Rugby union: talking points from the weekend’s Premiership action

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2015/jan/12/rugby-union-talking-points-premiership

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1) Leicester’s leaky defence is costing them dear

Leicester used to be a byword for consistency but their up-and-down season continued with a record defeat by Harlequins having previously lost heavily at Gloucester and Bath. The Tigers have kept their try-line intact only once this season, in the 21-21 home draw with Saracens back in November, and they are conceding an average of more than two in the Premiership this season. They struggled to cope with Quins’ off-loading game and were largely one-dimensional in attack, although Mathew Tait stood out for them at full-back and Tom Croft was prominent in the first half. It looks unlikely, however, that Croft will agree to a new contract that would reduce his basic salary and incorporate an appearance element after a series of injuries. The race for fourth place has become congested and Leicester need to repeat last season’s feat of a 100% league record during the Six Nations. Paul Rees

2) Burgess is beginning to settle in union

Six games into his new career Sam Burgess is beginning to look like a rugby union player. Will he make the Six Nations? Doubtful. The World Cup? Who knows? However, against Wasps on Saturday there were huge tackles, big busts and even a try – the first in his Premiership career. Burgess’ union education is accelerating and with George Ford, Kyle Eastmond and Jonathan Joseph to point the way it could be that the best league player in the world makes the England Saxons squad to play Ireland Wolfhounds a week before the Six Nations kicks off. Watch this space. Mike Averis

3) Cipriani shows he can thrive behind a dominant pack

Selection for an international coach is a delicate balance between hard data and imagination. Steve Diamond, who admitted last week that he has a vested interest in Danny Cipriani’s selection for England (without it, his star fly-half will probably head off to France), was at pains to point out the unevenness of the playing field for Cipriani against his England rivals, who all play for better teams. It is worth pointing out that on this rare occasion when he played behind a dominant pack against one of those rivals Cipriani had a field day. Diamond’s message to Stuart Lancaster is to look beyond the number of match-winning performances or points scored and imagine how England’s candidates for No10 might play in different teams. His plausible argument is that, pound for pound, Cipriani is playing as well as any of them. Michael Aylwin

4) London Irish must find a way to keep hold of their best players

London Irish won only four Premiership matches at home in 2014 and they were not fancied to end a run of six successive league defeats by Exeter but the last-minute victory came wrapped with a bonus point. It was played before another disappointingly small crowd at the Madejski Stadium and, while the Exiles had their debts wiped out in a board takeover last year, they continue to struggle to hold on to their leading players: Tom Homer has been linked with Bath. When Exeter were in Reading three years ago, Irish had Anthony Watson, Jonathan Joseph, Marland Yarde, Sailosi Tagicakibau, Jamie Gibson and Matt Garvey to call on. Relegation may not be an issue this season, with London Welsh looking doomed, but, if Bristol replace them, money will be no object for a club owned by a billionaire. A welcome win against an Exeter side that has lost its spark did not disguise how far Irish have to go. Paul Rees

5) Newcastle need Deano to sign on the dotted line

Dean Richards was keeping tight-lipped on Sunday when asked about his future. “I never talk about contracts,” he replied. Happily for Newcastle, the former England No8 has made encouraging noises, saying in midweek that staying on Tyneside would be his “first choice”. The Falcons are a side in the midst of transformation in Richards’ third season as director of rugby. Their 38-7 win against London Welsh killed off any lingering fear of getting dragged into yet another relegation dog fight. It was their biggest win in the Premiership for eight years. They have 21 points from 13 games. Last season they finished with 22 from 22. They have 32 tries now. They scored 23 last season. Getting Deano to apply his signature to the dotted line is the club’s No1 priority as they look to the future. Simon Turnbull