Premiership: Five talking points after Bristol, Saracens, Gloucester & Sale wins

Raffi Quirke revealed recently that every autumn his phone’s flashback feature throws up images from 2021, when he scampered in for England’s final try in a dramatic win over world champions South Africa at Twickenham.

Relentlessly physical, snappy with his distribution and with a sharp eye for a fringe gap, he seemed the coming man then. Instead, he has largely gone missing since.

A rotten run of injuries – the latest being surgery on a wrist – and the emergence of Scotland’s Gus Warr have kept him in the shadows at Sale for most of the past three years.

The 28-10 victory against Exeter was only his second Premiership start of 2024.

He came through his 50 minutes fit and healthy, despite a hefty early hit from Ethan Roots, and helped set up Luke James’ opening try with subtle dummy, dart and give to Ben Curry.

England coach Steve Borthwick is a big Quirke fan, naming him among a group of players who would have come into consideration for the recent autumn internationals but for injury. Considering Quirke’s most recent England appearance was that win over South Africa three years ago, it was some show of faith.

Alex Mitchell is just back from his own injury and neither Ben Spencer nor Jack van Poortvliet made the England role their own in the Northampton man’s absence.

Quirke, still only 23, could re-enter the conversation if he stays off the treatment table.