Comfortable win for Exeter Chiefs

Despite a nervy ending

After three consecutive losses, Chief’s head coach Ali Hepher had clearly drilled into his side how essential winning this game was. With the team lounging at eighth, a convincing victory was needed to get the season, the mentality and the fans back on track.

Before the game, players, officials and spectators paused ahead of Remembrance Sunday, with a bugler’s last post, a minute’s silence and a prayer.

Exeter were without many key players, including Luke Cowan-Dickie, Jonny Hill, Henry Slade and Harry Williams, who are all at the England camp for the autumn internationals.

Olly Woodburn was the stand-out man, but every player performed well. However, the 22-17 win definitely wasn't all down to Exeter. London Irish's shortcomings played a hand. Their main problem - not being able to catch the ball.

Constant errors of dropping and knock-ons allowed Exeter to play freely, and far kicks worked in their favour too often.

Exeter's second try proved one example. Fullback Josh Hodge pressured well, but an Irish handling error allowed him to gain possession and make a tricky run through. He got close to line before being fouled, giving Chiefs a penalty five metres from the line. Hodge quickly took it, before being blocked by the ref, winning a scrum.

This passage of play has been going on for a long time in the far left corner before Chiefs lock Ruben Van Heerden was handed the ball on the overlap, and forced it over the line. This interesting run of play, including the missed conversion afterwards, all started by an Irish drop. No doubt frustrating for Les Kiss, the Irish Head Coach.

Both teams seemed to love the far-left hand corner, as nearly all the encroaching play came down that side, and ended up in a close pressing situation. Both Exeter's first and second try came from a long period in there, as did Irish's first.

They were all very similar too - Exeter's first being started by Olly Woodburn and Joe Simmonds breaking, and ending up as a face-to-face close to the line, forced over by Dave Ewers, and Irish's coming from multiple penalties and multiple phases bringing them up the pitch before being repelled illegally, and the tap and go falling to So'otala Fa'aso'o to put it over.

Irish played well in the second half, but couldn't make up for the three tries Chiefs scored in the first 40, compared to their zero tries and three points in the first half. Exeter were definitely weaker in attack after the break, but their lead was already too great to be overturned.

The third first-half try from the home side was definitely the most spectacular - aforementioned Woodburn read the game immaculately, intercepting on the half-way line, before steaming past a stagnant Irish defense, who hadn't anticipated they would lose the ball. No-one came even close to catching him, even as he ramped up the crowed before plowing the ball down give the Chiefs a 16-point lead heading into half-time - a lovely bit of showboating. 

He's playing like the Olly Woodburn of old, and looking like Chiefs best player at the moment

Irish gave Exeter a scare in the last three minutes - a Tom Pearson try and a Paddy Jackson conversion after a long period of Irish possession brought the 12 point lead down to five, reminiscent of the Saracens’ game earlier this season, where a last kick penalty lost the Chiefs the lead they had worked so hard to have.

However, they stayed strong, winning the final scrum and booting the ball out of play to win the match.

A penalty conversion apiece, and one missed conversion from Chiefs, along with the three Exeter and two Irish tries left the score at 22-17 as the final whistle blew.

Exeter Chiefs Starting 15 -

Hodge, John, O'Loughlin, O'Brien, Woodburn, Simmonds, Maunder, Hepburn, Innard, Williams, Jenkins (C), Van Heerden, Ewers, Pearson, Vermeulen

Replacements -

Frost, Sio, Schickerling, Dunne, Tuma, Maunder, Becconsall, Feyi-Waboso

London Irish Starting 15 -

Parton, Loader, Stokes, Van Rensburg, Hassel-Collins, Jackson, Powell, Goodrick-Clarke, Willemse, Chawatama, Munga, Simmons (C), Cooke, Basham, Fa'aso'o

Replacements -

Miller, Gigena, Hoskins, Caulfield, Pearson, Englefield, Jennings, Joseph