Prem Rugby: Henry Slade, Finn Russell and Tom Willis among round 18 talking points

Henry Slade’s powerful strike for the corner in the 2017 Premiership semi-final provided plenty of air time in the final stretch of the Saracens and Exeter rivalry.

This monster touch finder scored Sam Simmonds’ match-winning try in the final minute.

Nearly a decade later, Slade’s impact in Saturday’s 32-12 victory was still significant; this earned Chiefs a play-off chance at the expense of Sarries.

The 33-year-old hummed out wide, fired the shot that launched the hosts’ second-half attack and lassoed Rotimi Segun with a crucial saving tackle before the break.

Slade, who earned the last of his 74 England caps against Argentina in November, told the For the Love of Rugby podcast last month that he was “disappointed and disappointed” not to play a single minute of England’s floundering Six Nations campaign.

With Ollie Lawrence and Max Ojomoh falling out of favor, Slade’s form puts him in the Test spotlight.

Fraser Dingwall, Seb Atkinson and Benhard Janse van Rensburg were other specialist centers called up to the training camp in England last month. None of them are clearly ahead of the Exeter man.

“If I were picking an England team I’d pick Henry Slade there,” Exeter scrum coach Dave Walder said.

“I see him every day and I know what he can do. He does everything you would expect from an undrafted player by playing well on both sides of the ball every week.”

“You don’t realize how much you miss something until you get it,” Slade told BBC Radio 5 Live at Sandy Park.

“Maybe we took it for granted all those years ago, it’s special to have it back. I feel good, I’m in the shape of my life, I still feel fresh and good.”

Slade was talking about a play-off spot. He could easily be talking about a debut Test shirt.