Big week at Welford Roadpublished at 13:45 British Summer Time 8 September 2018
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While our focus this afternoon will undoubtedly be on the action, there's been one big story to keep everyone distracted over the past week...
Summary
Matt Banahan try earns Gloucester last-gasp 31-31 draw at Bath
Danny Cipriani makes outrageous no-look pass to send Banahan over
Billy Vunipola scores on return and Liam Williams grabs hat-trick as Saracens beat Bristol 44-23
Sam Simmonds and Henry Slade both score twice as Exeter win 42-31 at Wasps
England forward Brad Shields goes off with head injury on Wasps debut
Leicester earn bonus point in 23 mins in 49-33 win over Newcastle
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Big week at Welford Roadpublished at 13:45 British Summer Time 8 September 2018
Friday night rewindpublished at 13:42 British Summer Time 8 September 2018
Northampton 25-18 Harlequins
Image source, Getty ImagesWe've already had a firecracker of a start to round two, under the Friday night lights.
Dylan Hartley made the perfect return to Premiership action after five months out injured as his try helped Northampton edge out Harlequins on Friday night.
The England captain got on the end of a rolling maul 10 minutes after coming on as a second-half replacement.
Tries from England scrum-half Danny Care and fly-half James Lang gave Quins hope, but Saints clung on with some last-ditch defence on their own line in added time for a first win of the season.
The Premiership's best coaching line-up?published at 13:40 British Summer Time 8 September 2018
Wasps v Exeter (14:00 BST)
Chris Jones
BBC rugby union commentator at the Ricoh ArenaThe best coaching ticket in the league? Rob Baxter, Ali Hepher et al have been checking out the Ricoh Arena surface.
Image source, Chris Jones - BBC SportTeam newspublished at 13:38 British Summer Time 8 September 2018
Wasps v Exeter (14:00 BST)
Exeter are without injured winger Olly Woodburn, who is out with a broken jaw.
England international Henry Slade comes into the centres, with Ian Whitten moved onto the wing at the Ricoh Arena.
Image source, .Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Greg Holmes, Harry Williams, Toby Salmon, Sean Lonsdale, Jack Maunder, Joe Simmonds, Alex Cuthbert.
Team newspublished at 13:37 British Summer Time 8 September 2018
Wasps v Exeter (14:00 BST)
England flanker Brad Shields will make his debut for Wasps.
New Zealand-born Shields joined from Hurricanes in the summer, while former All Blacks fly-half Lima Sopoaga is among the replacements and could also make his first Wasps appearance.
Wasps have not lost at home in the Premiership since a 38-15 defeat at home by Saracens on 7 January.
Image source, .Replacements: Tom Cruse, Zurabi Zhvania, Will Stuart, James Gaskell, Ashley Johnson, Joe Simpson, Lima Sopoaga, Rob Miller.
To kick us off...published at 13:35 British Summer Time 8 September 2018
Wasps v Exeter (14:00 BST)
Image source, Getty ImagesToday's opener presents us with a mouthwatering tussle at the Ricoh Arena, as the flamboyant, move-the-ball style of Wasps goes up against the sheer relentlessness of the Chiefs.
Will Dai Young's side get the space to break out their expansive backline?
Will the Chiefs suffocate and strangle possession, before releasing their own playmaking craft?
Stick with us to find out. Let's get some team news.
Saturday's menupublished at 13:32 British Summer Time 8 September 2018
Ding, ding! It's round two of the new Premiership season.
Four matches on the way for you this afternoon.
The fixtures computer has tossed up a couple of bangers so early in the season with a repeat of the 2017 Premiership final and a tasty West Country derby....
Ricoh Arena: Wasps v Exeter (14:00 BST)
Welford Road: Leicester v Newcastle (15:00 BST)
Allianz Park: Saracens v Bristol Bears (15:00 BST)
Recreation Ground: Bath v Gloucester (16:30 BST)
What a startpublished at 13:30 British Summer Time 8 September 2018
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Image source, Getty ImagesSumptuous 20-metre cut-out passes, searing line-breaks, monster hits, beast-mode kicking and runaway-train rolling mauls... the opening weekend of the Premiership had pretty much everything.
The best thing about it all? We get to do it all over again.
Image source, PA