Player ratings: Exeter Chiefs vs Saracens

 

1. Mako Vunipola – 6/10

Put under some pressure at scrum time due to excellent work from the Exeter front row. Was very impressive in the loose, showing some beautiful handling skills and dynamic ball carrying.

 

2. Jamie George – 7/10

Carried effectively throughout. Posted an impressive lineout success rate of 91%. Put in a solid shift at the breakdown but was taken off after just 45 minutes.

 

3. Vincent Koch – 5/10

Struggled to cope with the Exeter pressure at scrum time. Failed to make a real impression with ball in hand but put in some big hits defensively.

 

4. Maro Itoje – 6/10

Surprisingly quiet afternoon for the young second row. Solid at lineout and impressive in defence. Unfortunately failed to make an impression with ball in hand and conceded a few careless penalties after sloppy work at the breakdown.

 

5. George Kruis – 6/10

Very impressive in the lineout. Put in a big shift defensively and carried extremely well. Consistently worked hard at the breakdown but didn’t carry enough.

 

6. Michael Rhodes – N/A

Unfortunately forced off early through injury after just 10 minutes of play.

 

7. Jackson Wray – 5/10

Quiet game form the usually dominant back row forward. Got through a respectable amount of work in defence but failed to pose a real threat at the breakdown.

 

8. Billy Vunipola – 6/10

Made a couple of crucial tackles and held up the Exeter play at times. However, he surprisingly struggled to make an impact with ball in hand was contained extremely well by the Chiefs.

 

9. Richard Wigglesworth – 7/10

Put in some accurate box kicking and set up some excellent attacking opportunities with accurate, well-timed passing. One of the better performers in the Sarries back line today.

 

10. Owen Farrell – 6/10

Pretty quiet afternoon for Farrell. His goal kicking was uncharacteristically poor, only managing to score 2/4 from the tee which ultimately cost his side today.

 

11. Chris Wyles – 6/10

Decent performance from the winger. Did well defensively when called upon and showed great strength to finish off an excellent try.

 

12. Duncan Taylor – 7/10

Solid performance from the centre. Looked dangerous with the ball in hand at times and stood up to the test in defence.

 

13. Marcelo Bosch – 6/10

Expected more from the experienced veteran today. Put in some impressive territorial kicks when required but showed no flair in attack and never really caused the Exeter defence any problems.

 

14. Chris Ashton – N/A

Unfortunately forced off through injury after 11 minutes of play.

 

15. Alex Goode – 8/10

Safe as ever under the high ball. Stood up defensively and made all his tackles. Consistently had the Exeter defenders worried with his combination of pace and mesmeric footwork. The standout performer in the Saracens’ back line.

 

Honourable mentions from the bench:

 

16. Schalk Brits – (45’) 7/10

Brits made a really positive impact off the bench. Continued the impressive lineout work of George and showed excellent handling skills to set up Ellery’s try in the corner.

 

20. Schalk Burger – (10’) 7/10

Entered the fray early after an injury to Michael Rhodes forced him out of the game. Put in a big shift at the breakdown and was a good option at the lineout.

 

23. Mike Ellery – (11’) 7/10

Also called upon early following a first half injury to Ashton. Stepped up to the plate big time, carrying well, tackling impressively and scoring a fantastic try late in the second half.

 

Exeter Chiefs

 

1. Ben Moon – 7/10

Impressive at scrum time. Put in a very solid shift at the breakdown and made some vital tackles in defence. Carried dynamically at times.

 

2. Luke Cowan-Dickie – 8/10

Put the Chiefs on the front foot as he bulldozed his way over the gainline, unfazed by Sarries line speed. Made some wonderful chop tackles in defence which prevented Sarries from getting their strong ball carriers up to speed.

 

3. Harry Williams – 7/10

Very solid at scrum time. Piled the pressure on the opposition front row and won countless penalties for his side. Made some big tackles in defence and got through a lot of work at the breakdown.

 

4. Dave Dennis – 7/10

An absolute menace at the breakdown. Put a lot of pressure on Saracens with some physical tackling and dogged work on the ground. Carried well when required and offered good option at the lineout.

 

5. Geoff Parling – 7/10

As usual did the dirty work very well. Made his tackles and disrupted Sarries ball on the floor with some quality work at the breakdown.

 

6. Kai Horstmann – 7/10

Faced a stern test up against the hard carrying Billy Vunipola at the scrum and was up to the test. Led Exeter’s tackle count in the first half and put in a good shift in the second period as well.

 

7. Don Armand – 8/10

Some strong carries which put his side on the front foot. Was very eager to get off the line in defence and made a couple of very big hits as a result.

 

8. Thomas Waldrom – 7/10

Left the field to a great ovation after he showed everyone that he is just as capable at carrying a rugby ball as the mercurial Billy Vunipola. Though he couldn’t keep going for the whole 80 minutes he was a crucial cog in the Exeter machine today. 

  

9. Stuart Townsend – 7/10

Very lively all day. Was unlucky not to make it through the defence with his dangerous snipes around the ruck, which kept the visitor’s defence honest. Put in a couple of very intelligent box kicks in behind the defence and made a fantastic intercept in the first half which stopped the Sarries defence dead in its tracks.

 

10. Gareth Steenson – 8/10

Ran the game superbly from the driving seat. Kept Exeter in the game with his perfect kicking from hand and from the tee. Only missed one kick at goal and that was when the celebrations had already begun for a famous Chiefs win. 

 

11. James Short – 8/10

His searing pace was quite important to Exeter today, as he made a couple of cover tackles when it looked as if Sarries would be in to score in the corner. He also almost got away for a try against the run of play after he kicked ahead and regathered. Farrell managed to get back and make the tackle but Short hung on and forced the penalty which his out-half slotted for points.

 

12. Ollie Devoto – 7/10

Impressive handling at times and made one clean break but really didn’t offer a whole pile in attack other than that. Didn’t miss a tackle so can’t be ridiculed in that regard. 

 

13. Ian Whitten – 7/10

Today it was easy to see why the Irishman has been keeping Slade out of the side this year. Though he didn’t make any highlight plays in the game, he carried hard to the gainline each time he got the ball and his tackling was immaculate throughout.

 

14. Jack Nowell – 8/10

Saved his teams bacon on a couple of occasions with some top quality defensive work. Seemed untouchable in attack as well, as he glided through the Sarries defence time and time again. Crucially went in for the first try of the game with a timely pick and go.

 

15. Phil Dollman – 8/10

Magnificent performance from the man at the back. Saracens couldn’t contain him all day as he broke the first tackle every time with beautiful footwork. Started the play that led to the first try by beating Farrell on the inside at a midfield scrum.

 

Honourable mentions from the bench:

 

20. Sam Simmonds – 7/10

Continued the impressive work of Thomas Waldrom when called upon from the bench. Made some massive defensive hits, carried well and got through a huge amount of work at the breakdown.

 

21. Will Chudley – 8/10

Continued the solid work of Stuart Townsend when called upon form the bench. Put in some excellent box kicking, distributed the ball accurately and made some excellent sniping breaks with ball in hand.

 

22. Henry Slade – 8/10

Made an incredible impact when called upon late off the bench. Kicked exceptionally well out of hand, in particular finding touch in the corner to set up the game winning try.