Chiefs 38 Irish 11

Irish taken apart by Chiefs

Chiefs 38 Irish 11

So finally, after what seemed like an eternity we return to Sandy Park for our opening home fixture of the season and welcome The Exiles. 

Having spent the week in Cornwall on a family break, driving home past Sandy Park at 11.30 am the anticipation was growing stronger and I was looking for a positive reaction to the dissapointement of the narrow loss to Bath. 

The ETC was popular as ever but comfortable and it was good to be among Chiefs friends again. Looking round the ground however it did seem fairly sparse with plenty of empty seats in the West and South West stands and standing room in the North Terrace. Irish may not be the biggest of draws but personally I was expecting a bigger crowd. 
The game delivered what I had hoped for and a 5 point win. 
Irish had little attacking phases but I believe that was down to Chiefs defence. 

There were some very good performances today, Dave Ewers is immense for our club and his pick up from the retreating scrum and run out to our 22 with a couple of Irish players getting a piggy back was superb! Don Armand impressed me last season and he has stepped on again and looked excellent. Jack Nowell has been criticized by some for lacking a bit of pace and not getting enough try's.....he got two today and his first showed that he may lack pace but he's strong and has a brain for the game. He received a very loud celebration from The Library and his reaction was pleasing. 

Irish obviously saw Henry Slade as a threat as he was given little time with the ball today and targeted when in possession which only proves what we already know about him. 
Myself and others did mention that our scrum isn't functioning how we know it can but not sure where the issue lay. It will need improving otherwise stronger opposition will punish us. My only other concern was if after three attempts to pick and go over so close to the line fail, sling it wide.....two occasions we had a two on one situation and could have run in 8 try's giving another 14 points if converted! 

Good to finally see Parling run out in a Chiefs shirt but that must be the shortest debut ever? Hope his injury isn't too serious. 
Overall a good performance, a great day among friends and I truly feel there is more to come from this group and I'm exited by the prospect.