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Russell injured early as Feyi-Waboso inspires Exeter to win over Bath
Bath could not overcome the loss of injured fly-half Finn Russell as Exeter reached the Investec Champions Cup quarter-finals by beating them 21-15 at a windswept Sandy Park.
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Scotland star Russell departed the action after just 15 minutes, before his replacement Orlando Bailey went off hurt during the third quarter.
And the cumulative effect was too much for Bath to absorb as Exeter fought back – into the wind – from eight points adrift.
The Chiefs, tournament winners in 2020, scored tries through number eight Ross Vintcent, replacement Greg Fisilau and flanker Ethan Roots, with Roots’ England colleague Henry Slade kicking three conversions.
Bath claimed first=half touchdowns from prop Thomas du Toit and flanker Ted Hill, while captain Ben Spencer added a conversion and penalty, but they could not build on a 15-7 lead approaching the hour-mark.
Match Summary 
0
Penalty Goals
1
3
Tries
2
3
Conversions
1
0
Drop Goals
0
176
Carries
66
5
Line Breaks
1
19
Turnovers Lost
9
3
Turnovers Won
11
Exeter will face French heavyweights Toulouse or Racing 92 in the quarter-finals next weekend, and they will take considerable confidence into the game, given the fierce resolve they showed to sink their west country rivals.
Exeter, with a strong wind at their backs, made the early running and quickly established a temporary numerical advantage when Bath hooker Tom Dunn was yellow-carded following a high tackle on Chiefs’ England wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.
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Bath, though, weathered the storm and made their first entry into Exeter’s half in the 10th minute, being helped by some poor handling and wrong options by the Chiefs.
But the visitors suffered a huge blow when Russell limped off, leaving them to play for more than an hour minus their mercurial talisman.
Weather conditions were dominating the game, yet Bath had a ruthless edge and they scored from their first attack as a driven lineout ended with Du Toit touching down.
Spencer’s conversion attempt was blown wildly off target, but Bath were then their own worst enemies when number Alfie Barbeary spilled the restart and gifted Vintcent a try that Slade converted for a two-point lead after 24 minutes.
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But back came Bath when Spencer’s speculative high kick was caught cleanly by Hill, who outpaced chasing Exeter defenders, including speedster Feyi-Waboso to claim an opportunist score, with Spencer adding the conversion.
Spencer then departed for a head injury assessment, and while Exeter launched phase after phase deep inside Bath’s 22, they could find no way through an outstanding defence and trailed by five points at the interval.
As if to emphasise the elements now being firmly in their favour, Bath’s advantage was extended by a 50-metre Spencer penalty that also underlined Exeter’s escalating degree of difficulty.
Bailey’s 54th-minute exit, though, saw Exeter capitalise, as a spell of concerted pressure was rounded off by Fisilau touching down and Slade’s conversion narrowing the gap to a point.
And it got even better for the home supporters when Roots rewarded impressive approach work by Feyi-Waboso to claim his team’s third try, with Slade judging the wind brilliantly to add the conversion.
Bath tried to rescue the contest as the clock ticked down, yet they could find no way through an Exeter defence that was supremely committed and organised.
And Chiefs closed the game out, helped by Bath losing an attacking lineout on their own throw, to once again reach the Champions Cup quarter-finals.
Comments on RugbyPass
Great role model.
2 Go to commentsOne significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
8 Go to commentsWouldn’t be a bad move if Ireland pulled into SA with a young side. Particularly in Pretoria. Invaluable experience getting thumped in the bosveld.
59 Go to commentsIreland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
59 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
59 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
59 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
2 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
59 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
59 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
59 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
59 Go to commentsGrant, the first time I have seen an article written by you. Maybe I have missed your previous stuff. These days all professional players effectively play a common season so all top players are equally tired, or rested. That is the job of the coaching ticket to build squad depth and juggle resources so players are ‘ fresh’ when the big games come. Possibly Ireland are less inclined to juggle squad compared to Rassie, who is prepared to take the risk to rest players as well as build depth throughout the year so come WC he has a full squad, experienced and rested enough to win 7 games. After all, to win WC you need to get through the tournament and then win the final big 3 games. Ireland should try and build a bit so come final 3 they are ready. So far only played final 1(QF). I am so looking forward to the Irish tour. Hopefully Rassie has enough time to align his guys, as he draws them from across the globe, and not from 2 sides locally( eg Leinster, Munster). No excuses, going to be exciting.
59 Go to commentsIn football, teams get fined and sometimes docked points for deliberately fielding weakened teams yet Leinster can pretty much do as they please with no comebacks. Could it be because Ireland run the URC? Could it be that Ireland run the ERC? Whichever it is, it stinks!!
6 Go to commentsIreland are only the People’s Champions in Irish eyes. The rest of the world do not care for them very much because of attitudes of people like Gordon, Ferris, Best, Jackman…I could go on!!
59 Go to commentsNot sure how Karl Dickson can ever ref a Quins game, he played for the club for 8 years as understudy to Care and is still close friends with half the team
3 Go to commentsAre bookies taking bets on how many times Vunipola's eventual statement will use the term “elders"? My money is on at least 4 times.
4 Go to commentsSo Ireland will be tired, despite having the most rested test squad in the world. They only play tests, champions cup and urc play off games ffs! Case in point; Leinster sent a B squad to SA for their last two games while their first xv rested up and trained at their leisure for the sf vs Saints at the so called ‘neutral venue’ of Croke Park. So tired? Do me a favour… And as for “people’s champions”? Seriously??? Outside of Ireland they are respected for their ability to win 6N. And of course plenty of inconsequential test friendlies without any real pressure. WC ko games when the pressure is white hot? Not so much…
59 Go to comments