Tigers snarl, Saracens surge and Chiefs imports deliver - Prem talking points

Tigers snarl, Saracens surge and Chiefs imports deliver - Prem talking pointsImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Adam Radwan, Fergus Burke and Len Ikitau all enjoyed wins over sides above them in the tableByMike HensonBBC Sport rugby union news reporterPublished4 minutes agoCommentsThat Northampton's away fans has been allocated block 'FU' at Mattioli Woods Welford Road at the East Midlands derby summed up Leicester's predictably confrontational approach to the fixture.Inside three minutes Tigers prop Nicky Smith's snarling had sparked a 30-man melee of pushing and shoving, and his relentless team kept up the aggro all afternoon.In total, six cards were shared between the two teams - two yellows and Izaia Perese's 20-minute red for Leicester, and three yellows for Saints - but the scoreline was a lot more lopsided, with Tigers triumphing 41-17 to register an eighth straight home win in the Prem.Northampton were pummelled up front as a formidable front five of Smith, Jamie Blamire, Joe Heyes, George Martin and Ollie Chessum turned the screw on a pack which had lost second row Tom Lockett in the warm-up.Northampton leaked possession at scrum and line-out, and their back division could not conjure the get-out-of-jail card that has been their trump in recent weeks.Instead it was Leicester's England stars who sparkled.Jack van Poortvliet produced a delicious bump-and-run kick-through for Adam Radwan to score the first try of the second half. Freddie Steward, whose torpedo mis-pass has earlier set up Ollie Hassell-Collins' score, weaved over for Leicester's sixth try – a derby record.And a mention for James O'Connor. The Australian was ushered in for only his second start since February after first-choice fly-half Billy Searle picked up an injury in training, but revelled in a fast-paced, frenetic game.With Searle, the undisputed signing of the season, potentially being out for the rest of the campaign, O'Connor...