SARACENS v EXETER CHIEFS: post match-related content here


By The Saracens
January 24 2024

Our game on Saturday against Exeter will be our last opportunity to watch Sarries (at least in a meaningful game) for almost 2 months. The next game (against Quins on 23rd March) is on the weekend of Palm Sunday – and we aren’t even into Lent yet! (A quick aside – feel free to skip the next bit)! I once gave up alcohol for Lent thinking it was 40 days – only to discover that that doesn’t include Sundays! Lent is more like 6 ½ weeks. And furthermore there seems to be much debate as to when it ends! I took it to be Easter Saturday when Sarries were playing Munster in the Heineken semi-final at the Ricoh. The SSA were offering free glasses of wine. It was a hot day in April (Easter is a highly moveable feast!) and I had a glass of warm Chardonnay. I’ve never tasted anything quite so good! But I digress.

There are pros and cons for this enforced midseason break. On the positive side, we don’t have to play any Premiership Games (well apart from this one) with most of the first team missing. It’s a chance for some well-deserved rest and recuperation for our (aging) squad and it gives some of our longer-term injured the chance to recover. On the negative side – what do we do with ourselves for the next 8 weeks? The team lose momentum and the younger players don’t get the opportunity to prove their worth against proper opposition.

Saturday’s visitors, Exeter Chiefs, gave us a thorough spanking in the season’s opener and Sarries will be looking to right that wrong. Exeter, in 4th, are 4 points above Sarries (in 6th) in the table having won 7 and lost 4 (as opposed to Sarries 6:5) so a victory should see Sarries climb above them. Exeter are the League’s top points scorers on 328 (40 more than Sarries on 288) and have conceded a miserly 231 (only Sale on 228 have conceded less). Sarries have conceded 241. Exeter are coming off a heavy defeat to Bayonne having drawn the short straw of the Sunday evening match so a 6 day turnaround. As we saw, Sarries turned it round in the 2nd half and produced a good win (in the end) over Lyon.

Exeter players Manny Feyi-Waboso, Ethan Roots & Henry Slade have been called up to the England Squad. All 3 have been playing very well and will certainly be missed by Exeter. Sarries will be missing 6 players: Jamie George, Theo Dan, Maro Itoje, Nick Isiekwe, Ben Earl & Elliot Daly. I think we should be able to call on Nick Tompkins and Andy Christie this Saturday.

Sarries’ injury woes are well-known and the loss of Jamie & Theo won’t help that however the scrum performance over the past couple of weeks has been encouraging. There is a slight possibility that Riccioni may be fit and possibly one of Woolfie or Pifeleti. If not I’m sure Hadfield will do his best. Exeter also have loosehead prop issues with the loss of Abuladze for the season. I would expect Tizard & McFarland (assuming he’s fit) to be the locks with Gonzales, Christie & Bille in the back row. The half backs should pick themselves: Van Zyl and Faz. Hopefully now his future plans are out in the open he will be able to relax and play in the way we know he can. I’d go with Hartley and Christie in the centres and Segun and Cinti (assuming Lewington isn’t fit) on the wings with Goodey at full back.

Exeter were able to welcome Devoto, Woodburn, and Hepburn back last week and Sio is said to be fit but Chiefs could lose Joe Hawkins following his red card on Saturday. Nevertheless Rob Baxter’s young side have done well this season although I think Henry Slade, who has been playing out of his skin, will be badly missed.

Both teams will want to go into the break with a win. It’s a big ask for Sarries but lets hope they rise to the occasion. But what we want to see is that Sarries’ mantra carried out on the pitch:- honesty, work rate discipline, humility. That should do nicely.

This weekend has been designated Pride Weekend. We are encouraged to put on our rainbow laces, match official shirts will carry a bespoke “rainbow” inspired version of the Gallagher Premiership logo, assistant referees will use LGBTQ+ rainbow flags and the post pads will also adorn the rainbow branding. Pitch-side LEDs will be creatively redesigned to include rainbow colours so the StoneX should look colourful!

It takes sunshine and rain to make a rainbow. There would be no rainbows without sunshine and rain. We’d all do well to remember that.

SARACENS v EXETER CHIEFS: post match-related content here
Posted by: TheSaracens.com (IP Logged)
Date: 24/01/2024 18:35

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:02:26:19:33:37 by Darraghgirl.

