4. Bath Backs Showcase Scrummaging Skillset & Barbeary Withdrawn Early
With Beno Obano out on the side-lines after just 22 minutes, Juan Schoeman was drafted in to action at the extent of bulldozing back row Alfie Barbeary. Sticking to their ever-attacking game plan, Bath head coach Johann van Graan opted to throw a back into the scrum, with both Joe Cokanasiga and Cameron Redpath testing their abilities in the back-row.
To be fair to the duo of make-shift flankers, Cokanasiga and Redpath held their own in the back row, with a solid body position and a tight bind on the locks. The early exit of Obano had a butterfly effect on Alfie Barbeary, who would have relished the opportunity to showcase his talents infront of a packed-out Twickenham. Barbeary has been on the recent test match fringes in the England A squad, and would have loved to stake a claim for a Summer call-up by leading from the front in the Premiership Final.
5. George Hendy becomes the first replacement to win the Premiership Final Player of the Match Award.
A unique accolade was accomplished in the 2023/24 Premiership Rugby Final, as a replacement was awarded Player of the Match for the first time. Northampton Saints wing George Hendy had an immediate impact after coming off the bench, and had a solid contribution for the match winning try. The 21-year-old had a blistering influence upon the match’s latter stages, and set the Twickenham touchlines alight with his swerving solo run in the closing minutes.
Hendy skipped passed the tackle attempt of Will Muir, and left the exhausted wing trailing in his tracks as he closed in on the try-line. Unfortunately for the young flyer, he was unable to cap off the solo run with a score, but he had the wherewithal to look for the offload, and found Alex Mitchell bearing down his supporting line. A well waited tip pass found it’s way to the Saints scrum-half, who was wheeling away in celebration ahead of the match winning try.