Monday 23 October 2017 18:06, UK
Stuart Barnes talks impact substitutions, Australia's rare victory over the All Blacks, and Champions Cup markers...
1. The autumn international series looks an awful lot more interesting now that Australia have the scalp of the All Blacks under their belt… maybe interesting isn't quite the word. Make it 'exciting'.
The possibility of room for experimentation against some weaker sides guaranteed interest - in what teams Eddie Jones would pick and who would force their way into future contention - but after Saturday morning we have a state of downright excitement.
Even with the thrilling attacking force that is Israel Folau being rested - Michael Cheika is plotting every bit as meticulously for Japan as Jones is - the Wallabies arrive on English shores with revenge on their mind - 2016 still rankles.
The possibility of an autumn classic is on the cards while Ireland's three-Test series in Australia next summer stands out as a really juicy series.
2. Two defeats in a calendar year is unusual for the All Blacks. But only the Lions loss happened when the stakes were at their highest. No New Zealand team wants to lose, but when they have wrapped up the Rugby Championship or Bledisloe Cup they don't need to win quite as much as the teams they have been beating.
That subtle psychological shift makes the difference. Even though they won all six of their Rugby Championship matches, they are clearly in a somewhat transitional state. Welsh fans might be premature marking November 25 in the calendar as the date they beat the All Blacks for the first time in over 60 years.
3. On the European front we witnessed an exciting Saturday evening in Barnet where Ospreys couldn't break a long losing sequence but managed to push Saracens all the way, defeated 36-34.
After a narrow loss at the hands of the Scarlets, and a performance where they dominated possession for huge chunks against Clermont, the Welsh team look set to start winning.
With the Welsh squad for the autumn series named this week, it will be interesting to see whether Owen Watkin has forced his way in from the outside with a performance of searing potential. Jamie Roberts is not getting any younger and the cutting edge is blunter than once it was. If Warren Gatland wants to prepare players for the World Cup it is time to give them game time.
4. This was a match where impact was important. Sam Davies came off the bench and created scores for the visitors while Ben Spencer and Jamie George were impressive for Saracens. However the headline-maker was Nick Tompkins; try-scorer, try-maker, match-winner... maybe he'll get the Marcus Smith 'shoe shine' spot in the soon-to-be-announced England squad.
5. Earlier in the day Leinster threw down a marker in Glasgow with a performance of power up front and cold-blooded control behind.
Last season's semi-finalists are in a great position to make the quarter-finals after their win and Montpellier's home defeat at the hands of Exeter.
The French are more likely to down tools and focus on the French domestic situation now they have fallen off the pace. By round six they might be an awful lot easier to beat than they were on Sunday.
With a potent set piece, and Johnny Sexton playing quite beautifully, Leinster appear set to push hard on the European front. Still some way from their peak form, Leo Cullen's side look ominous. They possess the squad depth to compete on both fronts.
6. Not much in the way of good news for Glasgow who are struggling to compete with the power of packs like Exeter's and Leinster's. They are conceding close-range tries far too easily. But if there was one bright spark it was the 80-minute effort of Stuart Hogg.
He hadn't played a single minute of live rugby since his Lions injury and on Saturday he appeared as sharp as ever. The back three combination with Leonardo Sarto and Tommy Seymour is set to cause chaos for all comers, but there is plenty of work in front of them in the immediate weeks.
7. Should there be an exemption clause in Europe? For teams that qualify for the Champions Cup by dint of their efforts at domestic level but would really rather not have the distraction of the main European competition.
I am thinking of clubs like Castres who seem to finish in the play-off positions in France year after year. A small town without the budget or allure of the giants, they achieved wonders in the Top 14. But the squad lacks the depth and quality to compete on both fronts. Hence their regular roastings on the road.
Europe is a nuisance, a distraction for them. Although there is a lovely little restaurant that does a divine rare cut of steak in the town centre...
8. Exeter - in contrast - certainly do belong in the top tier. Far from their best in Montpellier, they had the guts and the game management to prevail against the powers of Nemani Nadolo.
Another mention of impact substitutions if I may? The Exeter front row bench dominated the scrums and were carnivorous in the loose. Hats off to Harry Williams, Alec Hepburn and Elvis Taione.
9. A quick sob story. My heart goes out to Benetton who were seconds from their greatest European day - probably greatest ever day - a victory over the three-time champions, Toulon. François Trinh-Duc's last-minute kick was a knife in the heart of Italian rugby but the prospects of recovery look good.
They lost the match but again illustrated the improvement being made in Italy. It also made the Bath 23-0 victory against them the previous week look less like a 'dropped' bonus point than many of us thought.
10. The back-to-back Bath games with Toulon in rounds three and four look extremely appetising. In round four, a nice short journey from home for the match at the Recreation Ground with the old place fizzing.
It should be epic European action while, forgotten by most and in the shadows, the Scarlets are going to try and take a full ten points against Benetton to resuscitate their far-from-dead hopes. Given better conditions, they are capable of reversing the form lines with Bath and beating Toulon in west Wales. There's loads of life in this pool.
