Exeter Chiefs are assured of a top-four finish in the Premiership after scoring six tries in an emphatic win over Gloucester.
Ireland are the Northern Hemisphere's form team, but Brian O'Driscoll is aware that may not still be the case when the World Cup begins.
Castres, Stade Francais, Lyon, Bordeaux-Begles and Agen were the winners on a busy day of Top 14 action.
Scarlets picked up an impressive win over Glasgow Warriors to keep the pressure on Leinster, while Benetton, Cheetahs and Munster also won.
Stormers were mauled by Lions in Super Rugby, with Madosh Tambwe the four-try hero.
Ruthless Saracens scored nine tries in their latest thrashing of Northampton Saints, while London Irish eased to victory at Harlequins.
Wasps' Danny Cipriani has calmed fears over the head injury he sustained against Sale Sharks on Friday.
Wasps looked to have done just enough to hang on against Sale, before Marland Yarde won the game for the Sharks in thrilling fashion.
Edinburgh were beaten at home by Ulster in the Pro14, while the Ospreys thumped Connacht in Swansea.
The Hurricanes were without Beauden Barrett against the Sharks but Ihaia West came good by kicking a game-winning conversion.
World Rugby was "deeply concerned" about the circumstances surrounding the Belgium versus Spain qualifier last month.
Australia full-back Israel Folau has caused another stir with a homophobic Instagram post.
Wales are looking at Wayne Pivac as a possible replacement for Warren Gatland in 2019, according to the Scarlets coach.
Pro14 side the Scarlets released a statement saying they will look into claims that La Rochelle players were subjected to racial abuse.
Leo Cullen felt there were "three or four" occasions where Saracens hit Jonathan Sexton with late shots, but Mark McCall defended his side.
There will be new European Champions Cup winners this year after Leinster dumped Saracens out in Dublin.