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Exeter player ratings: Exeter’s hopes of retaining their European crown came to a shuddering halt at Sandy Park this evening as Leinster advanced to the semi-finals with a 34-22 win.
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The defending champions raced into a 14-0 advantage inside the opening 10 minutes, but thereafter were second best to the four-in-a-row PRO14 champions, who scored 20 unanswered points to take a six-point lead at the break.
A try for Dave Ewers early in the second half gave the home side hope, but Jordan Larmour’s score was crucial as the four-time champions secured victory.
EXETER PLAYER RATINGS
15. STUART HOGG – 6
Unable to stop Keenan’s offload to Lowe for the visitors’ first try, and was shrugged off too easily for Larmour’s second half try. Struggled to replicate his Six Nations form and was not able to get his side on the front foot.
14. OLLY WOODBURN – 5
A couple of missed tackles on Lowe early on, while he failed to deal with Keenan as Leinster hit back. Couldn’t work himself into the game and was replaced by Whitten.
13. HENRY SLADE – 6.5
Picked off Furlong to scythe through and put O’Flaherty away for his second try. Some important defensive contributions too.
12. OLLIE DEVOTO – 6
A lovely dummy line to hold the Leinster defence as O’Flaherty sprinted clear for the opener, and offered a hard-running, direct option as they looked to get back into the game.
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11. TOM O’FLAHERTY – 8
Two excellent early tries – first a superb solo finish before getting on the end of Slade’s pass for his second try – and another break to spark Exeter at the start of the second half.
10. JOE SIMMONDS – 5
Won’t be getting his hands on the trophy this year despite some lovely early touches in attack, including the delay to put O’Flaherty away early in the second half. Exeter’s ‘Plan A’ in attack didn’t work and their captain wasn’t able to pick the lock of the Leinster defence in the second half.
PLAYER RATINGS:
How we rated the Leinster players who put on a clinic after going 14 – 0 behind #EXEvLEI #HeinekenChampionsCup https://t.co/UBGAXyk6bj
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 10, 2021
9. JACK MAUNDER – 4
A difficult afternoon with the boot as his box-kicks regularly found more height than distance. He was not able to control the territorial battle and made way for Townsend shortly before the hour.
1. BEN MOON – 5
Parity at the set-piece gave Exeter a platform for their blistering start before the England international was part of a defensive effort until he made way for Hepburn with half an hour remaining.
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2. LUKE COWAN-DICKIE – 5
A wayward lineout opened the door for Larmour to score, and he wasn’t able to have an impact at the breakdown as Leinster dominated that area.
3. TOMAS FRANCIS – 5
Back in the starting line-up having come off the bench in the win over Lyon, but it was a quiet afternoon for the Welshman, who wasn’t able to get the upper hand on Cian Healy at the scrum.
4. JONNY GRAY – 7
To the fore with ball in hand, notably in the build-up to their second try, taking on the Leinster tight five, and did his fair share of defensive work before departing on 58 minutes, replaced by international colleague Skinner.
Too many Sale players rated 4/10 as corner-cutting six-day turnaround from win in Wales catches up with them in brutally one-sided second half in France#LARvSAL #ChampionsCuphttps://t.co/vSLSshBgpS
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 10, 2021
5. JONNY HILL – 6.5
Won a vital turnover penalty with Leinster camped on the Chiefs line, but perhaps lucky to escape a card for a high shot on Byrne late in the first half. A physical presence for Ewers’ try.
6. DAVE EWERS – 7.5
A real workhorse who put in his customary powerful carries in close quarters, and showed he’s developing his game with a couple of soft offloads. A deserved try-scorer and the pick of the Chiefs back-row.
7. JACQUES VERMEULEN – 5
Unable to have the necessary impact in the first half as Josh van der Flier regularly poached Exeter ball at the breakdown and made way early for Kirsten early in the second period.
8. SAM SIMMONDS – 6
A potential Lions bolter? Simmonds needed a huge performance today but he wasn’t able to get the upper hand as Leinster’s breakaway trio – Man of the Match van der Flier, in particular, dominated. Simmonds was not able to stamp his authority on the game and found himself notably shut down quickly by the Leinster defence.
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks 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?
11 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.
9 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.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 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.
22 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
4 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.
9 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…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
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