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Gareth Steenson helps kick leaders Exeter to hard-fought victory over Gloucester

By Online Editors
Exeter's Sam Hill. (Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images)

Exeter captain Gareth Steenson kicked 16 points to lead the Chiefs to a hard-fought 26-15 win over Gloucester at Kingsholm.

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In difficult conditions, the veteran fly-half’s kicking was exemplary as he added the extras to tries from Jacques Vermeulen and Stuart Hogg as well as slotting over four penalties.

The result sees Exeter extend their lead at the top of the Premiership to five points over Northampton.

Continue reading below…

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Gloucester responded with late tries from Jake Polledri and Louis Rees-Zammit but it was not enough to prevent the fourth-placed hosts from suffering a sixth defeat of the campaign.

Exeter began strongly and took a 10th-minute lead when they declined a kickable penalty in favour of an attacking line-out and were rewarded when Vermeulen forced his way over.

Steenson converted but Chiefs bungled the restart to allow the hosts their first period of pressure. It was a sustained one and Gloucester should have taken something from it but they neglected to kick a straightforward penalty in favour of a scrum, and the opportunity was lost when the home pack were shunted backwards.

Gloucester suffered a blow when they lost scrum-half Joe Simpson to injury but they overcame that to get on the scoreboard in the 25th minute when Billy Twelvetrees knocked over a penalty.

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The Cherry and Whites continued to have the better of the second quarter with two superb lengthy touch-finders from Danny Cipriani keeping Chiefs penned in their own half, but Gloucester could make little headway against a resolute defence so they trailed 7-3 at the interval.

Exeter had the advantage of the wind in the second half and seven minutes into it, they extended their lead when Steenson kicked a 40-metre penalty.

And in the space of the next 12 minutes, the 35-year-old was on target with three further penalties from similar range as Exeter turned the screw in the third quarter.

Trailing 19-3 and looking to reverse their fortunes, Gloucester made four changes to their pack in one swoop but it was to no avail as Exeter sealed victory with the best move of the match.

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Hogg started it from inside his own half with an elusive run before the Scotland full-back was on hand to race the final 15 metres to score after skilful inter-passing had created the opportunity.

Steenson kept up his perfect kicking by converting but Gloucester showed spirit in the final 15 minutes and were rewarded with tries from replacement flanker Polledri and wing Rees-Zammit.

– Press Association

In other news:

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Trevor 1 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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B
Bull Shark 5 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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