Re: SARACENS v EXETER CHIEFS: post match-related content here
Posted by: tpr's headmistress (IP Logged)
Date: 26/01/2024 12:01

Saracens Men team to play Exeter Chiefs:

1 Logovi’i Mulipola

2 James Hadfield

3 Christian Judge

4 Theo McFarland

5 Hugh Tizard

6 Juan Martin Gonzalez

7 Andy Christie

8 Billy Vunipola

9 Ivan van Zyl

10 Owen Farrell (c)

11 Alex Lewington

12 Olly Hartley

13 Nick Tompkins

14 Rotimi Segun

15 Alex Goode

Replacements:

16 Sam Crean

17 Eroni Mawi

18 Ollie Hoskins

19 Ollie Stonham

20 Toby Knight

21 Gareth Simpson

22 Lucio Cinti

23 Tom Parton

Re: SARACENS v EXETER CHIEFS: post match-related content here
Posted by: tpr's headmistress (IP Logged)
Date: 26/01/2024 12:05

Exeter Chiefs

15 Josh Hodge

14 Ben Hammersley

13 Zack Wimbush

12 Ollie Devoto

11 Olly Woodburn

10 Harvey Skinner

9 Stu Townsend

1 Alec Hepburn

2 Jack Yeandle

3 Marcus Street

4 Rusi Tuima

5 Dafydd Jenkins (c)

6 Lewis Pearson

7 Jacques Vermeulen

8 Greg Fisilau

Replacements:

16 Dan Frost

17 Danny Southworth

18 Josh Iosefa-Scott

19 Jack Dunne

20 Ross Vintcent

21 Tom Cairns

22 Charlie McCaig

23 Arthur Relton

Re: SARACENS v EXETER CHIEFS: post match-related content here
Posted by: ComeOnSarries (IP Logged)
Date: 26/01/2024 12:08

As strong a side as we could have expected. Very pleased indeed to see Eroni on the subs bench!
Given that there are only 18 Premiership games this year it does seem a great shame that for both our games against Exeter this season we have not been able to pick our English internationals.
I really hope the boys are highly motivated and play with high intensity for this last hurrah before the 6 nations.

Re: SARACENS v EXETER CHIEFS: post match-related content here
Posted by: The Bard (IP Logged)
Date: 26/01/2024 12:22

Not too dissimilar to the team we put out down there, really hope those lesssons have been learned.
Fantastic to see Eroni back. If we don’t this our odds to retain the crown probably double.

Re: SARACENS v EXETER CHIEFS: post match-related content here
Posted by: OldMarovian (IP Logged)
Date: 26/01/2024 13:23

Echo the sentiment above that it's great to have Mawi back. Welcome back big fella, you've been missed!
The front row seemed to go well last week and Hadfield has been solid when I've seen him before.
We really need parity or close to at set piece otherwise it could get painful.
Chiefs seem barely impacted by call-ups. Slade is a big miss and F-W an electric talent but Pearson over Roots is arguably an upgrade. Hodge back to torment Sarries if we decide to kick deep and invite him to run it back.
They've a lot of big carrying options.
I don't know if we have a game to beat Chiefs but we certainly know the one we don't want to play (see the away game) so hopefully we have some "learnings" to apply!
Farrell simply has to step up and deliver the sort of performance we know he can. Billy finding last seasons form would be great too.
Hopefully I'll see some of the game through my fingers in the stands.
Good luck Sarries!

Re: SARACENS v EXETER CHIEFS: post match-related content here
Posted by: Not Manichean (IP Logged)
Date: 26/01/2024 14:08

Quote:
OldMarovian
Hopefully I'll see some of the game through my fingers in the stands.
Good luck Sarries!

321 caps v 20 in the starting XV and you're still the underdogs....🤣🤣😇

C'mon ruck you're pushing it now!

Re: SARACENS v EXETER CHIEFS: post match-related content here
Posted by: ninjafez (IP Logged)
Date: 26/01/2024 17:05

Quote:
Not Manichean
Quote:
OldMarovian
Hopefully I'll see some of the game through my fingers in the stands.
Good luck Sarries!

321 caps v 20 in the starting XV and you're still the underdogs....🤣🤣😇

C'mon ruck you're pushing it now!

that maybe, but based on our last 3-4 games we will sponsor at least 2 tries to Exe boys tomorrow so that evens up (Sm42)

Ninjafez - supporting Sarries and cleaning their signs since 2006!

Re: SARACENS v EXETER CHIEFS: post match-related content here
Posted by: Barty II (IP Logged)
Date: 26/01/2024 17:58

Quote:
Not Manichean
Quote:
OldMarovian
Hopefully I'll see some of the game through my fingers in the stands.
Good luck Sarries!

321 caps v 20 in the starting XV and you're still the underdogs....🤣🤣😇

C'mon ruck you're pushing it now!

