‘Exeter timing their run perfectly’ – Hepher

Exeter Chiefs assistant coach Ali Hepher believes his team have finally played at their best after a fine win over Northampton Saints moved them in to joint top spot on the table.

Wasps’ defeat at Harlequins left the door open for the Chiefs to join them on 79 points, and they survived a scare to become the first team in Premiership history to secure seven bonus-point wins in a row.

Wingers Jack Nowell and Olly Woodburn stole the show, as the pair combined for three tries – while there were also scores for Don Armand, Ian Whitten and Sam Hill.

And Hepher believes they are timing their run perfectly, with the Premiership semi-finals round the corner.

“We left some tries out there, but we are pleased with the way the guys kept coming, which was the mental attitude we needed,” he told the Premiership’s official website.

“Yes, we have been winning with bonus points, but we hadn’t been performing right at our top, but today was getting towards it.

“The last few weeks have been tough for Jack Nowell. Coming out of the Six Nations has been a real tough one through conditioning and the mental pressures as well, so he has just been a little bit off himself, and he admitted that.

“He showed why he has been selected for this Lions tour, and why he should be going as well.”

Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder admitted his side were outplayed, saying Exeter’s physicality upfront proved to be the difference.

“I thought we were well beaten,” he said.

“Over the last few weeks we’ve competed well against some of the top sides, but right from the start today Exeter looked after the ball and were very physical.

“I thought we defended quite well, but it took its toll, and it took its toll in attack because whenever we did get the ball we just couldn’t keep hold of it and didn’t have that physicality needed to break down their defence.”