Exeter Chiefs player ratings vs Bath | Gallagher PREM 2025/26

Player ratings: Exeter Chiefs’ for a berth in the Gallagher PREM semifinals received a major boost with a dominant 35 – 12 win over reigning champions Bath Rugby.

Playing with a strong wind at their back in the first half, the home side persisted with a running game that progressively sapped the energy out of a physical Bath outfit.

Whilst the TNT commentary team were questioning the Chiefs’ commitment to an expansive game plan. Their efforts would begin to tell as the normally watertight Bath defence began to spring leaks.

Capitalising on the drop in defensive intensity, Rob Baxter’s side would score four second half tries to not only seal the win but lock in a key bonus point.

The result moves the Chiefs’ firmly into fourth spot, four points clear of fifth placed Bristol Bears and within touching distance of a potential top two finish.

Here is how the Chiefs’ players fared at Sandy Park.

1. Scott Sio – 7.5
Took the upper hand early in his battle with Archie Griffin and maintained that position until Bath hit the big red button and brought on their ‘bomb squad’. Staring down the imposing figure of Springbok star Thomas du Toit proved to be an all together different situation. Racing backwards in their first head-to-head summed up the shift in fortunes between the two sides for the final thirty minutes.

2. Max Norey – 7.5
Getting through a mountain of work during his 54 minutes on the park, the hooker was central to his pack’s ability to get ascendancy at the point of contact. Making 14 tackles, carrying 7 times and being amongst the cohort of Chiefs who wrecked the breakdown. Norey will have given Rob Baxter a nice headache in what was just his second PREM appearance of the season.

3. Josh Iosefa Scott – 8.5
Barged over for his side’s first try in the 18th minute having just busted a gut to race over from the opposite touchline. It all else fails, the tighthead has a future in the backline with his deft pass to Len Ikitau sending the Wallaby on his way for a big try that restored the daylight between the two sides. His all court showing was rightly rewarded with the player of the match award.

4. Dafydd Jenkins – 8
One of those days where the Welsh star did all of the hard yards to such a high standard that those around him shone. Disrupting the Bath line-out, getting through double digit carries and tackles, to go with a couple of big breakdown moments paints a clear picture of his impact on proceedings. Away from the nuts and bolts of the action, Jenkins’ leadership was crucial with the timing and tone of his interactions clearly winning over Karl Dickson.

5. Andrea Zambonin – 8
Absolutely everywhere, the Italian powerhouse got stuck into the Bath pack with a masterful line-out performance that had the champions struggling to find any unoccupied air. At the breakdown, he combined well with his skipper to disrupt Bath’s flow winning a big turnover.

6. Tom Hooper – 6.5
One bizarre moment aside where he got his timing wrong and pushed Dafydd Jenkins off what could’ve been a turnover and instead ended up being a penalty against the Chiefs. The Wallaby backrow was solid with 8 tackles, 7 carries and a line-out win.

7. Christ Tshiunza – 7.5
Dare we say it was a throwback performance for the 24-year-old Welsh International. Clattering through contact with 2 big rumbles, smashing Bath carriers and dominating the line-out. Tshiunza sent a message to the Welsh selectors ahead of their summer tour with a mightily impactful 80 minute showing.

8. Ross Vintcent – 7
As his want to do, the backrow popped up with a few carries that munched meters at a rapid rate. Finding joy around the fringes of the breakdown and running top quality support lines off kick chases played a major role in his side dominating those two areas.

9. Stephen Varney – 8
Balanced the tempo of his side’s attack to an exceptional level, as he has done all season. The Italian international picked his moments perfectly when to up the tempo, when to buy his side time and when to box kick. Despite the protestations of the commentary team, Varney’s ability to get his backline moving even with a strong wind at their back eventually wore the Bath defence down. When it came to his box kicking, they were one the money and had the Bath back three at sixes and sevens.

10. Harvey Skinner – 7
Composed in what at times was a chaotic contest with plenty of broken play. Skinner’s ability to take on the line and get second touches opened up gaps for his dangerous backline to capitalise on. Defensively, he was robust making 12 tackles ensuring that his side had no weak links for Bath’s power carriers to expose.

11. Campbell Ridl – 8
One of the key contenders for the player of the match award, the South African raised England U20 standout finished with aplomb racing away for his side’s fifth and final try. Working hard off his wing, Ridl went in search of work making 4 line-breaks, beating 5 defenders as part of a 94 meters gained performance.

12. Len Ikitau – 8.5
Burst through the heart of the Bath defence in the build-up to his side’s first try. This moment would prove to be the catalyst for what was one of Ikitau’s best performances in the PREM to date. Making chunk plays through Bath defence on several occasions, the Wallaby star would be rewarded with his first try in the competition. Hitting a perfect line off Josh Iosefa Scott, Ikitau found a pair of soft shoulders for the score that ultimately put his side out of sight.

13. Henry Slade – 7.5
Once again displayed a mastery of the Sandy Park wind, the veteran centre’s ability to pin Bath back and drill his shots at goal proved to be a key differentiator in the contest. Defensively, Slade shut down one of his key contenders for the England 13 shirt in Ollie Lawrence and played a key role in bringing Exeter’s outside backs into the contest.

14. Paul Brown-Bampoe – 8.5
Continuing his hot run of form, the Chiefs’ flyer dominated the Bath back three in the air. Routinely getting up the crucial few inches higher than de Glanville and Arundell in particular, Brown-Bampoe was at times unplayable for the Bath defence.

15. Olly Woodburn – 8.5
Once again appeared comfortable in his less accustomed role of fullback. Dominating the aerial game and launching several scintillating attacks, the ten season Chiefs’ veteran gave his former side several headaches. Reflecting his dominance, the stats show Woodburn as his side’s top carrier making 134 meters on 16 carries making 2 line-breaks and beating 4 defenders.

Substitutes
16. Joseph Dweba – 6
As ever the physical South Africa made his presence felt with a few crunching tackles and carries. His major moment was a turnover which his power game at the breakdown played a role in the Chiefs’ strong finish.

17. Ethan Burger – 5
Made 2 carries and 3 tackles as he brought a solid impact off the bench alongside Tchumbadze as the pair seemed to stabilise the Chiefs scrum.

18. Bachuki Tchumbadze – 6
Had a key intervention on the deck that disrupted a Bath attack and put himself about defensively to go with one carry.

19. Rusi Tuima – 5
Did well in his limited time on the park with 3 tackles and 1 decent carry.

20. Finn Worley Brady – N/A
Unused sub.

21. Tom Cairns – N/A
Unused sub.

22. Will Haydon Wood – N/A
Played for just 12 minutes in place of Henry Slade who was receiving a HIA. During which time he did not have any noticeable impact.

23. Ben Hammersley – N/A
Unused sub.