Jeremy Guscott column

Former Bath, England & Lions centre

One of the main talking points this week was the return of a certain Danny Cipriani to the Wasps team against Bath on Wednesday, after six months out.

He came back sooner than expected but his club have not rushed him back. He has done everything really well.

Cipriani's return is a real boost for struggling champions Wasps

Cipriani would not come back if he was not ready. He does not want to ruin the rest of his career.

By his own admission he did not do brilliantly but that is to be expected. He returned to a team which is not full of confidence and it was never going to be easy.

But I am confident that he will be as good if not better than he was before because of the very nature of him and his playing ability.

His return came in a week that World Cup winner Jonny Wilkinson was ruled out with another injury, but Cipriani should not be brought back to the England fold just because of who he is.

If he performs well, then he will be pushing Toby Flood for a place in England's squad for the autumn internationals but we have not seen that yet. He has to prove himself.

As for Jonny, you have to feel for him. He has had so many injuries and it's tough to take.

But every time he comes back he believes he can perform. It is such a shame that he picked up the injury when he and his team were playing so well.

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We now have a break from the Premiership until the middle of November so it seems a good time to reflect on the season so far.

One thing that has stood out for me is the amount of kicking we have seen. It has been disappointing, but not surprising.

Before the season started there was a lot of discussion about the new experimental law variations and some thought they were going to change the game.

But the biggest impact so far this season is an old rule being enforced very strictly, and it is a rule that governs the breakdown.

I am pleased for Newcastle that they have started as they have, although it is going to be hard without Wilkinson

When you are tackled, the first instinct in the Premiership is to go to ground. When that happens, players automatically head in that direction but you have to do it legally.

The answer is to stay on your feet, it's no more complicated than that.

The intense refereeing of the breakdown has intimidated coaches and they have told their teams to play in the opposition half.

A team like Sale, for example, who have an extraordinarily talented backline, stick fly-half Charlie Hodgson in the pocket to kick. No wonder they are not scoring tries.

And on the other hand, you are seeing the likes of London Irish and Bath imposing themselves on teams as it is far easier to attack than defend.

The ELVs were brought in to speed up the game and if everyone stays on their feet, the game will be quicker.

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As far as the league table goes, from seventh upwards it is all very close.

Even though we are only a quarter of the way through the season or so, my old team Bath are top and it is good to see that they have kicked on from last season.

They have a robust and strong pack, with the likes of Matt Stevens and Lee Mears in the front row, and the forwards have been brilliantly guided by scrum-half Michael Claassens, who has been the difference for the club since his arrival last year.

606: COMMENT Have you any questions or comments for Jeremy Guscott? BBC Sport's Mark Orlovac

And you have got the likes of Nick Abendanon, who is cutting a line and running good balls back, and Joe Maddock, who is incredibly underestimated. There are some good boys there and they are performing.

Sale are in third but their performances remind me of French side Stade Francais.

They just muddle their way through with nothing flash, it's quite dour. In my book they are very boring and I could not envisage myself playing for them.

They have not conceded many tries and you can't knock their position, but if I was a Sale three-quarter I would not be happy. You can't have all that talent and not be running in try after try. It's embarrassing.

At the other end of the table, Bristol are bottom and to be honest I thought they would be in trouble.

I am pleased for Newcastle that they have started as they have, although it is going to be hard without Wilkinson.

The Falcons pack has done a good job. In the backs, when Mathew Tait and Toby Flood left in the summer you thought they would be short in that area. I certainly underestimated them.

Worcester are just above Bristol, despite showing enough class and belief in the first few games to suggest they wouldn't be in this position.

In the next five league games their target has got to be to get to mid-table otherwise the nightmares start happening.

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Jeremy takes time out each week to answer questions from users on 606:

"How much do you think Cipriani's return to Wasps will affect them? At the moment they look lost and Cipriani looks confident enough to believe he can do this?
fireydeath01

Yes, he can bring them confidence at it will. The more games he gets the better he is going to play and it will be like old times.

With both of the full-backs in the Elite squad starting on the wing last weekend, do you think that this could be England's problem position when the autumn internationals come around?
thespider26

The full-back in the modern game does not need to be a specialised position. It no longer requires a player who sits at the back, catches the ball, calls the mark and then boots it 30m into touch.

Pushing for a place in the England squad are full-back Olly Morgan at Gloucester, Abendanon at Bath and Delon Armitage at London Irish. I don't think full-back will be a problem position.

Jeremy Guscott was talking to BBC Sport's Mark Orlovac