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THE NEED FOR AN EXET STRATEGY


By Behind the Bench
February 3 2016

Exeter Chiefs vs Saracens Aviva Premiership Rugby Saturday 6 February Sandy Park   An intriguing afternoonseems in prospect in Devon as the top two go head to head with Saracens holding a two point advantage at the summit against a side still buoyant from their dramatic maiden qualification for the European Champions Cup Quarter Finals.  

The Chiefs boast an attacking game as varied as Saracens, and as potent on the counter attack, as no side has scored more tries in the Premiership, whilst they remain strong up front, contributing to a proud record which has brought eight wins from ten, with narrow losses suffered at Bath on the opening day and in poor conditions at Northampton on New Year’s Day.

 
Exeter’s evolution since their elevation to the Premiership has been impressive, with no side without a top flight past having made more impact, both in terms of season on season improvement and contribution of players to international sides. Although they would be seen by many as a contrast to Saracens, particularly off the field (and how they are seen by the neutral), there are many similarities; a hugely effective coaching team, a strong collective spirit, intense work rate, and a successful recruitment strategy which has seen high quality signings such as Thomas Waldrom and Geoff Parling, alongside academy products and stalwarts from the Championship triumph such as fly half Gareth Steenson, who remains as influential as he has always been. One of the form players has been winger James Short, who had short spells at Wasps and London Irish before being reinvigorated at Exeter with some fine tries and creative play in recent weeks.
 
The Chiefs' recent history has been entwined with Saracens. In the second season under Brendan Venter, they recorded a significant win at Vicarage Road which hinted at their potential. They were the first Premiership visitors to Allianz Park too, just under three years, and won’t lack for motivation either, beaten at the last in last year’s LV Cup Final by Ben Spencer, and edged out of the top four by Saracens despite a late season win for the Devonians in NW4. They have taken a further step this season, Waldrom continues his role as a prolific focal point for the lethal rolling maul, which Short is the embodiment of the ambitious attacking game seen this season, as both a creator and scorer of tries. 
 
This campaign began with a narrow loss at Bath, before a comfortable 38-11 home win over London Irish and a 41-3 win at Newcastle Falcons when flowing play and forward power combined to serve up six tries, and a rare win over Leicester Tigers was celebrated at Sandy Park, 19-6, but lapses in discipline led to a disappointing 25-13 loss in the European opener at Ospreys. Back in Devon, there was better news with a well-balanced 34-19 bonus point success over Bordeaux-Begles, whilst back in the Premiership, the Chiefs earnt a 26-25 home success over Harlequins, despite being outscored on the tries front, four to two, with the win earnt by some smart work at the breakdown and showing their ability to close out a game in which they had struggled against their opponents' kicking game. Fittingly, a six try demolition of Wasps in Coventry saw the 41-27 win temporarily put the West Country side at the summit, earnt by the pack who had created a trio of tries for Thomas Waldrom, who had two more in the bonus point home success over Clermont Auvergne in the Champions Cup, thanks to the forwards and some alert defence to halt the visitors, although they lost the return match 42-10. Returning to the Premiership, another display of assured handling, crisp breaks and forward dominance served up a 33-17 home win over Sale Sharks, although the attack was blunted in a New Year's Day 8-3 reverse at Northampton, but a pair opf Waldrom tries proved decisive in a 19-10 home victory against Gloucester. A heavily adjusted squad secured a losing bonus point in Bordeaux, which demonstrated the strength of depth of the side, but European hopes appeared over, until Super Sunday happened. Outsiders, then, to progress, five tries brought a 33-17 home win against Ospreys, and with a little help from Bordeaux, treating the game with their customary intensity saw Exeter reap rich dividends, and last weekend's win at Worcester brings the story up to date. 
 
Add to that the fact that the Chiefs have not lost at home for 13 months, when they were edged out by Gloucester 26-25, and, even given Saracens own formidable record, the strength of the challenge is clear. But it is exactly the sort of situation Sarries have relished in recent seasons. Despite an ultimately comfortable win at Worcester last Sunday, the struggling Warriors forced a number of penalties at the scrum and breakdown which kept them in touch for an hour of the contest, which eventually finished 30-15, leaving Worcester’s DOR Dean Ryan to concede that “they saw things a little bit faster than us”. The Chiefs will be concerned at a 76% tackle success rate, although they only had to make 55 attempts in total (compared to Bath’s 161 the previous day).  Ryan’s quote could certainly be applied to Saracens in the ultimate breakthrough against a stubborn Bath last week with Hayden Smith’s smart chargedown latched onto by Maro Itoje to set up the decisive try, demonstrating the perseverance which will be essential again this week.
 
Likely line-up for Exeter, although difficult to call given players on the fringe of 6 Nations side, would appear to be Phil Dollman at full back, with Olly Woodburn at full back, Sam Hill with Ian Whitten in the centres, and Short on the left wing. Steenson and scrum half Will Chudley should continue their partnership in the half backs. Forwards-wise, Ben Moon could be at loosehead with Luke Cowan-Dickie at hooker and Alex Brown at tighthead, although given injuries and possible call ups, this looks particularly changeable. In the second row, Jonny Hill should remain with Parling, whilst Don Armand, Julian Salvi and Waldrom should continue their powerful back row combination. For Saracens, the strongest available pack is a pre-requisite. That should see Richard Barrington team up with Schalk Brits and Petrus du Plessis, with Jim Hamilton and Hayden Smith in the second row and Kelly Brown, Will Fraser and Jackson Wray forming the back row. Into the backline and Ben Ransom should remain at full back with Chris Wyles and Mike Ellery on the wings and a centre partnership of Nick Tompkins and Brad Barritt, with Ben Spencer perhaps given a chance to reprise his LV Cup Final heroics at scrum half, alongside Charlie Hodgson. 

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THE NEED FOR AN EXET STRATEGY
Discussion started by TheSaracens.com , 03/02/2016 19:16
TheSaracens.com
03/02/2016 19:16
Thanks as always Gerard. Sorry for the delay in publishing but I have to earn a living!



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2016:02:16:21:26:54 by Darraghgirl.

derbyshire fan
03/02/2016 20:38
thank you - really sorry we can't make it down to exe at the weekend

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