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England hopeful snatches late try as Wasps edge to narrow victory over Exeter

By Ian Cameron
Paolo Odogwu /Getty

A Paolo Odogwu try deep into stoppage time plundered a 27-26 victory for Wasps who had been outplayed for much of the Gallagher Premiership match by injury-ravaged Exeter.

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The home side were leading 26-15 nine minutes from time and thought they had scored the match-sealing try through centre Tom Hendrickson.

A long review concluded that he had lost the ball over the line and it stirred Wasps who had played fitfully until then.

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Wasps had started strongly and were ahead within five minutes when Tom Cruse broke the line and Charlie Atkinson’s long pass gave Odogwu room on the right, but they appeared surprised by opponents who played more like Harlequins than Exeter.

The Chiefs were without 18 players who were either injured or on international duty and they were so stretched that the forwards on their bench were three props and two hookers.

Armed with a relatively light and mobile pack, Exeter widened the point of attack, brought their two wings into midfield and played at a tempo Wasps struggled to keep up with.

It was far removed from Exeter’s controlled possession game and it yielded them a 21-8 interval lead.

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Tom O’Flaherty, who invariably beat the first tackler with his quick footwork, scored their opening try after a wave of attacks stretched the defence to breaking point.

Wasps regained the lead with a Jimmy Gopperth penalty, but the rest of the half belonged to Exeter.

O’Flaherty claimed the restart, for the second time in the match, and flanker Lewis Pearson freewheeled through a back-pedalling defence to touch down.

Santiago Grondona had earlier had a try disallowed having been held up over the line, but the Argentina number eight was an attacking whirlwind, blowing away defenders, and Exeter finished the opening half with another series of quickfire raids that ended with Jack Innard scoring in the corner.

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Wasps were just as unresponsive after the break, caught out by Hendrickson’s weaving run after another bout of swift passing. Exeter kicked a penalty to touch and flanker Richard Capstick secured their try bonus point.

Wasps had only won at Sandy Park once in the Premiership and lacked a controlling influence. Alfie Barbeary was subdued after his return from England training, Brad Shields succumbed to injury and Malakai Fekitoa took 50 minutes to warm up.

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Fekitoa’s outside break led to Joe Launchbury’s first try since the second row’s return from injury. Wasps started to show some interest and laid siege to the Exeter line, fortified by five penalties in as many minutes.

They lacked the zip of their opponents and looked to be collapsing under the weight of their own mediocrity before Hendrickson’s mistake gave them a reprieve.

Barbeary scored from a maul two minutes from time and Wasps went straight back on to the attack. The countdown clock had been at zero for six minutes when Exeter’s defiant defence cracked and Odogwu clinched a fortunate victory.

Joe Simmonds converted three of Exeter’s four tries but one miss ultimately proved vital.

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Trevor 55 minutes ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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B
Bull Shark 4 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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