Barry's shameful tackle on Tait dampens Harlequins joy

Barry's savage late hit on England centre Tait, who required five minutes of treatment before being led from the field with concussion, left a sour taste after Quins recorded their sixth win in seven to leapfrog Leicester into third spot in the Premiership.

Shaken: Tait is helped from the pitch

Leicester ran into trouble when they were upstaged 24-19 at home by Wasps who, inspired by Danny Cipriani, are also running into form at the right time.

Misfiring Newcastle will most likely have to do without Tait's services for at least a fortnight and the 22-year-old was fortunate to escape with no lasting damage.

Barry has previous in this area and can expect a long ban. But that will not unduly worry Quins director of rugby Dean Richards, who has seen his side turn their season around after a mid-winter slump that saw them win one game in nine.

Richards said: "De Wet has apologised to Mathew and he has apologised to me. He has an unfair reputation as a dirty player and he doesn't deserve it."

One of the keys to Quins resurgence has been 21-year-old Danny Care, who has played a starring role for them in since ousting Andy Gomarsall. He dropped a goal on Saturday to sit alongside Adrian Jarvis's four penalties as Quins ran out 15-9 winners.

Care was rejected by Sheffield Wednesday as a 16-year-old but football's loss has been rugby's gain and the 5ft 9in, 12 1⁄2st scrum half is surely in line to tour New Zealand with England in June.

Concern: Newcastle players surround injured Tait

He said: "I played for Sheffield Wednesday Academy for three years but a new manager came in, took one look at me and said: "You're too small!"

"I told my dad I wanted to be playing and that's when I switched to rugby."

Richards added: "If three scrum halves go to New Zealand, Danny should be one of them."

Newcastle's vaunted back line created next to nothing in front of a capacity crowd of 12,638 at the Twickenham Stoop and acting head coach Steve Bates must start plugging some gaping holes.

Jonny Wilkinson kicked three penalties but his midfield partnership with Toby Flood was indecisive despite a reasonable platform laid by the forwards.

It was Cipriani's sublime second-half try which helped Wasps to their first Guinness Premiership victory over Leicester at Welford Road.

Fraser Waters crossed for two tries but it was left to England's new No 10 to secure the points with a brilliant jinking effort in the 62nd minute after he had switched from full back to fly half.

Ian McGeechan's men lie seven points behind Leicester in fourth after their win but with two games in hand on most of their rivals, those above will be looking over their shoulders nervously.

McGeechan said: 'It's getting tighter and tighter and there will be a few more twists before the end of the season.'