e could only read the body language, rather than hear the words, but Owen Farrell and Harvey Skinner’s post-match chat looked short of festive goodwill.
Saracens against Exeter always comes with more spice than a mug of mulled wine.
The pair vied for supremacy at the top of the English game at the end of the last decade, and Exeter were most vocal in their condemnation when it turned out Saracens’ all-star squad had been held together by off-books payments.
Since that era, both have slipped away from the top, but Saturday afternoon was evidence of a rivalry reborn.
Skinner and Farrell summed it up with a niggly fly-half battle, both ploughing into hits on each other after the ball was gone.
England hooker Jamie George celebrated pointedly in Skinner’s face after Noah Caluori’s try had put the hosts 11 points clear on 55 minutes.
But it was Skinner and the Chiefs who has the last laugh. Skinner levelled Farrell with a legal hit 10 minutes later, external and Exeter roared back with three tries in the last 17 minutes to take a bonus-point victory at the StoneX.
It is just the latest episode of Exeter’s late, late roadshow.
They fought back from 33-7 to draw away to Northampton in the opening round of the season. Last weekend, they came back from 13 points down to beat Sale in the north west.
In total, they have scored 16 tries and conceded only four in the second half of Prem matches this season.
Sitting second, if they can finish the second half of the season as strongly as they do individual matches, a play-off spot is on the cards at least.
It is a dramatic turnaround for a team that finished ninth last season and did not win a single away game.
Hendy’s hot streak continues
The ‘ginger Penaud’ is a big nickname to live up to. But it is fitting pretty well for George Hendy right now.
The languid socks-down, heads-up, high-speed look – akin to star France wing Damian Penaud – is now being matched with a glorious strike rate. The 23-year-old’s double in the win over Sale took him to six tries in Saints’ past three games.
He made a game-high103 metres and beat three defenders, setting up Henry Pollock’s opening score in the process.
George Furbank’s rumoured move to Harlequins makes more sense in light of Hendy’s continued upward trajectory.
Hendy harboured hopes of getting on England’s tour of Argentina and the United States in the summer, but was overlooked. Instead he had to make do with an appearance for England A against Spain this autumn.
There is a log-jam of quality back-three options ahead of him in the queue for an England spot, but his ability to carve through traffic is notable.
If his stellar form carries over into a mouth-watering match against Bath – Henry Arundell, Joe Cokanasiga and the rest at the Rec on 27 December – he will edge further into contention.