England’s forward dominance against Australia ensures last laugh for innocent Dan Cole
It’s not often that attention is focused on the burly beasts of the front row, but in the run-up to Saturday’s match proppery was the talk of the town.
Not only did Dan Cole find himself at the centre of accusations of alleged illegal technique by Australia coach Michael Cheika, but elsewhere guilty verdicts were served to both England squad member Kieran Brookes and new Cardiff Blues signing Anton Peikrishvili.
The former was banned for two weeks after admitting to charging a ruck as an ox might a steel gate.
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The latter was handed a six-week ban for biting the Ospreys' Rob McCusker in a less than sportsmanlike test of his dental prowess.
In comparison to the Georgian, Cole’s alleged wrongdoings pale into insignificance, and are actually wide of the mark.
When tighthead props come under pressure they tend to angle inwards in the direction of the opposition hooker, and it is testament to Cole’s technique that he rarely tends to apply his mass in an illegal plane of motion.
England’s forward unit steadily became increasingly dominant during Saturday's win over Australia, having creaked their way through the opening stages.
The Leicester man will be content that, after the previous week's exchanges, he was able to leave the field with the pride of supremacy.
Why Harlequins should join the French Top 14
Newcastle overcame Harlequins 38-32 on Sunday afternoon in a result that ensures that Quins will finish the calendar year without an away win in the Premiership.
A dire pattern of results on the road is more akin to sides in France's Top 14, a league where there have been just two away victories across both of the most recent rounds.
The Twickenham outfit are, however, unbeaten at home having recorded notable wins against European champions Saracens, Midlands powerhouse Northampton and a Bath side that has itself continued to progress up the league table.
Harlequins sit sixth – an appropriate mid-point reflective of their split season.
They will be eager to accumulate as many points as possible before again losing their international contingent to Six Nations duty in the new year.