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'He's just a gainline monster... the props love him scrummaging on them because he gives flat out energy and weight at scrum time'
With all the Lions bolter speculation surrounding Sam Simmonds, you’d be forgiven if you thought the Exeter Chiefs back row was a one-man show heading into Saturday’s Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final at home to Leinster. Except it very much isn’t. Step forward Jacques Vermeulen and Dave Ewers, unsung heroes of the double-winning Exeter set-up.
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It was 2019 when Vermeulen, the 26-year-old openside arrived from the Sharks having made his initial breakthrough at Western Province. As for English-qualified Ewers, the 30-year-old came to live in Devon as a teenager after his family abandoned their Zimbabwean farm under duress and he has since gone on to be a treasured part of the Exeter furniture this past decade.
Gainline monsters is how Rob Baxter refers to the pair, influence reflected in their most recent performance – the swatting aside of Lyon last weekend in the last 16 of Europe, a match where the Chiefs fell 14 points behind before storming back to lead at the interval and going on to win 47-25.
Any regular journalist at Baxter’s weekly media engagements would attest to how the Exeter coach is regularly peppered with queries surrounding Simmonds and his wilderness England years since 2018 despite his excellent club form.
It’s rare, though, to hear the Exeter boss dwell on what Vermeulen and Ewers bring to the party, an anomaly he rectified this week when he played up the attributes of the pair as they prepared for a no-holds-barred scrap with opposite Leinster numbers Josh van der Flier and Rhys Ruddock, opponents recently involved in the Ireland Guinness Six Nations set-up.
Sam Simmonds has scored 52 tries in 76 Test, Premiership and Champions Cup games compared to Billy Vunipola's 32 tries in 208…
– Yet Simmonds is playing on Saturday at Sandy Park while Vunipola runs out at Twickenham with England ?#SixNations #ENGvITAhttps://t.co/VjIpqY4UpY
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 13, 2021
Baxter can’t wait to witness what unfolds at Sandy Park. “Jacques is a really interesting one, a guy I like in that you can watch his game and go, ‘Oh, he is having some good impacts’. Particularly against Lyon, you saw him having a couple of real bursting carries out of defence and in attack so there is a speed element there, but when you are watching his game in detail, which is what we spend a lot of time doing here at the club, you see him just being an arrival at things that you just need.
“So the number of times say at a defensive breakdown he will just arrive first and will just win it. It might be a real scramble to hold onto the ball but he does. Same with an attacking breakdown, you might make a break and he is the first player in support and you secure the ball. Same on the kick chase, he might plug a hole because he just gets there.
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“Some of our exit strategies he understands exactly what we are aiming to do. He gets other people organised and he kind of takes ownership of that part of what he needs to do. That is the thing, you don’t quite appreciate what he delivers until you look at the stuff that nobody really sees unless it is a standout carry or a standout tackle.
“And with Dave, he is just a gainline monster for us in probably every area of the game, in defence, attack, set-piece, maul, scrum. He aids our scrum, the props love him scrummaging on them because he gives flat out energy and weight at scrum time. Mauls, if he manages to get himself in one of the key positions towards the front it tends to be a good maul. And again he is a heavyweight carrier and gainline stopper.
“These guys are invaluable to us. Also, he has got some really good in-depth knowledge of our five-metre attack game. Great to see him starting to score some tries as well because often he is the guy who scores tries for everybody else by getting hold of them and carrying them across the try line, so that is his big strength and it’s good for him that he is starting to score some tries as well.
“They are different players but they complement each other fantastically well and then with Simmo (Sam Simmonds) in the middle, who adds really raw pace in attack and defence, you get a really good combination there that are really well backed up.
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“Jannes Kirsten has also played very well for us this season both at lock and in the back row, Richard Capstick is starting to develop into a good young player, Don Armand is there or thereabouts most weeks within our back row, scrum selection and we haven’t even spoken about Sam Skinner because he is focusing more on the second row both internationally and club now but he played six in our semi-final against Toulouse last year and had a fantastic game.
“We have got some really good options and combinations we can put in the back five of the scrum, but those three guys are certainly doing the business at the moment.”
Being told he wouldn't make it as a scrumhalf was one of a number of incidents that motivated @ExeterChiefs Jack Maunder's career, but they've opened up a world beyond rugby and have resulted in a best selling book
– writes @heagneyl ???https://t.co/o65wxHHqFP
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 4, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Some dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
1 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
7 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
44 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
7 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
7 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
7 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
7 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
7 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
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