Premiership: Five takeaways from the round, including momentum shifts, Owen Farrell and Harlequins’ timing

Following the Round 23 action in the Premiership, here’s our five takeaways from a memorable weekend as the season reaches a pivotal stage.

After Round 23 of the 2021/22 Premiership, only three weekends are left to play and things are simmering at the top of the table.

Saracens (more of them later) are now almost assured a play-off place, with only contrived mathematical scenarios preventing it being official. With Tigers heading the table, two places remain with both Northampton Saints (with a superior points difference) and Gloucester realistically able to challenge. Exeter have still a bye week to contend with, but in their run-ins both Northampton and Gloucester face Harlequins and Saracens in the next three rounds.

Exeter’s loss to Sarries over the weekend and with a bye next week means that they must beat both Bristol and Harlequins (at home) in order to remain in contention.

Harlequins, sitting in third place but with three games left and with a five-point advantage over the chasing clubs also look certain to qualify but one of the curiosities of this season is over the next three rounds, they play their three nearest rivals back to back, two of them on the road, making every game a potential 10 point gain or loss.

It might not have been planned this way, but every round from here on it has a cup final feel about it. None of the chasing pack of four can afford one slip up. It would be disingenuous to consider that any of the sides that qualify earlier will ease off in terms of selection as they all want to grab that crucial home ground advantage.

It’ll be fascinating to see who is peaking, but the Planet Rugby money is on Saints’ expansive style and form to secure the final place, with Harlequins joining them in