Dismal Saturday for Premiership sides reveal league's glaring defensive issues

Leicester Tigers brought the curtain down on a miserable Saturday for English sides in the Champions Cup.

Saracens were thumped 72-42 in Toulon before Harlequins were humiliated in a men-against-boys display 62-0 by URC table toppers Leinster at Croke Park.

Leicester visited reigning URC champions Glasgow Warriors in the late kick-off at Scotstoun and were also well beaten 43-19.

The Premiership has served up numerous enthralling contests this season but England head coach Steve Borthwick revealed he was cautious back in January that the league was failing to prepare players for test rugby.

Borthwick's thoughts couldn't look any truer as three sides who look set to fight it out for the Premiership title conceded a total of 26 tries - a worrying statistic for Borthwick and the league.

The basketball-style of rugby often seen in the Premiership carried into Sarries' bonkers game of rugby with Toulon.

Saracens, criticised for fielding a weakened team, enjoyed a dream start in the south of France going ahead 35-13 with 32 minutes gone through tries from Juan Martin Gonzalez (2), Nick Tompkins, Olly Hartley and Ivan van Zyl.

However, Melvyn Jaminet's try before half time proved the catalyst Toulon needed as Sarries' floodgates opened in a second half where it seemed every time the French side had possession, they looked like they were going to score.

Harlequins defended well for the opening 10 minutes of their encounter in Dublin but after the dam was broken by Sam Prendergast's try, the Londoners, whose expansive style is known as 'swinging the bat', were blown out the park in one of the most one-sided affairs you'll see in professional rugby.

Leicester also made a great start, scoring early through Olly Cracknell but quickly surrendered their lead and were fortunate not to be further behind than 17-5 at half time.

The scoreline was getting ugly for the Tigers but tries from Solomone Kata and Hanro Liebenberg rescued some pride for the East Midlanders, however for the third game in succession an English side were picked apart.