Ben Foden's afternoon is over for Northampton as he's replaced by Ahsee Tuala.

Foden had his blushes spared a few moments ago when he screwed a clearance kick from his own try area straight into Wasps hands.

But, Saints numbers were there to shove Jimmy Gopperth out of touch. Josh Bassett then looks in for a try in the far corner before Saints once more scramble across.

At Kingsholm, the hosts have it all to do with 15 minutes remaining after Alex Tait grabs a try to put Newcastle 18-10 up against Gloucester.

Meanwhile, Sale are doing a good job of roaring back into the contest at Sixways with a converted Neil Briggs try putting them within four points of Worcester.

Luke Wallace suffers a lapse in concentration and is pinged for being offside. 

Alex Lozowski lines up the penalty but again misses the target and the home fans breathe a sigh of relief with 12 minutes to go. 

Bit of a hold up in the game after James Gaskell goes off for a head injury.

Northampton once more try to forge their way through from an attacking line-out, but it's another handling error by Saints. Ken Pisi the culprit this time.

Earlier in the match Saracens turned down opportunities for three points but now, with 62 minutes gone, Alex Lozowski lines up a penalty. 

Agonisingly the fly-half hits the post and they remain ten points behind their hosts. 

Northampton replacement Teimana Harrison is adjudged to have caught Christian Wade a touch high with a tackle.

Wasps don't take advantage though as they give a penalty away from the attacking line-out.

Finally a bit of rest for Northampton as a decision goes their way along the edge of their 22.

Elliot Daly holds on to the ball too long and Saints try to get themselves going after being stretched on several occasions in this second half - most notably by Guy Thompson's earlier break.

Image source, get

We're edging towards the end of the third quarter at The Twickenham Stoop and the hosts are under a spot of pressure. 

The visitors are dominating the possession but right now are being held up and after a rare handling error from Saracens a few handbags arrive!

Half a chance missed for Wasps to go even further ahead through the long-range boot of Elliot Daly.

The centre has a reputation for putting those over, even from 49 metres out, but this left-foot effort goes just wide right.

Relief for Kieran Brookes after he was penalised for going off his feet.

And we turn our attentions back to the other action in the Premiership for a moment.

A Wynand Olivier try after the break helps put Worcester even further ahead. Ryan Lamb added the extras to pass 1,000 career points in the Premiership. Sale have Byron McGuigan sin-binned for a  foul in back play.

Image source, rex f

Oh, and it gets worse for Sale. The television match official then has a good, long look at replays before Jamie Shillcock can celebrate his second try for the hosts. And they lead 31-17.

And glance across to Kingsholm, and it stays the same - 10-10 after 55 minutes.

First points registered in this second half at Franklin's Gardens.

Jimmy Gopperth with a second penalty of the game after Northampton were punished for another infringement at the scrum.

Gopperth makes no mistake from nearly 40 metres back.

In the opening ten minutes of this second half the momentum has been in Saracens favour. Harlequins have a chance to redress the balance slightly but Tim Sweil's penalty hits the post and their lead stays at ten points. 

Guy Thompson is a bit of a battering ram in the back row for Wasps.

The flanker barges his way through both Louis Picamoles and Ken Pisi as he carries Wasps forward a good 40 metres.

Northampton looking a bit jaded after that burst.

Saracens have been ignited by their try and look set to score another but a huge tackle from Harlequins' Chris Robshaw stops Brad Barritt and the pressure is relieved. 

Elsewhere Danny Care has taken a bit of a knock and leaves the field. The Harlequins captain will be disappointed to only have played 47 minutes of this huge encounter.

That latest bit of desperate defence from Wasps has sadly been the last involvement for Danny Cipriani.

His 100th Wasps appearance is brought to an early conclusion through injury. Kyle Eastmond is on in his place - not a bad person to call on as a replacement.

Northampton just lacking that cutting edge in this game.

Ken Pisi is there on a couple of occasions to burst through the defence but an offload from number eight Louis Picamoles is just too far ahead of the winger for him to barge through from four metres out.

Knock-on and Wasps can suck it up again and reorganise.

We're a tiny bit behind the rest of the action at Franklin's Gardens, but we're back under way for the second half.

Image source, Getty Images

So, we are into the second half in today's Premiership offering.

How do you feel your side is getting on?

I'll say now, it's hard to read the reaction of Newcastle Falcons director of rugby Dean Richards. Is it a wink, as in "eyyy, these guys"? Or is it more, "I simply can't watch"? Newcastle are locked 10-10 with Gloucester at the moment.

Share your thoughts via twitter by using the #bbcrugby hashtag.

The teams are back out at Twickenham Stoop and Saracens have a second half mountain to climb.

We're back underway at Sixways and Kingsholm too!