Always chuckle when caps/experience is used as the yardstick. Especially when our players seem to be both megabucks internationals and we can't possibly afford to have all this all star talent... and then the international windows roll round and suddenly they're unworthy of being anywhere near earning caps, are over the hill and aren't worth squat ;-)

It's all about form... Owen Farrell's 100 caps count for naught if he's going to offer opposition 14 points on a silver platter again! grinning smiley

Re: SARACENS v EXETER CHIEFS: post match-related content here
Posted by: Strangelove (IP Logged)
Date: 26/01/2024 18:36

Glad to see Eroni is back, he was the form Sarries LH from end of last season until he got injured and for me he is our no.1 LH when back to match fitness. Remember his carrying in the final when we were shorn of Mako and Billy.

I’m hoping it will be a lot closer than last time and its all official that Faz is now going, so hopefully it has freed his mind up.

Re: SARACENS v EXETER CHIEFS: post match-related content here
Posted by: Sarriebone (IP Logged)
Date: 27/01/2024 10:10

Match now SOLD OUT

Re: SARACENS v EXETER CHIEFS: post match-related content here
Posted by: Sarriebone (IP Logged)
Date: 27/01/2024 18:19

All even at HT 15-15
Bit sloppy from us, couple of soft tries given away as per usual.

Re: SARACENS v EXETER CHIEFS: post match-related content here
Posted by: Sarriebone (IP Logged)
Date: 27/01/2024 18:39

STOP. KICKING. IT. TO. HODGE! FFS

Re: SARACENS v EXETER CHIEFS: post match-related content here
Posted by: Sarriebone (IP Logged)
Date: 27/01/2024 19:22

Potential injury to Roti is a worry

Re: SARACENS v EXETER CHIEFS: post match-related content here
Posted by: ComeOnSarries (IP Logged)
Date: 27/01/2024 20:48

Plenty of adventure from Sarries this evening and at times not a little skill. Very impressed by Hadfield as he played the full 80. I thought our half backs bossed the game and Owen mixed up his passing and kicking very nicely. A couple of line out takes were vintage Theo!
Given how big a pack Exeter were, I thought we did pretty well at the scrum as well. Great to pick up the 5 points and nil Exeter as it means we jump above them. If we beat Quins at the end of March then we will definitely be in the top 4 and in a good place to nick 2nd come the end of season.
I am assuming Eroni was not fully fit after the warm up as they literally gave him just the last 5 minutes!
Nice to see the ground pretty full as well and at times the crowd even made some noise!

Re: SARACENS v EXETER CHIEFS: post match-related content here
Posted by: JimG (IP Logged)
Date: 27/01/2024 20:50

Well that was good fun. Full house and really good atmosphere. It felt like the team really got some energy from the crowd. Pleased for Hadfield who topped a good performance with a try. Better from Billy and Farrell. Roti didn’t look too despondent when he trotted off so hopefully nothing serious there. Really important to have got the 5 and denied Exeter a point.

Re: SARACENS v EXETER CHIEFS: post match-related content here
Posted by: JimG (IP Logged)
Date: 27/01/2024 20:52

Ha. Crossed posts. Great minds.

Re: SARACENS v EXETER CHIEFS: post match-related content here
Posted by: OldMarovian (IP Logged)
Date: 27/01/2024 21:00

Well done team Top 4 for at least a day and regardless well in touch going into the break thumbs down

Excellent seeing Farrell and Billy step up and it was a good team performance with max points plus nothing for Chiefs a great result.
Massive plaudits to Peel and the pack. The concern over the front row never materialised. Excellent shift.
As with SB I hope that Segun is ok. The break will work in his favour at least but he's been incredible the last couple of games and I hope when the Premiership resumes he's able to too.
The whole gameplan felt much more positive and even though nothing came of it I loved the tactic of cross-field kicks to our athletic backrows (something I've suggested before)
Lots of players with strong performances and even though Christie was great Hadfield would have been my MotM. 80 minutes as hooker, nailed his throws, strong at set-piece, contributed well in the loose and a couple of Trys. Would be interested if there's a chance of signing him beyond this season especially given Woolstencrofts injury issues.
Strong performance from Hartely too.
Brilliant to see the Farrell we are used to (Sm128)

The very last try harsh on Chiefs but otherwise the score a fair reflection of the game. Hodges great counter-attack and the beautiful support running aside they were very reliant on Sarries errors to get them into Sarries half. We were too to an extent tbf but I felt we created more chances for ourselves rather than relying on their mistakes which was good to see.

Hope the player and coaches enjoy the well deserved break guys and come back ready for the next 6 (plus?!) games.

