Jekyll and Hyde Tigers

I really cannot work this Leicester team out this year as their indifferent form continued at the weekend.

Last Sunday they controlled a high-flying Bath team at Welford Road and looked every inch potential contenders, but this weekend, they put in a terrible defensive performance against Sale. Slipping off numerous tackles and conceding needless penalties cost them dearly because in attack at times they looked blistering.

Peter Betham is getting better with every game as he strikes fear into defences across the Premiership but they need to start stringing top level performances together soon otherwise their ship may sail very quickly.

All Blacks keep churning them out

Just as you started thinking that there may be a chink in New Zealand’s armour with an unsettled midfield, they then unearth another gem from the Waikato Chiefs in the guise of Anton Lienert-Brown.

Power, pace and guile were the main order of the day as he bust through a tackle for his own try before setting up three more for his team mates. His assist for Ryan Crotty’s try was sumptuous to say the least and given he’s only 21, we may be seeing a lot more of this young Chief.

Toulon back on track

Two matches and two massive wins for Toulon. After turning over league leaders Clermont last week, the men from the Stade Felix Mayol backed it up with a hugely impressive showing against Montpellier, denying their visitors top spot in the process.

It wasn’t that long ago that many were predicting the start of the end for the Toulon dream run, with their madcap owner Mourad Boudjellal causes more problems off the field than their star studded attack were managing against opposing defences on it.

Leigh Halfpenny in particular looked like he was back to his best with a personal 13-point haul that will have pleased Rob Howley, the interim Wales coach, no end.

Irish eyes smiling once again

Normal order looks like it is being resumed in Ireland as three of the four provinces now head the Pro12 league table as Ulster, Leinster and Munster continued their good run of form.

Ulster especially are impressing with five wins from five but it is the manner of their wins that is most surprising. They haven’t really put anyone to the sword on the scoreboard yet and have won four of those games by 11 points or fewer. Winning is an addictive habit though and an Irish monopoly on the league this season may just come to fruition.

Springboks paper over cracks

A win is a win and it was much needed, but this was more a case of Australia losing a match rather than South Africa winning one.

The Wallabies made more line breaks and almost doubled the number of defenders beaten by their opposition, but South Africa had a game plan to stifle them at the breakdown and they executed it perfectly.

Francois Louw was particularly destructive but it was he boot of Morne Steyn that won the day.

As much as Steyn will take the plaudits, his inclusion and style of play is indicative of where South Africa are in their development at the moment. Rudderless to this point, they now have taken away their attacking threat from fly half in favour of someone who can steady the ship and kick the territory needed to keep travelling attacks at bay.

Wins like Saturday’s are crucial of course, but it won’t have people queuing around the block to buy tickets to watch them again in any hurry.

Wasps can compete on all fronts now

With a 100% record and averaging nearly 40 points per match, it seems that even at this early stage of the season, Wasps could be unstoppable in their pursuit of silverware this season.

Wasps have always had a dangerous team in recent years but this season is different for one key reason: they now have a dangerous squad. Danny Cipriani is pulling all the strings and the back row trio of Nathan Hughes, Guy Thompson and Sam Jones is a match for anything that the whole of Europe can offer.

Moving Jimmy Gopperth to inside centre is nothing short of a master stroke by Dai Young, but the ability to bring on Kyle Eastmond, Joe Simpson and Frank Halai after 60 minutes with your opponents already beaten demonstrates the strength in depth that the men from the Ricoh possess.

This will allow them to continue the good form they are showing in the Premiership and take it into Europe as well. Unlike last year though they will have the personnel to stay the distance.

Saracens are up next in a real humdinger to see who takes pole position in the race to the top.

Andy Daniel
Follow Andy on Twitter (@scrum5ive)

Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images