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Exeter book place in Premiership play-offs with home victory over Gloucester
Exeter booked their place in the Gallagher Premiership play-offs with three games to spare after beating Gloucester 35-22 at Sandy Park. The runaway league leaders posted a seventh successive Premiership win and look unstoppable as they target a fifth Twickenham final appearance on the bounce.
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A Gloucester team showing 15 changes battled hard but ultimately could not contain their opponents, with Exeter scoring tries through hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie, number eight Sam Simmonds, lock Jonny Hill, wing Ian Whitten and scrum-half Jack Maunder.
Captain Joe Simmonds kicked five conversions, and the only downbeat note for Exeter was seeing their Scotland international full-back Stuart Hogg limp off in the 55th minute. Hogg pulled up after an Exeter attack, with his early departure coming 10 days before Chiefs’ Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final against Northampton.
Gloucester’s best moments came early in the game, and they briefly led by a point after former England wing Matt Banahan’s try and a Billy Twelvetrees penalty, while Banahan added a second touchdown and flanker Josh Gray also crossed, with Twelvetrees landing two conversions.
Exeter were guilty of unforced errors at times, especially in the first half, yet it proved to be another case of job done, and a 15th Premiership victory from 19 starts means they march on. Gloucester were forced into late two switches following failed fitness tests for wing Charlie Sharples and prop Jamal Ford-Robinson. Alex Morgan and Logovi’i Mulipola were their respective replacements.
Here you go West Standers. Almost like you are here. pic.twitter.com/NNt2pEbPiD
— Exeter Chiefs (@ExeterChiefs) September 9, 2020
Exeter, unbeaten at home in the Premiership since January, were off and running inside four minutes when Cowan-Dickie powered his way over Gloucester’s line from close range. Simmonds converted, but Gloucester responded impressively and scored from their opening attack three minutes later thanks to a powerful finish from Banahan.
The visitors continued to impress, putting Exeter under pressure inside their own 22 and gaining a penalty that Twelvetrees kicked for an 8-7 lead. Gloucester had rattled their opponents, and some of Chiefs’ back play misfired badly, but Exeter delivered a second try midway through the second quarter, driving relentlessly from a lineout before Sam Simmonds touched down.
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His brother again added the extras, yet it was largely unconvincing from Exeter with the countdown firmly underway to their European showdown with Saints on Sunday week. They began to control territory, though, and Hill pounced for Exeter’s third touchdown on the stroke of half-time.
Simmonds’ conversion secured a 13-point interval advantage, while Gloucester had lock Charlie Beckett sin-binned as referee Christophe Ridley ran out of patience with the visitors’ repeated technical offending. It took Exeter 60 seconds of the second period to secure a bonus point, and it came following a scintillating break by Hogg.
He broke clear from deep inside his own half, and although Gloucester defenders managed to haul him down, they ran out of numbers when Exeter moved possession wide, allowing Whitten to sprint over. Simmonds’ fourth successful conversion meant Gloucester were 20 points adrift, and Exeter’s fifth try quickly followed, with Maunder the latest beneficiary of impressive approach work.
Banahan’s second score reflected a resilient effort by the visitors, and they continued taking it to Exeter despite being well adrift on the scoreboard. And Gloucester had the final say when Gray won the race to the line after he kicked into space, and Twelvetrees converted.
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Is there any stopping @ExeterChiefs right now? ?
A good fight from a young @gloucesterrugby side but Rob Baxter's men had too much and picked up another impressive win ?
Who stood out for you in that one? ?#GallagherPrem #EXEvGLO pic.twitter.com/he11uqVpSO
— Premiership Rugby (@premrugby) September 9, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
The game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
21 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
12 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
12 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
5 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
5 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
37 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
37 Go to comments