How long can Worcester allow Ben Te’o to twiddle his thumbs in the stand, could a rare defeat now galvanise Saracens and Sale would surely love Robert du Preez to stay on
Worcester’s marquee player, Ben Te’o, got no closer to the pitch than the stand despite the importance of the match against rivals in the bottom half of the table. The England centre has played only 29 minutes in a Warriors’ jersey this season because of injury and the autumn internationals, and was given the previous two Challenge Cup weekends off. The club’s director of rugby, Alan Solomons, said that a lack of training time was the reason for Te’o’s omission and that he would be considered for selection at Saracens on Saturday – but he was needed against Northampton with Worcester lacking a target and too often playing behind the gainline off slow possession. It could be a sign of things to come, for supporters at Sixways with Te’o’s contract up in the summer and Bath among his suitors. Paul Rees
Related: Freddie Burns shows the way forward in Bath’s fruitful trip to Wasps
Team of the weekend
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