Kiwi coaches deliver a very British contest, Joe Marler left to count his blessings, and the amazing jet-set Willie le Roux
Two New Zealand coaches presided over an old-school British game in which the set pieces shaped the outcome. Todd Blackadder is in his third season in charge at Bath while Chris Boyd moved to Northampton in the summer. Bath’s supremacy up front plus their lineout mastery gave them the platform for victory. Boyd noted how the scrum, a means of launching attacks in New Zealand, is more a means of establishing control in England. Blackadder said he could detect subtle changes in Northampton’s style under Boyd, but after slipping to 10th in the table the basics will be the Saints’ immediate priority. Paul Rees
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Kings rule Last season the Southern Kings lost 20 of their 21 matches in their first Pro14 season so their 38-28 victory against Glasgow, in which they took a 24-0 lead at half-time, can be considered a huge upset, not least because the Warriors were 1-25 with some bookmakers.
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