Surprise number one is that the Saints, last year's finalists who snatched defeat from the jaws of what looked like a comfortable victory, are already out. Defeat at Castres today was no more than they deserved, in truth. The French side looked pretty comfortable playing a power game against a side that is perhaps the most power obsessed side in the Premiership. Coach Lancaster - be warned.
Interestingly, a referee finally whistled Dylan Hartley for popping out of a scrum. Fancy that. As rare as Tory MP's going into France, whipping out their wallets full of Euros and saying "You know, I just love the convenience of it all..."
Down Wembley Way the Sarries had too much fire power for the Ospreys. The emerging talents of Justin Tupiric and Ashley Beck were outstanding for the visitors, but Borthwick ruled the roost in a line out with out Alun Wyn Jones and Ian Evans, and the Welsh side were starved of possession as a result. Next week has to be a decider for these two sides.
The other big surprise also came in this Pool, where the minnows of Treviso managed to survive a few late scares to hold off the giants of Biarritz. Rugby fans won't be sorry, having suffered X number of games where the Basque side has ground out dull victories, with a stellar set of backs outside the scrum twidding their fingers and chasing the occasional box kick. Again - all to play for next week, although one can't imagine that the Italians will repeat this score in the lions den. I suspect they'll be mauled by 30 points or more - but has the damage already been done ?
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