Clash of the midfield talents makes this a showdown to savour

Today’s final between Saracens and Exeter has the added spice of England prospects Lozowski and Slade facing each other

This is a proper final. Exeter and Saracens are the two best sides in England by absolutely miles. I sat back in awe of them both last week: they totally smashed their opponents. I was tempted to trawl through the two sides’ seasons and pick out styles and ways in which the final could be determined. But on watching the semi-finals a couple of times, I wanted to pick out two lads who showed real quality and could go a long way to swinging the final in their team’s favour: Henry Slade and Alex Lozowski.

Slade, at Exeter, seems an obvious choice. People have talked about his talent for a long time. Having drifted in and out of form, the lad is ready to rock and roll at the highest level. In the opening five minutes of the semi-final, he took the Newcastle kick-off, caught it deep and smashed it up into the traffic with total confidence and control.

His next touch was at second receiver, deep in his own half. He picked off a lock and a prop, danced between them, handed off the one who might have been able to lay a finger on him and offloaded to Sam Simmonds, who was away.

His next touch, at second receiver again, he was so flat to the line that he had three options to pass to. He picked Mitch Lees and the giant galloped through the Newcastle defence. That short passage of play showed just how far he has come, especially in terms of consistency.

He is a different player to the young lad who burst on the scene. His opening take from kick-off was class: body angles, head forward, on his toes, challenging Newcastle’s kick chasers to come at him, ready to step, slide and bump. Not looking to shift the ball, but understanding his responsibility. Make yards. Win contact.

Slade’s body shape has changed. No longer the slight individual who relied on sleight of hand. Now he is barrel-chested, happy to make you look daft if you come at him with a poor body position. He is a