Rugby union: talking points from the weekend’s Premiership and Pro12 action | Guardian writers

Leicester are back in the title shake-up, Wasps’ crowds are creating excitement in the midlands and it’s getting tough at the top of the Pro12A new year has dawned, bringing with it Leicester’s annual acceleration towards the play-offs and a sharp increase in transfer speculation. Bath chose not to confirm the news after Sunday’s game but the Welsh fly-half Rhys Priestland is heading to the Recreation Ground on a two-year deal that raises all kinds of interesting questions. It would appear Priestland is resigned to missing out on Wales’ World Cup squad, with Gareth Anscombe and Leicester’s Owe…