England pair turn it on as Exeter Chiefs thump Gloucester

Henry Slade staked a strong claim for inclusion in England’s team to face Australia next weekend with a superb all-round display as Exeter eased to a third win of the season by beating struggling Gloucester 39-12.

Centre Slade racked up another 22 points to add to the 23 he scored in the home romp over Harlequins six days before, including another two tries.

He got matters underway with the conversion of hooker Joseph Dweba’s catch-and-drive try after only five minutes, but Gloucester responded with an early contender for Gallagher Prem try of the season only three minutes later.

Jack Cotgreave gathered the ball just outside his own 22 and went off an excellent run before feeding British and Irish Lions scrum-half Tomos Williams, who put Will Joseph over for an excellent score, improved by Ross Byrne.

Exeter, though, then took the game by the scruff of the neck with two tries in four minutes.

Fixture

Gallagher Premiership

Exeter Chiefs

39 - 12

Full-time

Gloucester

All Stats and Data

Slade provided the first from close range after a series of pick-and-go efforts from the forwards, before a fine handling move saw England winger Manny Feyi-Waboso continue his rich vein of form with his seventh Prem try of the season.

He received a pass from Olly Woodburn and still had plenty of work to do but shrugged off three would-be tacklers to dot down.

Slade added both conversions and Exeter led 21-7.

Gloucester responded in typical fashion when lock Freddie Thomas crossed the line, but only after Feyi-Waboso had put in a superb try-saving tackle on Cotgreave.

However, Gloucester’s hopes of continuing their fightback suffered a double blow when their horrendous injury list was added to by South African flanker James Venter and Joseph both limping off.

Chiefs prop Josh Iosefa-Scott had a try disallowed for a forward pass from Rusi Tuima to Australia international Len Ikitau in the build-up, but Slade slotted two penalties to stretch the Chiefs’ advantage to 15 points at the break.

The second half was a complete opposite to the opening 40 minutes, with a feast of rugby replaced by a very messy war of attrition, not helped by the worsening elements.

There was no addition to the scoreboard until 11 minutes from time, when Slade delivered a beautiful grubber kick which he gathered himself to score his second try of the match and his fourth in two games.

When he left the field a few minutes later, he was given a well-deserved standing ovation by the delighted Sandy Park crowd.

Club captain Jack Yeandle then finished off a driving maul for Chiefs’ fifth try, with Josh Hodge converting, to make it back-to-back Prem wins for Exeter for the first time since May 2024.

The victory leaves the Chiefs in third place in the Prem table at the end of the opening block of five league matches, while Gloucester are still searching for their first win.