Martin Crowson looks back at five key points from the weekend.
1 I was totally against Saracens and Exeter holding a minute's silence in honour of Margaret Thatcher at the weekend. Not in any political sense whatsoever. But, for me, politics and sport are a dangerous mix. If you honour Thatcher's life, where does the buck stop? If you are against Thatcher's policies yet are forced to observe a minute's silence, you can hardly start booing, can you? There is a time and place for respect to be shown to political figures, and a sports event is certainly not that place.
2 Jordan Crane's man of the match award against Wasps on Sunday represented a lot more than a glass of bubbly in the off-season. The 26-year-old has shown tremendous grit and determination to overcome a horrendous knee injury and return to some of the best form of his career. He brings true leadership to the pitch and the changing room.
3 There will be plenty of people at Sixways thanking the lord that London Welsh had five points docked for administrative irregularities. Worcester are on a serious downward spiral that has resulted in them tasting victory in the Aviva Premiership just once since Christmas, and are now just three points off 11th-placed London Irish.
4 Mat Tait's performances during the past few weeks have not only done his chances of a place on the England tour this summer no harm, they have also done Leicester Tigers a massive favour. With suggestions that Geordan Murphy may retire at the end of the season, Tigers have a top-class replacement in Tait, who has been nothing short of sensational.
5 So London Welsh's time in the Premiership has finally come to an end. Off the field, rows about funding and the deduction of points have dominated proceedings. On the pitch, their star-free side knuckled down and never stopped believing. Most pundits, myself included, expected them to be down by Christmas. We totally underestimated their spirit and ability.
