The Premiership is taking a short rest after eight rounds and by Christmas will have reached the halfway stage.
It is a consequence of a 10-team league and the race for the top looks as if it will be closer than last season when Saracens and Sale pulled away.
They were threatening to do so again before Harlequins, who two weeks before had been picked apart by Saracens in front of their own supporters, overwhelmed Sale and Northampton won at Sarries a fortnight after being outmuscled at Leicester. Sale remain at the top but are in the unusual position of looking down on the rest with a negati...