A look on the workforce sheet steered this is perhaps a tough afternoon for Gloucester and so it proved. Exeter’s worldwide contingent, led by Wales’s Dafydd Jenkins and spearheaded by virtuoso shows by England internationals Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Henry Slade, saved their playoff hopes alive with a fluent bonus-point victory.
Slade kicked 13 factors – an ideal six out of six – and stylishly contributed to a fluid attacking show from Rob Baxter’s males, who scored 5 tries. Jacques Vermeulen acquired two, one in every half, whereas Dan John and Olly Woodburn crossed earlier than the break and Feyi-Waboso sealed the bonus level after it. Exeter host Harlequins at Sandy Park in a few weeks’ time earlier than a last Premiership project away towards Leicester at Welford Street. Whereas the assault functioned properly on this South-West derby, they might want to sharpen up defensively to pressure their method into the playoffs.
Jonny Might – who revealed this week he’ll depart Kingsholm on the finish of the season, in all probability for a transfer overseas – crossed for a strive, together with Jack Clement and Arthur Clark, to provide the Cherry and Whites some hope – however they may simply have trailed by much more than 14 factors at half-time, and had been principally outclassed by extra cohesive opponents.
The Chiefs had been dynamic in possession from the beginning and Slade’s penalty capitalised on their early possession on six minutes. A sensible cost down by Tom Cairns, the Exeter No 9, almost led to the opening strive earlier than Gloucester launched a uncommon raid downfield and Max Llewellyn knocked on as he sprinted over the road, with Woodburn desperately trying a sort out.
Feyi-Waboso threatened early and sometimes, busting by way of tackles and tearing into house at any time when it appeared. Sadly for George Skivington’s aspect that was occurring with worrying frequency and the medical scholar appeared a category aside following his introduction to the Six Nations by Steve Borthwick, the England head coach, up to now few months.
It was Feyi-Waboso’s burst on the Chiefs’ left that created discipline place for Vermeulen, the openside, to bash over from brief vary for a traditional Exeter rating after 14 minutes. The house defence appeared more and more chaotic and Jenkins, carrying the captain’s armband, personified their mix of silk and metal, his distribution usually proving telling.
Exeter’s wing Woodburn almost pulled off an interception when Gloucester discovered themselves in unfamiliar territory – the Exeter 22 – however his knock on was snaffled by Jake Morris, who offloaded to Might in loads of house on the appropriate wing for a easy end simply earlier than the half-hour mark.
Feyi-Waboso’s evasiveness was on present once more when a superb Jenkins offload off the ground gave him a glimpse of the road. He wriggled in touch and reached for the strive however misplaced it ahead. However Slade instantly ran an excellent line across the nook on the left wing, Jenkins feeding the skin centre, and Woodburn making use of the end for the third attempt to Gloucester staring down the barrel.
It was Gloucester who started brightly quickly after the break – Morris narrowly failed to scale back their arrears when he was pressured into contact within the nook – earlier than Harvey Skinner, the spectacular Exeter fly-half, produced an excellent floating go for Feyi-Waboso on the appropriate. He had a simple process to complete, such was the standard of the go, and the bonus level secured.
Slade nailed a tough fourth conversion to make it 5 out of 5 – worldwide class counting once more – however Skivington’s males had been instantly again in with a glimmer of hope when Clark’s cost down allowed him to flop over for the hosts’ third strive. Baxter’s males had been nonetheless within the ascendancy, although, and Vermeulen powered over for his second strive on 59 minutes to largely extinguish Gloucester’s hopes of a comeback. Fortunately for Skivington they needn’t fear about relegation: however Baxter’s achievements with a new-look squad this season reveals there’s loads of laborious work forward for Gloucester.