Just a few years ago, the twin blocs of countries in favour of and opposed to whaling slung verbal darts at each other all week long with barely a pause for breath.

BBC: Whaling: Voting, yes or no?

With a barely a moment to pause for breath, the 51st minute saw former Bath winger Higgins cross the whitewash for his first ever try in an Exeter shirt, soothing the frayed nerves of the vociferous home support, as Davis added the crucial conversion.

BBC: Exeter 24-19 Sale

The Stoke defence had barely got their breath back when Christophe Berra battled down the right and looped over a cross.

BBC: Wolves 2-1 Stoke