'Catch it and run!' - Hendy reflects on his latest key Saints moment

But they can at least be thankful George Hendy was available last Sunday as the talented 23-year-old enjoyed another key moment in the 35-27 win at Section Paloise.

Hendy showcased what is now a razor-sharp finishing ability as he dived over in the corner to help his side take the lead against their French hosts.

It was yet another highlight to add to Hendy's ever-increasing reel.

"It was pretty fun!” said the Saints Academy product.

"We relished the opportunity to go and get a result away in France, which doesn't come around very often, so we absolutely loved it.

"This week, we've looked at the game from an execution point of view and the fact we were dominating in a lot of areas but nothing was quite sticking so that's been our big focus in terms of not forcing things, looking after and respecting the ball because when we keep it for four, five, six phases, we're going to score at the end of it.”

Saints missed a few chances early in the match, but they then clicked into gear.

"It is a bit chop and change (in the backline) at the moment but that didn't have much to do with it because we've got such a strong group and with how tight we are off the field as well, it allows people to chop and change easily,” Hendy said.

"Whatever the backline is each week, we back the ability and we know pretty much what each person is going to do either side of us so that makes it even easier.

"Even when (Fraser) Dingwall scored in the corner, it's what we do every day in training. (Saints head coach) Sam Vesty gets us thinking about decision making rather than telling us we have to be here and there. It's always eyes-up rugby and making good decisions.

"We're blessed to have a backline of good decision makers at the moment and it's pretty easy when everyone can do that job pretty well."

Hendy always seems to step up in big matches these days and he was the man who helped to turn the 2024 Gallagher PREM final in Saints' favour with a stunning assist for a crucial second-half Alex Mitchell try.

When asked to explain his thought process during his vital effort against Pau last weekend, Hendy smiled and said: "Catch it and run! That's normally my mindset most of the time.

"I thought Fin (Smith) was shaping up for the drop goal so it was about staying alive, staying in the moment and Toby Thame did well to get the ball away to me so big credit to them.

"It showed why Fin is one of the best fly-halves in the country because his skillset is ridiculous, the way he reads the game is ridiculous and he makes everyone else around him look good."

Hendy, Smith and Co have made a habit of winning tough games on their travels in the Investec Champions Cup in recent years.

"We obviously knew Pau would be strong," Hendy said "They're second in the Top 14 at the moment and they've got a good home record, with not many teams able to win there.

"We wanted to go there and kick the door in, in front of a big, noisy French crowd. We managed to get that done and now it's on to the Bulls this weekend."

Saints know all about the Bulls, having beaten them on a couple of occasions last year.

"We've beaten them twice now and we know they're going to be hurt from it," Hendy said.

"We know they pride themselves on being a strong, physical team with a pretty electric backline, too.

"We've identified them a lot but we're just focusing on ourselves and we know if we do the bits we want to do well, we'll come away with the result at the weekend.

"We know they'll also be hurt from their result last weekend, losing to Bordeaux, so we know they're going to be firing on all cylinders and we're ready to meet them."

Hendy is now desperate to rack up a run of games for Saints, having returned to action last weekend.

He had to miss the previous week's defeat at Bristol Bears due to a concussion picked up in a PREM Rugby Cup game at Leicester Tigers.

And he said: "Every week's a big game now, they're so fun to be a part of.

"It (this season) was a little stop-start with my leg and then I picked up a concussion in the PREM Cup.

"My focus going forward is getting a good string of games together, whether that's a full 80 minutes or from the bench.

"I want to be involved every week for the rest of the season now."

Discussing the concussion he suffered at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, Hendy added: "It was definitely a frustration because it happened so late in the game.

"Missing out on that Bristol away game, you want to be a part of a team that goes there and wins because we haven't done that in the past few years.

"I wanted to be a part of that group and give it a real shot, but that week they really manage you, manage your on-feet time, your off-feet time, how many meetings you can attend and just try to get you back as quickly as possible.

"I was just following the HIA protocol, which was a 12-day turnaround, so having a Friday game and then a Sunday game helped that.

"By the time the training week for Pau came round, I was pretty much fully back into training for that week."