Cipriani’s bargaining position gets stronger, Vunipola shakes off the rust and the Dominator makes his England case
Bristol’s head coach, Pat Lam, has asked Twickenham to scrutinise the law governing the lineout, arguing that Exeter are regularly awarded tries that should be penalties to their opponents. The Chiefs won the West Country derby with two tries that followed lineouts. Lam’s gripe with the first one was that the throw was not straight but his main complaint was with the second which turned into a driving maul. Lam wants the governing body to enforce the lineout regulation which states that players who do not participate in a lineout have to remain behind the offside line until play crosses the 15-metre line (from touch), pointing out backs who join a maul before that point has been reached are offside. HQ can expect another call. Paul Rees
Match report: Exeter 14-9 Bristol
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Match report: Leicester 34-16 Gloucester
Match report: Sale 24-18 Saracens
Paul Gustard: ‘I hope England win the World Cup’
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Match report: Worcester 21-19 Bath
Match report: Wasps 27-16 Northampton