Irish 17 Chiefs 14
London Irish 17
Exeter Chiefs 14
Mark Stevens at the Gtech Community Stadium
For all the pomp and pageantry happening in the capital today for the Coronation of King Charles III, a changing of the guard was also beginning for the Exeter Chiefs.
In recent years the Chiefs have ruled supreme amongst English Rugby’s elite. Acutely assembled over time by Director of Rugby, Rob Baxter, this trusty group have taken Devon’s finest on quite a march.
Like all good things, eventually it has to come to an end. This week, we saw the departure of the club’s Golden Generation, many of them ready to start a different life in pastures new.
There has been sadness and plenty of tears shed for the end of a magical era. Equally, there is great hope within the corridors of Sandy Park as the Chiefs ready themselves for a new influx of talent, all of whom are desperate to ensure the success story continues aplenty.
As he indicated earlier in the week, Baxter opted not to go sentimental in his side’s final run-out of the season. Rather than giving many of his departing stars one last swan-song in the top-flight, it was a look to the future from the Chiefs leader against the Exiles.
Irish, on the other hand, were at near full-strength, this despite a testing week off the field in which their future existence was again questioned after staff across the club went unpaid for the month.
On a dreary day in the nation’s capital, it was the hosts who were afforded the game’s opening chance, Chiefs winger Tommy Wyatt penalised for holding on in the tackle midway inside his own half. It offered the experienced Paddy Jackson his first pot at the posts, but the Irish international shanked his effort wide of the left post.
It was an early let-off for the visitors, who then made their own way down the field to fashion their first chance of the contest. The forwards did much of the donkey work, but as Greg Fisilau looked to burrow over, referee Luke Pearce deemed the Exeter No.8 had been held up over the try-line.
Undeterred, the Chiefs continued to press hard in attack, their efforts finally rewarded just five minutes later when Stu Townsend, sniping off the base of a ruck, combined nicely with Ollie Devoto, whose dart through the heart of the Irish midfield saw him create the space for Jacques Vermeulen to drive over for the score, converted by the boot of Henry Slade.
Baxter and his fellow coaches rightly punched the air in delight, it was slick stuff from the Devonians, who were implementing a simple, yet effective, game plan in the greasy conditions.
Further half chances came and went for the Chiefs, whose dominance at scrum time in particular was gleaning them rich rewards.
Irish, though, were themselves always competitive and when they forged their way back into the Chiefs 22, they used a five-metre line-out to drive in field, creating the platform for Argentine flanker Juan-Martin Gonzalez to pump his leg to the line for their opening try.
It was entertaining stuff from both sides, but as half time approached the Chiefs declined a chance to kick for goal, instead opting for greater reward from a close-range line-out. Sadly, the tactic backfired as the hosts nicked the set-piece and cleared the threat with relative ease.
HALF TIME: LONDON IRISH 7 EXETER CHIEFS 7
With little to choose between either side after the first 40, the second period began in much the same manner, both sets of forwards piling into one another with a plethora of heavyweight collisions.
When play finally broke out, it was the Chiefs who looked the more threatening as first Jack Dunne made decent yards with a bust through the middle, then Wyatt showed some fancy footwork to break clear of the cover only to fail to find the onrushing Townsend with the try-line in their sight.
Sadly, neither opportunity brought any reward and it was Irish who eventually who got the scoreboard operators back into employment when, following a well-constructed driving maul, the home forwards combined en masse to somehow work replacement Tom Pearson over the line.
Home joy, however, proved short-lived as within minutes the Chiefs were back in front, Wyatt capitalising on a fumble from Rory Jennings to scoop up possession, before releasing Tom Hendrickson who was able to gallop his way under the sticks for Exeter’s second score of the afternoon.
Having seen little meaningful action for much of the half, the game had suddenly sprung into life with quite an impact. As both sides threw on their benches, it was the home side who regained the lead with just under ten minutes remaining.
Lapping up a spilled ball from Harvey Skinner, the Exiles fashioned the ball to the right where winger Lucio Cinti, combined with Jackson and Pearson, whose slip pass back inside found Gonzalez to charge over for his second of the game.
The Chiefs needed to regroup quickly, but as they pressed hard in attack, Irish were happy to absorb all they could throw at them. It was somewhat tough on Exeter’s youngsters, but the signs moving forward are promising, very promising!
Irish: H Arundell; B Loader, B van Rensburg, R Jennings, L Cinti; P Jackson, B White (J Powell 57); D Fischetti (T Haffar 73), A Creevy (M Willemse 40), O Hoskins (L Chawatama 53); A Ratuniyarawa (J Caulfield 53), R Simmons; M Rogerson (capt, T Pearson 53), J-M Gonzalez, S Fa’aso’o (C Cunningham-Smith 64). Replacement (not used): J Stokes.
Tries - Gonzalez (2), Pearson; Conversion - Jackson
Chiefs: J Hodge; I Feyi-Waboso, H Slade (capt), O Devoto (T Hendrickson 64), T Wyatt; H Skinner, S Townsend (T Cairns 62); A Hepburn (B Keast 52), J Innard (I Harris 52), J Iosefa-Scott (M Street 52); J Kirsten (M Williams 64), J Dunne; J Vermeulen (A Davis 57), C Tshiunza, G Fisilau. Replacement (not used): D John.
Tries - Vermeulen, Hendrickson; Conversion - Slade (2)
Referee: L Pearce
Attendance: 11,576