SINCE before the end of last season two subjects have dominated “rugby talk” – the World Cup and the financial affairs of Saracens – so the rise of Northampton and Bristol to the upper echelons of the Premiership table has happened with very little publicity.
While at the other end of the table we see both Leicester and Wasps struggle, we may be in the early stages of a Premiership power shift.
Although Exeter remain in the mix and without the points deduction Saracens would also be up there, the efforts of Chris Boyd (Northampton), Pat Lam (Bristol) and their teams ...