Bath v Exeter Chiefs: Five takeaways as hosts prove they are ‘champion team’ in ‘ugly’ win over ‘much improved’ Devonians
Johann van Graan celebrates a win for Bath.
Following Bath’s 19-15 win over Exeter Chiefs in the Premiership, here are our five takeaways from an enthralling game at the Rec.
The top line
The sides couldn’t be further apart in terms of Premiership form, but a break can do strange things in sport.
Bath got off to a lightning-quick start, as Guy Pepper crashed over after just six minutes. After a period of sustained pressure in Exeter’s 22, the dynamic flanker, who has excelled since moving to the West Country, spotted a gap in the Chiefs defence and motored through to open his side’s account for the day.
Exeter needed a strong response, and they got it through Jacques Vermeulen. A monstrous Henry Slade kick teleported the visitors to within five metres of the Bath line, and after some powerful work through the pack the South African native burrowed his way over the line.
Johann van Graan’s side nearly came back with an instant reply, but Ben Spencer’s clever kick just rolled into touch before Will Muir could latch onto it with the try-line lying in wait.
Trench warfare ensued for the remainder of the half, but on the stroke of half-time, Slade gave Exeter a slender lead going into the sheds.
Just like the first-half, Bath struck early in the second forty as Miles Reid snuck over from short range. A sensational break from Muir allowed the hosts to set up shop in the 22, and after a string of penalties, the back-rower made the territory count.
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A string of Bath ill-discipline nearly saw Exeter hit back, but a clever piece of lineout defence from Charlie Ewels got them off scot-free.
Yet more periods of attrition followed, but an interception from Joe Cokanasiga flipped the game on its head, and led to yet another score. After his charge down the pitch, and a penalty, a strong maul allowed replacement Niall Annett to flop over the line for a score.
Exeter needed something to fall their way if they stood a chance of coming back into the game, and they nearly got it. A delicious break from Josh Hodge motored Exeter into Bath territory, but just as he found Will Becconsall, a brilliant turnover from Josh Bayliss gave Bath an easy reprieve.
With the clock entering the red, Exeter struck through Greg Fisilau, but it was too little too late as Bath took the spoils to return to the summit.
Bath lay down marker after impressive Bristol win
The true sign of a title-winning team is their ability to win in different ways, and Bath did just that today as they ground out a tough, ugly victory.
Something the Blue, Black and Whites have become particularly good at under Van Graan is becoming tough to beat, and that was exactly what got them over the line against Exeter.
Bath were put under some serious pressure tonight. Three yellow cards (one in the 80th minute) and a half-time deficit would easily have been an excuse for them to let the game get away from them, but they rallied the troops and got themselves through to another win.
They stepped up in defence when needed, and they made their chances count in attack too to see them over the line. This sort of character and grit is what turns normal sides into champion teams.
This is also the exact response following Bristol’s emphatic win yesterday. Many people are beginning to think the Bears are the best team in the Premiership, but this win against Exeter should certainly push Bath into that conversation at the top. This ability to just not lose will be a really handy tool in their fight to claim top-spot, even with Bristol playing champagne rugby.
Exeter improvements, but questions remain
It’s been a pretty dire spell for the Chiefs, but they looked much improved against Bath tonight. Defence has been a huge issue for the Devonians this year, highlighted most by the sudden sacking of Omar Mounamie, but they managed to restrict Bath’s attack and contain players like Will Butt, Ollie Lawrence, Tom de Glanville and Cokanasiga.
They still had that aggressive nature, but it was more controlled and situation-dependent rather than the flat-out blitz we’ve seen from them this year, which should certainly please both Rob Baxter and the Exeter faithful.
Exeter have also been found wanting up front this year, particularly in the carry, but today they really took it to Bath in that department. Fisilau, Ethan Roots and Dan Frost were able to make consistent in-roads through the defence and then allowed the likes of Will Rigg and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso to run through space.
The maul also functioned very well, especially in the build-up to their opening score, and this return to their DNA should put them in a better spot to attack the season moving forward.
A losing bonus point was a nice reward, and they need to use this performance as a springboard for a win in top-level competition.
Whilst they were better than previous outings, questions still remain. Bath were shown three yellow cards in the game, but only came up with seven points combined over those periods despite their pressure. Elsewhere, the set-piece was a tad hit-and-miss, but most of that can be pinpointed on the fact they faced Thomas du Toit in the scrum.
Will Muir v Immanuel Feyi-Waboso
TNT Sports commentator David Flatman said you could make a 10-minute highlight reel from the battle between Muir and Feyi-Waboso, and that probably sums it up perfectly. This head-to-head should have certainly pricked the ears of Steve Borthwick too.
Both players were in exceptional touch in tough conditions, but crucially they managed to beat each other on different occasions. Muir plays a bit wider than Feyi-Waboso, and that came to the fore when he made a line break past his opposite man, and Bath utilised him well to get in-behind the defence too. It wasn’t all plain sailing for the Bath man though, as Feyi-Waboso’s ability to power through tackles meant he came up with some brilliant carries as a result.
The way they played, and the way they were used by both their sides as well, also fits perfectly into how England want to play their wingers too. Both men were quality under the high ball, and also managed to create chances as a result.
This battle will certainly do both men no harm at all as they seek to make the Six Nations squad, and both will feel they did a really good job.
England watch
As with any Premiership game, there were plenty of current England players and hopefuls on display, and today was no exception.
For Bath, the aforementioned Muir was class, but Ben Spencer also proved some doubters wrong. He’s had a tough autumn after being inexplicably dropped by England after the Australia defeat, and despite the yellow card he showed exactly why he is thought of as the best game manager in the Premiership. His box kicking was accurate and he gave Russell a decent platform too in tough conditions.
Another man robbed of England minutes this Autumn was Ted Hill, and again despite his yellow card he was on smoke against the Chiefs. He packed a real punch in the contact area, and made himself very busy around the park too. He certainly proved a point to Borthwick with that showing.
Likewise, Pepper yet again had a brilliant game and was right at the heart of Bath’s impressive pack. His try got them off to a brilliant start, and he really took the fight to Exeter up front.
The visitors also had some decent performances that will interest Borthwick. Dropped flanker Roots had a very good outing, as did newly-qualified Vermeulen. England A men Fisilau and Rusi Tuima also got themselves about too with a solid showing. As written earlier Feyi-Waboso was also great.
This might seem like a lot of back-rowers, but it was certainly a day for them given the horrific conditions in the West Country!
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