Uncapped Northampton wing George Hendy has been hailed as a player of international class after scoring two tries in four minutes to lead his side to a 26-17 victory over Exeter Chiefs in the Premiership final. The 23-year-old's performance has sparked calls for an England call-up ahead of Monday's Nations Championship squad announcement.
Hendy's Double Secures Title
Hendy struck twice in the second half to break open a tight contest, showcasing the finishing ability that his club captain George Furbank described as world-class. "He's a pretty special player," said Furbank, who will leave Northampton for Harlequins this summer. "He's one of those guys who can pull things out of the hat. He scores tries that potentially no one else in the league and potentially in the world can score."
This is not the first time Hendy has delivered on the biggest stage. Two years ago, he set up the winning try in the Premiership final against Bath. Furbank noted, "That's two finals now in which he's performed on the big stage."
Emotional Farewell for Furbank
Furbank admitted to a mix of emotions after the hard-fought victory. "It was a mix of relief, happiness and sadness all merged into one," he said. "It's been a pretty emotional few weeks, to be honest. It's tough when it's your last game for a club that means so much to you. It's been a hell of a journey. I owe a lot to a lot of people for that journey. I've loved my time here and to finish this way is incredibly special."
Pollock Shines, Baxter Praises Officials
Man of the match Henry Pollock described winning the medal as "something you dream of as a little kid." The England flanker dodged punishment for a high tackle on Exeter wing Campbell Ridl, but Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter defended the officials. "These things happen," said Baxter. "I thought the ref was great around head contact today. He looked for mitigating factors and found them."
Baxter congratulated Northampton on a great season and acknowledged his team's errors. "Our lineout wasn't at the level it needs to be, we missed a few tackles in the middle of the field but what more can I ask? The game has come down to a couple of moments."
Exeter's Growth and Future Hopes
Exeter captain Dafydd Jenkins, who scored his team's third try before being sin-binned, took consolation from the club's improvement after finishing ninth last year. "I think we've seen an immense amount of growth from last season," said Jenkins. "We're going to have to learn from today and get that extra bit out of ourselves to lift the trophy next year. You've got to use this feeling as motivation. We'll be back."
England Injury Updates
England head coach Steve Borthwick will await updates on Northampton scrum-half Archie McParland, who suffered a deep gash above his knee early in the game. Manny Feyi-Waboso required stitches above his left eye but is expected to be available for England duty this summer. Alex Mitchell made a timely comeback from a torn hamstring in the final.
