Prem talking points: Bath's missing drop-goal, Feyi-Waboso's shower & Pollock's revenge

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Santi Carreras, and Henry Pollock all played central roles in a thrilling round of Premiership semi-finals

Published 15 June 2026

It is worth remembering that Finn Russell also has a tendency to avoid drop goals.

The first-choice fly-half for Bath famously favours keeping the ball in hand, having only managed one in open play across his entire professional career.

That solitary effort, however, came at the very spot where Santi Carreras, deputising for the injured Russell, passed up several opportunities in the dying moments of Sunday's 27-26 defeat to Exeter.

In March 2024, near the south stand, Russell doubled back to awkwardly knock over an unattractive drop goal en route to a victory over Sale. Characteristically, he did so with his weaker left foot., external

Carreras was positioned even closer. A massive four-and-a-half-minute passage of 40 phases had brought the hosts to within inches of the try line. Carreras could have stepped back deep into the pocket and still had a straightforward, central shot at goal.

Instead, Bath relied on their forward power to break through Exeter's stubborn goalline defence. Vilikesa 'Billy' Sela eventually crossed the line, but crucially was not awarded a try. Held up over the whitewash by a combination of Olly Woodburn and Zack Wimbush, it signalled the end of a remarkable contest, the climax of an incredible comeback, and the beginning of wild celebrations.

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Alongside the unused drop-goal option, there was also plenty of space out wide, with Henry Arundell just a couple of successful passes away from a simple score.

Bath had ample justification for their pick-and-go strategy, though. Back in January, in a strikingly similar situation, they wore down Exeter on the final play of the game, with Arthur Green touching down under the posts after 38 phases to seal a 33-26 victory.

But would Russell, watching from the stands with his troublesome calf, have been more willing to attempt a rare drop goal on a dry day? And would his team-mates have been quicker to heed his advice?

Carreras, who had a shaky start to the match, also wasted a five-on-three overlap in the final minute inside the Exeter 22-metre line. His long mis-pass allowed the visiting defence to drift across and remain intact.

After the match, coach Johann van Graan spoke of "missed opportunities" in the second half proving decisive. It was their frontline fly-half they missed the most.

Wasting chances, wasting drinks

Feyi-Waboso (centre of picture) was among Exeter's travelling fans at the Rec

Another notable figure in the Rec stands was Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.

The Exeter speedster was ruled out of the match due to a broken jaw and subsequent surgery, but he was cheering loudly for his team-mates under the sun.

When the final whistle blew, one Bath fan took exception to the vocal support from Feyi-Waboso and his companions and threw a drink at the England wing.

Television cameras also captured another fan giving Chiefs fly-half Harvey Skinner a one-finger salute at the final whistle.

This is not the first time there have been incidents at the Rec.

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Two years ago, after another Premiership semi-final, Sale second row Jonny Hill was involved in an altercation with a home fan, whom Hill claimed had been mocking and abusing him throughout the game.

Feyi-Waboso's only public comment since the incident has been to post a video, external of himself cheering on his team with the caption, 'Scenessss'.

Exeter coach Rob Baxter has stated that, in accordance with the new(ish) agreement between clubs and England regarding elite players, England will have the final say on whether Feyi-Waboso can play at Twickenham on Saturday.

The visiting supporters certainly made it clear to the home fans who had the last word on Saturday.

A departing Bath fan threw his drink at Feyi-Waboso...

...and lost his shirt in the ensuing confrontation

Pollock comes to the party at the Gardens

Henry Pollock had a try disallowed after straying offside from team-mate Tommy Freeman's initial kick through

The last time Henry Pollock faced Leicester, it was a tough afternoon for the Northampton youngster.

Coming off the bench at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, he got involved in a few scraps, deputised poorly on the line-out after hooker Craig Wright's yellow card, and was jeered until the end of a 41-17 defeat.

The image of a smiling Hanro Liebenberg staring down Pollock as the Northampton man tried to start another confrontation spread quickly and widely.

That day, an fired-up, bulkier Leicester pack got the better of him. On Friday night, back at Franklin's Gardens, Pollock got his revenge.

There were still theatrical moments. Pollock celebrated a try—later disallowed—by mimicking basketball legend Steph Curry's 'night, night' gesture. After his side regained possession deep in their own 22-metre area late on, he demanded more volume from the rolling chants of Shoe Army around the stadium.

But there was also an exceptionally high work rate and constant influence.

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Pollock carried the ball 23 times—no one else on the pitch managed more than 13—and accumulated 122 metres with ball in hand. Team-mate George Furbank was the closest to him in that category with 70.

He beat eight defenders, double anyone else's total.

His tackling was consistent and solid, and he was a nuisance at the breakdown.

In the opening minutes, he made a break to build momentum towards Tom Litchfield's opening score.

In the 77th minute, he was chasing back to field a kick through from Adam Radwan.

Between those two points, he was everywhere. He took some heavy hits—one George Martin tackle was particularly thunderous—but was never down for long.

Will coach Steve Borthwick, who was in attendance, be tempted to unleash Pollock from the start for England over the summer, having seen how his speed and energy overcame the Tigers' muscle?

Super-duper Hooper

Tom Hooper was signed from Australian side ACT Brumbies last summer

Tom Hooper's gritty work around the pitch has earned plenty of praise, but the Exeter and Australia flanker also possesses sublime open-field skills.

Last week, he stepped Saracens hooker Theo Dan, external out of his boots with a lovely shimmy.

This weekend, 64 minutes into the match at the Rec, he took the ball down the line, looked one way, and casually popped a no-look inside pass the other way to Ross Vintcent, sparking a 15-metre line break.

The battle of the back row will be mouth-watering on Saturday.

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Pearce and Ridley play their part

Luke Pearce (right) oversaw Northampton's win over Leicester on Friday night

Among the standout performers in two superb semi-finals were the officials. Referees Luke Pearce and Christophe Ridley played a full role in two contests that flew by without the whistle becoming a constant theme.

Pearce's delegation and trust in his fellow officials were impressive.

Taking charge of Saints v Tigers, he asked TMO Stuart Terheege to run background checks on Liebenberg's grounding of a try and the possibility of interference in the build-up to Litchfield's opener, and trusted the answer when it came.

His constant emphasis on pace in the game leads to more flow and more space.

And, he has some withering put-downs.

When Northampton hooker Curtis Langdon emerged shouting from a scrum, only to claim his words were directed at team-mates rather than the referee, Pearce asked which of them is, like him, called Luke.