For so much of the season, the powerhouse of Northampton Saints’ attack has been Tommy Freeman, Fin Smith, and Henry Pollock. At just 25, Freeman is the elder statesman of this trio who also combine for England and the British & Irish Lions. Their impact shows the value of trusting your key men to run free.
Think of the creative axis of a team and you would think scrum-half, fly-half, and inside centre but welcome to modern rugby where roles trump positions. The first Hendy try on 64 minutes began from a long kick fielded by captain George Furbank. These are chaotic situations which neither team can plan for yet Phil Dowson’s men immediately know their jobs.
Furbank hit the gap and when brought to ground Freeman plucked the ball from his hands and continued up the field with Pollock in support. Without the reset of a ruck, the ball finds its way to Smith who shifts it to the far side of the pitch, five metres from Exeter Chiefs’ line. Two phases later and Hendy, toes as close to touch as he can get, flops over to give Saints the lead.
It’s the type of finish which looks simple – catch and fall. True, were it not for the attentions of Campbell Ridl and the touchline. But the finish is the by-product of the interplay of the creative Freeman, Pollock, Smith axis.
