequins
4) Will De Klerk’s long-distance trips drive a Sale turnaround?
After a poor, nervy contest much of the post-match discussion revolved around two players who were not involved. Sale have revealed their South African scrum-half Faf de Klerk will be available to the club throughout the autumn international period, with an agreement having been reached with the Boks for the No 9 to remain in the southern hemisphere during the spare weeks in the Rugby Championship. With their game against England also falling outside the official Test window, Premiership Rugby regulations are also set to sideline other English-based Boks such as Willie Le Roux and Francois Louw for the Twickenham date. Leicester, meanwhile, might not risk recalling Manu Tuilagi for the game against Northampton this weekend. Tuilagi’s hamstring ruled him out of England training last week – “There wasn’t really much point in him getting in the car with a tight hamstring to go down and stand around on the sidelines,” said Geordan Murphy – and a return against the Saints is not yet certain. “It’s a question of whether or not he’s ready to roll next weekend, whether or not we need to use him or whether we rest him for another week,” Murphy said. Robert Kitson
• Match report: Leicester 19-15 Sale
5) Mesmeric Sinoti suggests Falcons are ready to take off
Three home defeats from three is a run of form that would ordinarily be of concern for Newcastle until you consider their opponents have been the Premiership’s top three sides from last season. The defeat by Wasps on Friday will have hurt most, having been ahead with 10 minutes to go but the Falcons still have plenty about which to be optimistic. Sinoti Sinoti was at his mesmeric best against Wasps and Johnny Williams at inside-centre is further demonstration of Dean Richards’s canny recruitment. They have already won once on the road this season and their ability to do so last term was a fundamental part of their run to the semi-finals. On Saturday they go to Sale. Gerard Meagher
• Match report: Newcastle 22-23 Wasps
6) Bath’s white flag puts global calendar back in spotlight
Todd Blackadder made 13 changes for the trip to Saracens and tasked his side with trying to come away with a losing bonus point. He argued his point by saying that “otherwise we’ll just end up playing our best team every single week and we’ll end up breaking guys”. The Rugby Football Union, Premiership Rugby and the Rugby Players’ Association will soon announce the finer details of how the domestic season will fit around the global calendar from 2020 onwards. Perhaps that will give a clue as to whether Blackadder’s approach to this game becomes a trend. Gerard Meagher
• Match report: Saracens 50-27 Bath
Premiership team of the weekend
15 Alex Goode (Saracens)
14 Nathan Earle (Harlequins)
13 Alex Lozowski (Saracens)
12 Andrew Kellaway (Northampton)
11 Sinoti Sinoti (Newcastle)
10 Lima Sopoaga (Wasps)
9 Andy Uren (Bristol)
1 Alex Waller (Northampton)
2 Harry Thacker, (Bristol)
3 Titi Lamositele (Saracens)
4 Will Rowlands (Wasps)
5 Courtney Lawes (Northampton)
6 Dave Ewers (Exeter)
7 Guy Thompson (Leicester)
8 Mark Wilson (Newcastle)
Pumas weak in the scrum
A third successive Rugby Championship for New Zealand with room to spare but the Pumas produced one of the more infuriating performances in recent memory. Their scrum – once the bedrock of Argentinian rugby – was marmalised and they coughed up the ball on their lineout five times. If they can get their set-piece firing though, they will be a World Cup force to be reckoned with.
Robertson-McCoy stamp needs tough action
The Connacht prop Dominic Robertson-McCoy is facing a lengthy ban for a horrible stamp to the head of Leinster’s Josh van der Flier. It earned him a red card as well as widespread condemnation following Leinster’s 20-3 victory and the Connacht coach Andy Friend at least acknowledged: “That wasn't good and Dom is really disappointed with himself.” That may be so but the authorities must send a strong message with a firm sanction.
Owens right over head injury
Huge credit must go to Nigel Owens for his intervention when Benetton’s Engjel Makelara tried to return to the field after it emerged his head injury assessment had not been carried out properly. Makelara attempted to come back on against Edinburgh seven minutes after initially going off but Owens questioned his return with medics from the Italian side. Makelara was then immediately withdrawn again after it came to light there was a technological issue with conducting the HIA.
