The ‘ginger Penaud’, a rivalry renewed & Genge’s coffee – Prem talking points

Owen Farrell and Harvey Skinner’s post-match chat appeared to be nothing but festive goodwill, with the body language being read rather than the words.

More spice than a cup of mulled wine is always served when Saracens face Exeter.

At the end of the last ten years, the pair fought for supremacy at the top of the English language, and Exeter was the most vocal in its condemnation when it emerged that Saracens’ all-star squad had been tainted by off-books payments.

Both have fallen from the top since that time, but Saturday afternoon provided evidence of a resurrected rivalry.

After Noah Caluori’s try had given the hosts 11 points lead after 55 minutes, England hooker Jamie George pointedly celebrated in Skinner’s direction.

The Chiefs and Skinner had the last laugh, though. Ten minutes later, Skinner gave Farrell a legal hit, and Exeter responded with three tries in the final 17 minutes to claim a bonus-point victory at the StoneX.

The most recent episode of Exeter’s late, late roadshow is here.

In the season’s opening round, they rallied back from 33-7 to defeat Northampton. In the north-western game against Sale, they rallied from 13 points down last weekend.

In their second half of Prem matches this year, they have totaled 16 tries and have only conceded four.

A play-off spot is at least possible if they can finish the second half of the season as strongly as they can individual matches. Sitting second, at least.

A big nickname to live up to is “the ginger Penaud.” However, it currently fits George Hendy pretty well.

A fantastic strike rate is now being combined with the languid socks-down, heads-up, high-speed look, similar to France winger Damian Penaud. The 23-year-old scored six tries in Saints’ previous three games with a double in the win over Sale.

Given Hendy’s continued upward trend, George Furbank’s rumored move to Harlequins makes more sense.

Hendy was omitted from England’s summer tour of Argentina and the United States. Instead, he was forced to make do with a game against Spain in this autumn for England A.

He has a long list of excellent back-three options in the race for an England spot, but his carve-through ability is impressive.

The ability to stay in the game for 80 minutes, in my opinion, was most encouraging in terms of attitude.

After his side held on to cross-town rival Saracens with a cunning and committed performance back in October, that was what Harlequins coach Jason Gilmore said.

Since then, he hasn’t seen much that has pampered him. Bristol scored four unanswered first-half attempts to sabotage the hosts’ Big Game party at Allianz Stadium, giving Quins three of their previous four Prem games.

On the biggest stage, it was a worryingly weak performance.

Despite shading 22 entries from 17 to 12, they had little of Bristol’s attacking glint until Marcus Smith jinked over late in the game with the game already over. Their tackle success was down at 76%.

Quins are of high caliber. While Nick David and Luke Northmore consistently top the table, Cadan Murley and Rodrigo Isgro offer pace and panache while Cadan Murley and Rodrigo Isgro are a powerful, play-making midfield duo.

In the summer, Will Evans’ ground game, Fin Baxter, Chandler Cunningham-South, Alex Dombrandt, and Guido Petti all signed for grunt and snarl.

There was no attempt in Bristol’s win over Quins that was more joyfully scored or collectively admired.

The England prop was never supposed to be on the field. He was taken back into the fray after being replaced ten minutes earlier due to Jake Woolmore’s injury.

Genge informed Woolmore that his team-mate owed him a cup of coffee for his double-shift as he returned.

Genge will enjoy serving him with the score’s story over that beverage. The 30-year-old was quickly ushered out of a pack of jubilant Bears as he swerved between Lucas Friday and Nick David.

The only other free-running forward on the show was him. On his way to the Sale line, Australian flanker Josh Kemeny jacked right-footed against full-back Arron Reed with a jagging right-foot step.

A few tactical innovations to consider.

Late in the game, Saracens’ hosts fired up their driven maul and drove toward the line, and Exeter was defending a one-point lead.

However, the Chiefs were released from prison. Exeter pulled the maul to the ground, but it was permitted, according to Referee Luke Pearce, because all of their players were now reversing their own lines. The visitors received a drop-out under their own posts and a chance to clear as the ball was already off the ground amid a swarm of bodies.

It’s a difficult tactic to pull off. A penalty try and a yellow card are required for failing to execute the offense, and the timing must be flawless. But will there still be more teams trying to pull it off?

With 55 minutes left, Bath manager Johann van Graan immediately replaced each of his eight replacements against Newcastle at Kingston Park.

What is a clever way to reset energy levels without gradually introducing the subs?