CHIEFS TAKE CHARGE

It’s always unsettling when previews in the press mention statistics like “Exeter haven’t won at the StoneX for 8 years”. These runs have to come to an end one day and unfortunately that was today. Let’s be honest, on a perfect day for rugby Exeter got pretty much everything  right while Sarries got too much wrong. A late change saw Cinti pull out with Hartley moving to 12 and Tompkins to 13.

After an Exeter penalty kick (that resulted indirectly from Theo Dan’s wayward lineout – thankfully after that he was spot on - unfortunately Jamie wasn’t) things went Sarries’ way. First a lovely interception try from Noah  conveniently placed under the posts (just as well as Owen did NOT have his kicking boots on – or much else for that matter) followed shortly after by a Sarries’ drive with Willis coming off the back and finding Malins who wiggled through the gap and scored in the corner. 12-3. At this point Sarries seemed to be on top. Exeter were conceding a lot of penalties although the ever present threat of Woodburn and Feyi-Waboso was a constant annoyance down the left wing. For me one of the worrying things about the whole performance was the decision making and the match appeared to turn after about 20 minutes when Sarries were awarded a penalty dead in front just outside the 22. A gimme 3 points if ever there were so what did we do? Kick to touch, Exeter defended well and eventually cleared the ball.

This led to a period of sustained Exeter attack and the Chiefs appeared to have scored a try up the far end. The TMO and Mr Pearce were looking at something. The “try” looked like a double movement but that wasn’t what the discussion was about. Eventually, much to Sarries’ relief, Tom Hooper was given his marching orders for an illegal clear-out in the ruck (apparently it would have been red but for mitigation). 10 minutes down to 14 and boy did Exeter control it well. They were in possession of the ball for almost the entire period, kicked a penalty after Faz dropped a sitter and then scored a try through Varney with Slade using every one of the slotted seconds to kick the conversion and run down the Yellow Card clock. Half time and Exeter led by a point 12-13. Faz looked to be hobbling and we wondered if he’d return for part 2.

The second half began encouragingly although Sarries looked slow and their attack was constantly being rebuffed by a much livelier tribe of Chiefs. Finally Sarries got close but as Hartley flicked the ball wide to Noah, the white arm of Campbell Ridl knocked the ball on. After some discussion a penalty try was awarded and Ridl was off to the bin. Could Sarries build on this? Another 10 minutes v 14. The front row was replaced and Jamie’s first throw went astray. Apart from a superb break by Willis, Exeter once again were able to retain possession and run down the clock. Finally Sarries managed a sustained attack. The ball was going back and forth and there was a fair bit of juggling going on but finally Noah scored in the corner. The try was checked and the handling deemed to be OK. Faz again was off with the conversion – he seemed to be getting more and more annoyed with his game as time went on. Still 24-13 and a 2 score cushion.

Ivan Van Zyl was hobbling after a box kick and Jamie was on the floor. For once the play was up the Chief’s end. Eventually the ball went out. Jamie seemed to be drawing Mr Pearce’s attention to the challenge – looked like head on head between the two 16’s but probably a rugby incident. Mr Pearce went for a Sarries penalty so fair enough. Should have been a good attacking platform but Jamie couldn’t get his arrows straight, Woodburn and Feyi-Waboso gained good yards for Chiefs and they won a penalty in front. Decisions, decisions. The gimme 3 wasn’t going to be enough so they kicked for the corner and in true Chief’s style the rolling maul went over in the corner. Slade’s kick hit the post but it was now 24-18. Exeter seemed to have the upper hand now. More energy, more imagination, more desire. Greg Fisilau burst through as Sarries fell off their tackles and scored his 2nd. Slade converted and Chiefs were back in front 24-25.

Sarries had a huge chance to retake the lead with a penalty kicked into the Chiefs 22. The maul started mauling and everyone piled in. It was too far out though and the plan was too obvious – all Chiefs needed to do was get enough bodies in the way which they duly did and the ball was held up over the line.

As we went into the final 10 minutes, Sarries won a penalty just inside the Chiefs half and off centre. Decisions, decisions. Whose decision? Owen decided to take the kick. Why Oh why? His kicking was off all match, it was a tough kick and surely this should have gone to the 5m line. If they were going for the kick where was Daly? Faz took it and duly missed.  

Into the final 5 minutes and Sarries looked out on their feet. All they needed was to engineer a penalty or a drop goal, not impossible but again Exeter stood firm and gradually pushed Sarries further and further back – out of drop goal range, out of penalty kick range and finally out of the game when Slade intercepted the ball and scored unopposed. He missed the conversion from wide out which meant Sarries took 2 points from the game – more than they deserved.

It’s hard to know what’s gone wrong but sadly I think it’s linked to Faz controlling things again from 10. It has to be a retrograde step. Sarries have lost their last 3 Premiership games, 2 of those with Owen at the helm. The promise that was shown earlier in the season seems to have gone with the wind. Van Zyl was on one leg for the last quarter – why didn’t he come off? And who was making the decisions because whoever it was got it very wrong.

But we move on. We have to. We go to Castle Grim after Christmas – not an easy place to win but Gloucester are a pretty poor team (too!) right now. Something needs to change. Let’s hope someone knows what that is.

Saracens:

Daly, Caluori (Segun), Tompkins, Hartley, Malins, Farrell, Van Zyl; Carre (Mawi), Dan (George), Street (Riccioni), Isikwe, Tizard, Gonzalez (Onyeama-Christie), Earl, Willis (Wilson)

Exeter Chiefs

Woodburn, Feyi-Waboso, Slade, Ikitau, Ridl, Skinner, Varney; Goodrick-Clarke (Sio), Yeandle (Heaven), Tchumbadze (J Roots), Jenkins, Zambonin, Hooper (James), E Roots, Fisilau

Scorers

Saracens (24): Tries Caluori (2) Malins, Pen; Conv: Farrell

Exeter (30): Varney, Fisilou (2), Slade; Conv: Slade (2); Pen: Slade (2)

Referee: Luke Pearce