Where to start after that weekend? Maybe at the bottom of the table where matters are, at least clear, depressingly so, for Bristol and Newcastle after heavy losses on the road for both clubs; Worcester are playing poorly and might very well have joined them in the battered teams room had they played Sale but even with the pocket rocket out for the season and no sign of real improvement they have those precious extra points in the bag.

All roads lead to the Memorial Ground for the impending clash versus Newcastle. The Falcons have the three extra points but they have already played Bristol and Worcester at home while Bristol have their fellow strugglers yet to visit them in the West Country. Newcastle's efforts in Reading (if that is what they merit calling) were worse than Bristol's at Northampton; right now I make Newcastle favourites for relegation.

Carl Hayman: In relegation battle with Newcastle

But as for the top four, take your pick. Doubtless there will be plenty of talk of a Wasps charge; they have after all won four of their last five matches in the league but Harlequins suffered horribly from absentees in the front row and revealed the current shortages and weaknesses in their whole hearted squad. Sunday showed why they remain a developing but incomplete squad. Were Wasps that good? They were, like Danny Cipriani for large patches, much better but still nowhere near their old selves and if they are to make up the eleven point gap between themselves and fourth place it will require a vintage effort.

Last season's incredible dash for glory had its roots with an amazing away win in Bath. Next week they travel west again against a team who - in defeat at Leicester - look like contenders this season. Steve Meehan rested a third of his key players (actually he rotated and if he is going to take Bath all the way there will come a time when he must press the button and reveal what he believes to be his best starting team) but his side were clearly the better team at Welford Road. Leicester had that Welford Road will and a mistaken slacking off from Bath in the last fifteen minutes to thank for the win which carries them into fourth place ahead of Sale.

Bath appears a far more rounded side whereas the Tigers will not be able to summon spirit alone in winning causes throughout the season. They travel (and they do not travel well) to Franklin's Gardens where the Saints will have the inspirational lift of their excellent fans and an unbeaten home record to defend. It will be a minor surprise on current form if they lose it against Leicester; actually it will be quite a shock although that is not to write off the proud Leicester club. Bath did so to their cost last weekend.

Sale against London Irish is an outstanding fixture on Friday and might tell us a little more about the title aspirations of these two clubs. I am particularly interested in a revitalised Sale right now, with a late tilt at European qualification still possible if they beat Munster away and beat them well. The European champions are the hardest act to usurp on their own turf in Europe but Sale will have noted how Connacht and Ulster (in Limerick and by a heavy margin) beat them over the Christmas/New Year period. Ronan O' Gara was missed and should return but Rui Tipoki is likely to be absent with a hamstring injury. That one is shaping up as a fascinating round five contest but what am I writing about?

Let us not wish away our lives. The Premiership enters the second half of the season with a pair of live games on Sky. Can Wasps keep their chase alive at Bath or will the well balanced West Country side get back to winning ways? The odds are on the home side as I believe they are in the East Midlands derby. The Bath game is fifteen minutes from my door but I am heading east for a game that could join the growing list of televised thrillers in recent weeks. I loved to play in derby fixtures and I love broadcasting from them. It will be an incredible atmosphere. In this topsy turvy season that and a close finish is probably all that can be guaranteed.

Now to this week's mailGot a question for Stuart? Email him at skysportsclub@bskyb.com or use the feedback form below...

Flatman for England?

With David Flatman having a good run of games, and his body finally matching his talent, do you think we could see the impressive Bath front row seamlessly fit into Martin Johnson's plans?
Geoffrey Afriyie

STUART REPLIES: Geoffrey, As David Flatman spends a lot of his rest time in the Sky trucks on the front line, I do not think it is appropriate for me to comment on David's form as a player and his international credentials. I can tell you he is a good bloke but you will have to decide on his merits as a rugby player yourself. Lee Mears remains the best hooker in the land but with Phil Vickery performing well for Wasps, Matt Stevens looks set to continue his frustrated career for England from the bench.

Relegation battle

There is a lot of talk about the relegation play off between Newcastle and Bristol, but perhaps we needn't look further than Adam's Park and Wasps AD (after Dallaglio). I know Wasps are said to be slow starters, but have you ever known it to be this bad for them? I keep hearing all these excuses coming from the Wasps camp but I can't fathom what is going wrong. After the Sale game I cannot believe this is the same team I watched dismantle Leicester last May in the final. What's going wrong?
Barry Robinson

STUART REPLIES: Barry, I will settle for a straight fight to the death for Bristol and Newcastle. Your e mail it must be stated was received before Wasps beat Harlequins but even then the answer was the same. They have suffered from an unusually negative approach to the game based upon the fears surrounding the ELVs. They have suffered the loss of their leader and Fraser Waters and they have suffered more injuries than they would like to key players. All these components have added up to make life so much harder for Wasps than most other teams because a side so used to winning and playing well feels the loss of matches and form so much more keenly than sides used to the relatively regular ups and downs of Premiership life. They will rise from here but I do not think they are good enough to even challenge for the Top Four. I would love to see a resurgent Wasps prove or go close to proving me wrong though, it would make an engrossing league almost unbearably exciting! If anyone - back at the other end - is going to mix it with Bristol and Newcastle it is Worcester but they probably have a few points to many from the other two sides perspective. The loss of Sam Tuitupo will hurt them.

Centre callings

Stuart, who, in your opinion, should start at 13 in the Six Nations for England? Has Jamie Noon had his day? I t seemed that he did little in the Autumn Internationals to cement his place in Johnson's new regime, he looked pedestrian and lacked the spark which earned him man of the match against Ireland in the last Six Nations. Or how about Mathew Tait at 13? Your thoughts?
Alex Skitt.

STUART REPLIES: Alex, The form 13 is Mike Tindall but the man with the potential to make the position his for a long time is the current full back, Delon Armitage. I would opt for him with Olly Morgan coming into the side at full back. That would be the strongest combination possible for England and a combination for the future.

Questions galore

Hi Stuart, Do you think Geraghty will be in the mix for England this Six Nations? What do you make of the young tyro's of Saracens Adam Powell and Quins Jordan Turner-Hall, given the impetuousness of Mortlock, Nonu etc Surely we need some midfield beef at some stage? Also I was delighted to see you recently suggested Crane could play at lock for England, along the same lines do you think the titanic hands of Easter could cut it as an international lock? I think either could provide the dream partner for Kennedy in England's boiler room thus opening a space for Narraway to return to 8. Last but not least put your neck on the line and tell us who you think Johnson should opt for his five changes to the elite squad.
David Lucas

STUART REPLIES: David, Whoa, so many names...Geraghty has the ability but has to dictate against better teams than Newcastle before being shooed in. Neither of the centres you have mentioned should really be mentioned in the same sentence as the illustrious Australasian pairing although both have their merits and long successful careers before them. The Harlequin must sort out his distribution while the Saracen has a nagging lack of real pace. If Powell is to press for international honours he has to find that extra couple of metres speed off the mark. No, I do not think Easter can be converted to lock and the five changes...can I ask you to go to the Sunday Times website and back reference...I named them a week and a bit ago but things move so fast...hang on, let's try. Steffon Armitage, Matt Mullan, Paul Hodgson, James Simpson Daniel and Olly Morgan. I remember!

Thanks for the mail, as ever,

Stuart

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