England pair Billy Vunipola and Maro Itoje make a winning return as Saracens defy two yellow cards to win at Wasps.

That's it from another great afternoon of Premiership rugby.

Two cracking performances from Saracens and Newcastle and the Premiership is perfectly-poised for it's return in February.

Hope you've enjoyed it, now for the roast potatoes...

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We take a break from domestic rugby next week, with European action taking centre stage.

Champions Cup holders Saracens go to Welsh province Ospreys on Saturday, Wasps visit Harlequins and Exeter host Montpellier.

Newcastle meanwhile are at home to Russian side Enisei in the Challenge Cup - we'll cover all the action right here on the BBC Sport website.

Wasps director of rugby David Young told BT Sport:

“They won the big collision we struggled with their physicality at the breakdown and we didn’t get enough penetration with our ball carriers.

“I’m obviously disappointed but not too down beat, we’ve lost to the better team we’ve just got to work harder at our game.

"We’ve struggled this season with injuries but to be where we are at this stage of the season I would have taken that."

Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall told to BT Sport:

"It was a really top performance, in the first half we dominated and scored some good tries.

"Then to lose two men is a big task and we managed the first seven minutes of the second half really well.

"And Billy Vunipola was great, it's extraordinary to play that well when you've been out all season."

Meanwhile, some news concerning Northampton and Wales wing George North...

Cardiff Blues are set to inform the Welsh Rugby Union they have withdrawn from the race to sign the 25-year-old.

North will return to Wales from Northampton at the end of the season on a national dual contract, meaning the WRU will pay 60% of his salary.

Blues chief executive Richard Holland says North is a "quality player" but they want to strengthen their pack.

Image source, BBC Sport

Exeter's lead at the top has been cut to five points by Saracens, who got that bonus-point win.

Wasps are now six points adrift of Sarries while Newcastle creep into the top six, moving to within two points of fourth place.

Newcastle Falcons run in three first-half tries, then resist a comeback from Exeter to beat the defending champions.

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Billy Vunipola put in a great shift on his return and it was great to see him barging all and sundry out of the way.

He fed Schalk Burger for Saracens third try as they dominated the opening half-hour with Chris Wyles and Alex Goode also scoring.

They wobbled a little when Wasps scored twice in two minutes and Saracens were reduced to 13 men. But what a second half from Sarries and in the end it's their biggest win over Wasps in the Premiership.

This was billed as an acid test of Saracens improvement over Christmas and they have delivered a very impressive display.

They may struggle to qualify in Europe from where they are but they will certainly be Premiership semi-finalists again on this showing.

Well the last 20 minutes at Kingston Park were something else.

Exeter looked dead and buried but got to within five points after Toby Salmon's try.

But the champions gave away a silly penalty at the death and Newcastle kicked it to deny the leaders any points from the match.

Joel Hodgson has slotted the penalty and Exeter won't have a losing bonus point after all!

Newcastle have punished the champions for trying to run the ball out from the back.

Exeter have gifted the game to Newcastle, it seems.

They concede a penalty which Joel Hodgson will take...

The hosts are defending very impressively here as they close in on victory.

Joel Hodgson's turnover just now was quite something.

Exeter are trying to be patient but it isn't paying off for them - two minutes remaining.

A very strong Saracens scrum and then a penalty in midfield against Guy Thompson for a terribly stupid side entry at the ruck.

Owen Farrell from in front of the sticks puts the game beyond doubt.

What a second-half this has been from the double European champions.

After missing a couple of conversions it's pretty clear that Exeter are just searching for the losing bonus point.

Unbelievably Rob Baxter's side have taken at least a point from their past 32 regular-season matches.

Can Newcastle be the side to stop them doing so? Less than six minutes left.

Inside the final eight minutes and Wasps get a good shove on at the scrum to turn the ball over.

Marcus Watson makes a half-break up the left wing but the ball goes forward and Saracens clear and Danny Cipriani knocks on trying to take an awkward bouncing ball.

Looks like Saracens have this game in the bag.

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Billy Vunipola makes way and he's enjoyed a fine 70 minutes on his return.

For all the intricacies of rugby nowadays it's sometimes still just all about very strong men and Billy is among the best of them.

Couple of weeks to get through unscathed in Europe and then it should be all systems go to return in the Six Nations.

Meanwhile, Maro Itoje takes a knock to the hip and his moving gingerly but should shake this off.