An explosive, scuttling runner, he has a gait similar to Marcus Watson, the slightly stockier elder brother of Anthony. Cleaves is electric, and full of promise. Against Sale, his competitive debut for Harlequins, he started on the left wing before shifting to full-back following an injury to Nick David.

Within 17 minutes, he had a first senior try. It arrived from a crisp sweeping pass from centre Lennox Anyanwu. Just before half-time, Cleaves completed his double. The second was more straightforward, with Sale reduced to 13 men due to yellow cards for Kieran Wilkinson and Joe Carpenter. Cleaves’ offloading will develop as he continues to work with coaches such as Nick Evans. 

Oscar Beard impressed on Tuesday night and Cadan Murley, Tyrone Green and Louis Lynagh continue to shine in the Premiership. Harlequins are stacked in the back three. But Cleaves has the talent to crack open any pecking order.

Sale’s backs were not overwhelmed. Carpenter, who scored twice, was tidy at full-back. The distributing midfield axis of Wilkinson and Tom Curtis found space. Joe Bedlow, their outside centre, smashed into a counter-ruck that led to a try.

The club did not contribute one single player to this season’s England U20 elite player squad, although scrum-half Nye Thomas appeared during the Six Nations. That should not dishearten supporters. Jack Metcalf is a great prospect.

More of a glider than Cleaves, he snaffled a vital interception before the break while Sale were down to 13 and caused havoc for defenders. He looks extremely balanced and composed with an innate feel for when to release a pass.

Finally, to James Harper. The 21-year-old tighthead prop made his first appearance of the season for Sale following a serious knee injury, arriving from the bench in the second half. He had enough time to bulldoze over from close range, although copped a yellow card and was part of a scrum that was troubled late on by Harlequins’ Fin Baxter, the England U20 captain. 

Again, that should not concern anyone. Although Harper is already on the radar of England coaches, young props need to be patient.

A route back to the big time

Scattered across the two squads were numerous stories of resilience. Dom Barrow was at lock for Sale. He retired in 2020 and has returned via a trial. His opposite man, Christian Scotland-Williamson, is back in rugby union after an attempt to crack the NFL. The towering former tight end was a handful in the loose, lifting some delicate offloads.

Will Evans, the Harlequins openside and a phenomenal breakdown scavenger, is working back towards the first-team after fracturing his tibia last season ahead of his club’s title run. The experience of Simon Hammersley seemed to help the youngsters around him in Sale’s backline.

Sanderson was not at The Stoop, but will receive glowing reports from coach Neil Briggs about hooker Tommy Taylor and lock Matthew Postlethwaite. The latter was a menace to Harlequins.

As this campaign reaches its climax, everyone needs their squad players battle-hardened and there are precious few chances for game-time in other divisions.

“It’s really important for these guys to put their hands up to get the opportunity to play in what could be career-defining games, in finals,” Sanderson said hours before kick-off.

“We’re entering into that. You can only pick on form at this point in the season. With 11 weeks left [in the season], rotation goes out the window. It’s the best team, on playing form and training form.

“There is no A League, there’s one game of the Championship and three or four of National One. That’s not a lot of opportunity, and this is one of them. That is why people like Tommy Taylor have played in it. Because he wants to.”

More midweek rugby?

Harlequins appear to have devoted significant resources towards ramping up the atmosphere of their evening kick-offs in the Premiership. Rather than Friday Night Lights, this Tuesday’s spectacle had a sense of Friday Night Lite. Still, there was a notable effort to engage and entertain fans.

Music blared during the warm-ups. At half-time, Joe Garratt, a veteran of both Love Island and The Only Way is Essex, took a few place-kicks after spending the afternoon training with Harlequins and England star Emily Scott. Nerves may have affected his accuracy.

Even though the sting was taken out of the second half by a long delay as medics tended to Ross Chisholm, who left the pitch on a stretcher due to what appeared to be a neck injury, the vast majority of a decent attendance, estimated at just over 5,000, would have returned home fulfilled.

Occasions such as these build connections between teams and fans because of the narratives involved. For instance, Harlequins supporters at the ground will be able to say – even boast, perhaps – that they witnessed Cleaves’ first senior tries.

Also in the stands at The Stoop were Joe Marler, Alex Dombrandt, André Esterhuizen and Stephan Lewies, four of Harlequins’ most valuable players. That is a real gauge of a strong culture.

All in all, an intriguing Tuesday night in Twickenham indicated that midweek Premiership fixtures could work. Provided that player welfare is not compromised, of course. Do not roll your eyes.