Leicester's ABC tribute win & Morgan heroics - Prem analysis

Published26 October 2026, 09:02 GMT

For all the free-flowing, high-scoring rugby in the Prem so far this season, this weekend was something of a throwback.

There were only 21 tries across the five games, whereas a fortnight ago there were 18 tries in the Northampton against Bath game alone.

But, despite the abominable weather altering the whole complexion of round four, there was no shortage of drama.

In the East Midlands derby on Saturday, Leicester Tigers produced a second-half performance that was as vintage Leicester Tigers as you could possibly get: a brutal set-piece and forward display that shook the old foundations of the Crumbie Stand and would have made the ABC Club proud.

In front of a febrile sell-out crowd, the game was played on the edge - a major scuffle breaking out on the stroke of half-time with England team-mates Henry Pollock and Ollie Chessum in the thick of it.

But tensions will have eased quickly. Thirteen of those involved in the derby met up for dinner in the England camp on Sunday.

"This fixture always has some heat behind it, and we know it means a lot to each other and to the fans," Leicester and England scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet explained to BBC Radio 5 Live.

"We just try and put all our heart on to the pitch. Sometimes it boils over into a little scuffle, but we will go and have a beer with them now. That's what rugby is about. You play fierce with each other and then enjoy each other's company.

"We always end up laughing about it. Being in England camp with them almost makes the fixture mean a bit more, because you always want one over them."

Northampton are the champions and still the team to beat. However, that's twice in six months they've been handed a lesson by the Tigers at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.

Saints fans will be comforted by the fact the title is decided in the warm early summer months of May and June, but boss Phil Dowson will still want his side to be as effective in the wet as they are in the dry.

England’s World Cup thinking and the rotation gamble

England’s World Cup thinking and the rotation gamble

Jac at Holm at Glos

Are Gloucester now officially the real deal?

While the opening-round win at Exeter, the humiliation of Harlequins and the Champions Cup draw with the mighty Bordeaux were all impressive, the Friday night vanquishing of bitter rivals Bath was even better from the Cherry and Whites.

Tough up front and lively out wide, Gloucester have been a pleasure to watch this campaign, with centre Will Joseph rewarded with an England recall and the Wales talisman Jac Morgan the signing of the season so far.

It was as good a win, performance and atmosphere as Gloucester have had at Kingsholm in years.

"If you don't believe after these two weeks how good we could be then I don't know what you can do to get any more belief," said Glos boss George Skivington.

With Gloucester's defence inspired in the face of a Bath first-half onslaught, it was a great example of how a game of rugby doesn't need a bucketload of tries to be a captivating contest.

Christian wades into history books

Speaking of tries, Christian Wade nabbed one more in Newcastle Red Bulls' victory over Sale, drawing him level with Chris Ashton's all-time record of 101 Prem scores.

It has been some journey for Wade to get to this point, with the popular 35-year-old playing for five different teams across three different sports since leaving Wasps at the peak of his powers in 2018.

Meanwhile, things are moving in the right direction for the Red Bulls. Last season Newcastle had to wait until round nine and the new year for the first of their two victories, this time they are up and running by the end of October.

Crisis - what crisis?

A few weeks back Harlequins looked to be in crisis after a chastening 48-0 defeat at Gloucester. Since that low point, Quins have pushed Sale close, easily beaten French side Vannes and dispatched London rivals Saracens, with Marcus Smith to the fore on his 200th appearance.

Sale on the other hand, have followed up an impressive win at Sarries with a series of poor performances. Next the Sharks go to Bath, who themselves are stuttering after three defeats in a row.

What to make of it all? Just four rounds in, and it's already hard to keep up.

Gloucester are top and Harlequins are bottom. But Gloucester beat Bath, who beat Exeter, who beat Newcastle, who beat Sale, who beat Sarries, who beat Leicester, who beat Northampton, who beat Bath but lost to Bristol, who lost to Sarries, who lost to Quins.

It looks like it will be one of those seasons.

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