Exeter Chiefs player ratings vs Gloucester | 2025/26 Gallagher Prem

Exeter’s push towards the Gallagher Premiership top four took a significant hit with an upset loss 34 – 31 to 8th place Gloucester.

Starting fast, the Chiefs stole a march on their hosts when Ross Vintcent pounced on a loose ball to take the lead inside the first minute.

Responding quickly, the Cherry and Whites struck back three minutes later through the first of two Max Llewellyn tries and one from Tomos Williams.

Keeping his side in touching distance, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso slipped through the Gloucester defence for the first of his two tries in the 27th minute only to see the hosts respond 10 minutes later through player of the match Will Trenholm.

Once again striking first after the break, the Chiefs closed back to within seven points through Greg Fisilau with Henry Slade adding the conversion. But once again Gloucester had a response first through a George Barton penalty before Trenholm powered over for his second.

Two late tries, the first of which was a penalty through the maul and one from Henry Slade set up a grandstand finish to the fixture. Showing immense composure, Gloucester wrestled back the advantage and set-up shop the Chiefs’ twenty-two.

Ending on an anticlimactic note courtesy of a moment of madness from Ethan Roots, the Chiefs comeback fell short.

Here is how Rob Baxter’s side performed at the Shed.

1. Will Goodrick-Clarke – 3
It was just one of those days for the loosehead who could not match what Afolabi Fasogbon was putting down on the Gloucester scrum feed. Piling inwards, losing his bind and generally struggling, Goodrick-Clarke had a challenging first half before being replaced.

2. Joseph Dweba – 3
Picked off on a couple of occasions at line-out time, the Springbok hooker had a day he would rather forget at set-piece. When it came to the scrum, he was targeted by Fasogbon and was forced to pop out on a few occasions. Around the park Dweba started brightly with big carries and powerful hits but his effectiveness wained before he was substituted at half-time.

3. Josh Iosefa-Scott – 3
Dominated at scrum time, the tighthead was popped on a number of occasions. Clearly uncomfortable with the engagement, Iosefa-Scott could not get to grips with Val Rapava-Ruskin. Ultimately Rob Baxter felt the same way as he plucked him from the action at half-time.

4. Rusi Tuima – 5
Front and centre of his side’s resurgence, the powerhouse utility forward carried into the teeth of Gloucester’s big hitters around the breakdown. Getting on the ball 9 times to go along with his 12 tackles, Tuima did the hard yards to free up those around him.

5. Lewis Pearson – 4
Steady if not spectacular, Pearson mirrored his lock partner in getting through a pile of grunt work with the highlight being a key turnover. His tackle count of 12 was solid as were his 2 line-out grabs but on the whole it was a workmanlike outing.

6. Ethan Roots – 2
Closed out the contest with a completely unnecessary punch that ultimately ended the contest and stopped his side from having a final crack at stealing a win. Prior to that moment of madness, the backrow had been industrious to say the least. Making 15 tackles, carrying 9 times and beating 2 defenders. Ultimately he is dinged heavily for ending the contest when the Chiefs had every possibility of stealing a result.

7. Ross Vintcent – 7
Started the match with an opportunistic try before settling into an ultra busy 64 minute stint with 17 tackles and 9 carries. On the whole, the backrow had to work hard to get into the match given Gloucester’s general dominance of the gainline.

8. Greg Fisilau – 6
Got his side off to the perfect start in the second half with his work rate to support a searing break before going over untouched. This moment aside, the trend of a hard slog for the Chiefs’ pack continues. Fisilau had to front up defensively with 14 tackles but much of his day was spending shifting bodies at the breakdown.

9. Stephen Varney – 6.5
Facing one of the game’s best in Tomos Williams, the Welsh born Italian international had a strong showing of his own. Offering a constant sniping threat around the breakdown, Varney was central to getting his side back into the fight with his ability to slow down Gloucester’s line speed. From the base his passing was generally crisp however it was his box kicking that stands out. Getting enough hang time for his outside backs namely Immanuel Feyi-Waboso to compete, proved to be an effective way for his side to make easy territorial gains.

10. Harvey Skinner – 6.5
Put firmly on defensive duty, the Flyhalf fronted up making 16 of his 18 tackles to shore up what was clearly a key area of focus for the Gloucester attack. When the opportunity to pull the trigger in attack presented themselves, Skinner took them well with 2 try assists and a handful of solid carries.

11. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso – 9
Once again proved to be a class above those around him with a dominant aerial display. Whenever his side required a moment, the England international duly obliged. Just as the Chiefs began to lose touch with Gloucester, the winger pounced for timely tries in both halves. When it was all said and done, the winger had made 178 meters, beaten 13 defenders, made 5 line-breaks and 12 tackles for a monster statistical haul.

12. Len Ikitau – 4
Marshalled exceptionally well by the Gloucester midfield, the Wallabies star simply could not make an impact on the contest. Making 32 meters on his 9 carries offers a snapshot into how heavily marked he was all contest. Whilst his intent can’t be questioned, it wasn’t a vintage outing for Ikitau.

13. Henry Slade – 7.5
Had a few of his trademark mazy runs that unlocked a well organised Gloucester defence. As ever his kicking game was a key feature for the Chiefs and at times it threatened to really catch the hosts on the hop. Fortunately for the England veteran, he avoided a late card when what appeared to be a shoulder charge was not deemed to be card worthy due to being low danger. Slade would end up setting up a grand stand finish with a dubious late try that everyone bar Matthew Carley felt was held-up.

14. Paul Brown Bampoe – 5
Found himself on the unfortunate end of an awkward Ben Loader which ultimately forced him from the pitch inside 20 minutes. Prior to this he had a few solid carries and was ultra competitive in the air.

15. Campbell Ridl – 7
To get a clear vision of what was facing the fullback, his 16 tackles trail only Ross Vintcent on the Chiefs’ side. Time and again, Ridl was challenged by the Gloucester attack and whilst he certainly got caught on a few occasions, the 21-year-old saved his side several times. Going the full 80 minutes, he almost broke free late down the right hand flank before the clash came to a close.

Replacements
16. Max Norey – 5
Certainly shored up areas of the Cheifs’ set-piece namely the line-out but aside from this it was a relatively quiet showing.

17. Ethan Burger – 4
Continued the Chiefs’ struggles at scrum time and had a nominal impact in open play with 3 tackles and 3 carries to go along with his work at the breakdown.

18. Jimmy Roots – 6
Super busy from the moment he took to the park, the replacement tighthead got through 11 tackles. But similar to his fellow front row replacements, he couldn’t turn the tide at scrum time.

19. Christ Tshiunza – 7
One of the more impactful replacements, the Welsh international definitely upped the ante in the physical exchanges for his side. Making a few crunching tackles, solid carries, winning a turnover and most importantly shoring up the line-out.

20. Tom Hooper – 6
Similar to Tshiunza in that he had a few splash plays notably an offload but on the whole the Wallabies star couldn’t quite will his side over the line.

21. Finn Worley Brady – N/A
Did not feature.

22. Tom Cairns – N/A
Played one minute.

23. Ben Hammersley – 5
Came on for the injured Paul Brown-Bampoe and was instantly brushed aside by Ben Loader in the build-up to Max Llewllyn’s try. This would be a low moment for the youngster who rebounded to have a solid showing as his side got back into the contest.