Re: SARACENS v EXETER CHIEFS: post match-related content here
Posted by: The Bard (IP Logged)
Date: 27/01/2024 22:26

That was much more like it! Best Owen has played all season arguably. Mulipola seems to add a lot to the scrum and we did well to keep him on the field for 55 mins. Judge seems to be in much better all round form the past 2-3 weeks.
It’s a testament to Exeter that even a three point win would have felt like a massive achievement. Hodge is sensational in broken play and has a good all round game

Re: SARACENS v EXETER CHIEFS: post match-related content here
Posted by: Strangelove (IP Logged)
Date: 27/01/2024 22:31

Well played lads, a huge step-up in intensity and performance. Some of the players had their best games all season - I hope Andy Mc-Christie gets some starts for Scotland, he deserves it!

Hopefully some signings and resigning announcements over the 6N closedown period.

Re: SARACENS v EXETER CHIEFS: post match-related content here
Posted by: The Bard (IP Logged)
Date: 27/01/2024 23:08

It’s certainly made the next couple of months a lot a lot more enjoyable than they might have been!

Re: SARACENS v EXETER CHIEFS: post match-related content here
Posted by: TommyKentish (IP Logged)
Date: 27/01/2024 23:43

That felt better! Scrum good (against one of the better scrummaging teams- Crean holding his own against Iosefa-West was glorious!), lineout great, kicking on point and defence was really encouraging. That was a young Exeter side but they look like a proper Baxter side, enormous pack and we dealt with them well.

Hadfield take a bow, magnificent performance. Faz looking something like his best self, Billy with the try saving tackle, Christie everywhere and Hartley getting us over the gainline time and again. Hopefully Segun is ok be cause he is such a spark for us in attack and his kick chase was brilliant. Also Mulipola has been one hell of a last minute signing.

We’ve given ourselves a great shot at a run at the playoffs after the six nations, especially with all the lads coming back, plenty to be positive about!

Re: SARACENS v EXETER CHIEFS: post match-related content here
Posted by: OTsarrie (IP Logged)
Date: 28/01/2024 00:53

Great evening all round , and fantastic atmosphere in the stadium - perhaps the 5.30 start gave a few of the fans the chance to warm up….great performances from many of our guys , and agree Hadfield should get special plaudits for an 80 minute performance. I also thought Hugh Tizzard stepped up big time …also have to give Josh Hodge a name check . He has only just come back from injury and still gave us the run around …but 5 points in the bin and 6 weeks recovery time sets us up nicely for the run in …

Re: SARACENS v EXETER CHIEFS: post match-related content here
Posted by: tigersimon (IP Logged)
Date: 28/01/2024 05:07

Good win and much more Saracen’esq especially second half.

Excellent performance from Hadfield who would have been Saracens 5th choice Hooker prior to the game?

Logo will always give his all and good on him for going 55 minutes!

Who is due back from Injury for the league restart?
Riccioni, Willis?

Re: SARACENS v EXETER CHIEFS: post match-related content here
Posted by: TommyKentish (IP Logged)
Date: 28/01/2024 07:11

Yes those two, Hunter-Hill and Mawi for more than two mins. I assume Lozowski is done for the season but he’d be great to see him back too.

OT - good shout on Tizard, stood up really well to a big Exeter pack, one of his best performances too. I thought Theo M was great in defence too.

Re: SARACENS v EXETER CHIEFS: post match-related content here
Posted by: Darraghgirl (IP Logged)
Date: 28/01/2024 07:58

Sadly had to miss this one and make do with some dreadful commentary from BBC Radio Devon. Apparently we have a decent centre called "Simpkins" and it's a shame he didn't make it into the Wales squad!

Re: SARACENS v EXETER CHIEFS: post match-related content here
Posted by: AP (IP Logged)
Date: 28/01/2024 09:26

Andy Christie played well yet again. There's an interview with him in The Sunday Times, hidden away online in the Scotland section, which has rather a lot of detail on what he went through last summer. In short:

“The first operation was a normal plate across the break with screws,” he explained. “The second was them putting a big needle in my hip, taking bone marrow from it, and injecting it into where the break was in order to stimulate the cells to start producing more healing cells or whatever — I’m not a doctor!

“The third operation was another plate on the other side of the bone and a bone graft from my hip. They chopped off a bit of my hip, put it in where the break still was and screwed another plate over the top of it. That was agony, in fairness. That one really hurt, the others I wasn’t really bothered by.”

