Exeter heap fresh misery on Leicester Tigers
Exeter went top of the Gallagher Premiership as they came from behind to beat a battling Leicester 33-21 at Welford Road.
The Chiefs vaulted Northampton at the summit as flanker Don Armand grabbed a brace of tries, with one each from locks Jannes Kirsten and Jonny Hill, with fly-half Gareth Steenson converting all the touchdowns and also a penalty.
Leicester were in the box seat with a super first-half display as England wing Jonny May went over twice, and flanker Jordan Taufua added another try, while England stand-off George Ford booted two conversions and a penalty.
But it was not to be Leicester’s day, although they gave it a go.
Leicester brought a whole raft of their England World Cup stars back for the match, and they soon made their mark with a barnstorming opening half.
The Tigers, languishing in the bottom two in the Premiership, belied that position as they romped away to a 19-7 lead after just 20 minutes.
Exeter, league runners-up last season, had taken the early lead when Kirsten had driven over near the posts for Steenson to convert.
But a dash down the right from full-back Telusa Veainu, aided by wing Adam Thompstone, set May in for his first touchdown.
An attack in the Exeter 22 saw Ford cross-kick, Taufua gather and the big New Zealander run through Exeter full-back Stuart Hogg to score.
And when England centre Manu Tuilagi made hay inside the Exeter half, he sent May off from 20 metres to fall and twist over and touchdown amid a tackle from defending Olly Woodburn.
That made it 19-7 and the Tigers were heading for a bonus point before half-time.
But it did not arrive as Exeter fought back, with Armand touching down under a pile of bodies for Steenson to convert and bright the Chiefs to within five points.
However, an error 26 metres out gave Leicester the chance to increase their lead. Ford obliged with a sumptuous penalty for the teams to turn around with the score 22-14.
The game was delightfully in the balance as Steenson added three more points to the Chiefs total with a 22-metre penalty after the break.
There was not much to choose between them but, after a couple of attacks that the Tigers repelled, Exeter finally went back into the lead as Armand drove over from a metre with Steenson adding the extras.
And moments later, Hill finished off a back move by bouncing Ford out of the way for a corner touchdown that secured Exeter’s bonus point.
The Tigers battled hard to get back into the match as the rain poured down. However, the channels to the touchline were covered by the visitors and Leicester ran out of ideas of how to break down the Chiefs at the end.
Press Association
The match in pics:
Comments on RugbyPass
smith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
36 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
36 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
36 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
36 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
36 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
36 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
36 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
36 Go to comments