Rugby union: talking points from the European Champions Cup


Toulon’s nightmare speaks to French woes, Saracens are miles ahead of the pack and Freddie Burns had a weekend to forget

It seemed as if all talking points would have to revolve around the 52-3 destruction on Friday night of the former multiple champions Wasps by Leinster – or the Ireland team plus James Lowe, which means the Ireland team in a couple of years’ time. But then Freddie Burns came along. Immediately all talking points became other examples of the flagrant squandering of tries. There are plenty but it is hard to think of any at such a crucial juncture of a game, to cost a team a match and coming so soon after the same player had missed a sitter of a penalty, which would also have won the encounter. It will surely take its toll on Burns. Bath, meanwhile, are sick of wasted opportunities.

Related: Injury worries for England after Saracens’ bruising win in Glasgow

Team of the weekend

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