Successful hills are here to stay
Everything must be this way
Gentle streets where people play
Welcome to the Soft Parade

🌻🌻🌻

Re: SARACENS v EXETER CHIEFS: post match-related content here
Posted by: OldMarovian (IP Logged)
Date: 28/01/2024 10:19

A reminder of the price players pay even if they don't have concussion issues AP.
He's been in cracking form and it's brilliant seeing him getting a well deserved Scottish call up.
I know we all would love JMG to stay but honestly we have crazy quality signed up long-term in our backrow regardless with Earl, McFarland, Christie and some "welly" in T Willis.

Re: SARACENS v EXETER CHIEFS: post match-related content here
Posted by: siNBin (IP Logged)
Date: 28/01/2024 11:24

Quote:
Darraghgirl
Sadly had to miss this one and make do with some dreadful commentary from BBC Radio Devon. Apparently we have a decent centre called "Simpkins" and it's a shame he didn't make it into the Wales squad!

I've listened to Radio Devon a number of times and their rugby commentator makes it up as he goes along. He is the second most irritating person in Devon

Re: SARACENS v EXETER CHIEFS: post match-related content here
Posted by: Barty II (IP Logged)
Date: 28/01/2024 12:03

Quote:
siNBin
Quote:
Darraghgirl
Sadly had to miss this one and make do with some dreadful commentary from BBC Radio Devon. Apparently we have a decent centre called "Simpkins" and it's a shame he didn't make it into the Wales squad!

I've listened to Radio Devon a number of times and their rugby commentator makes it up as he goes along. He is the second most irritating person in Devon

Baxter or Rowe?

Re: SARACENS v EXETER CHIEFS: post match-related content here
Posted by: ComeOnSarries (IP Logged)
Date: 28/01/2024 13:10

I quite like Baxter and rate him as a coach. Rowe is something more of an acquired taste and not someone I would like to share bread with!

Re: SARACENS v EXETER CHIEFS: post match-related content here
Posted by: Surbiton Sarries (IP Logged)
Date: 28/01/2024 16:59

We go into the break in 4th thanks to Sale coming unstuck at Glaws

Re: SARACENS v EXETER CHIEFS: post match-related content here
Posted by: OldMarovian (IP Logged)
Date: 28/01/2024 17:07

Pretty much the ideal weekend of results, bar Saints, for Sarries.
Table looks brilliantly competitive for the last third of the season.
Poor Sanderson. Feels like he must have tripped over a black cat whilst walking under a ladder and breaking a mirror this weekend sad smiley

Re: SARACENS v EXETER CHIEFS: post match-related content here
Posted by: JimG (IP Logged)
Date: 28/01/2024 17:38

That was pretty thin fare this afternoon. Sale don’t look like a playoff worthy side.

Re: SARACENS v EXETER CHIEFS: post match-related content here
Posted by: siNBin (IP Logged)
Date: 28/01/2024 20:30

Quote:
Barty II
Quote:
siNBin
Quote:
Darraghgirl
Sadly had to miss this one and make do with some dreadful commentary from BBC Radio Devon. Apparently we have a decent centre called "Simpkins" and it's a shame he didn't make it into the Wales squad!

I've listened to Radio Devon a number of times and their rugby commentator makes it up as he goes along. He is the second most irritating person in Devon

Baxter or Rowe?

Baxter is at least 3rd

Re: SARACENS v EXETER CHIEFS: post match-related content here
Posted by: ninjafez (IP Logged)
Date: 28/01/2024 20:44

2nd-8th in the prem covered by 7 points.... last few games will be bedlam for fans come april/may

Ninjafez - supporting Sarries and cleaning their signs since 2006!

Re: SARACENS v EXETER CHIEFS: post match-related content here
Posted by: AP (IP Logged)
Date: 29/01/2024 09:21

Alex Sanderson was so down in his in-match interview that the commentators expressed sympathy after it. By then he had had at least three more significant injuries to add to the ones out before the match. He looked as if he needed a good hug!

Successful hills are here to stay
Everything must be this way
Gentle streets where people play
Welcome to the Soft Parade

🌻🌻🌻

Re: SARACENS v EXETER CHIEFS: post match-related content here
Posted by: boomer! (IP Logged)
Date: 29/01/2024 12:14

Credit must be given to Exeter for mixing it up in the lineouts.

It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog.

Re: SARACENS v EXETER CHIEFS: post match-related content here
Posted by: TommyKentish (IP Logged)
Date: 29/01/2024 12:17

Yes caught us napping a few times. Also an indication of how hard it must be throwing against a pack including both Theo and JMG.

Re: SARACENS v EXETER CHIEFS: post match-related content here
Posted by: The Bard (IP Logged)
Date: 29/01/2024 13:35

It’s quite astonishing how Exeter have transformed. It does show that a change of the guard is not necessarily a guarantee of years in the doldrums. They have recruited and developed exceptionally well.

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