Benetton v Exeter: Five takeaways as Henry ‘clutch’ Slade fires Chiefs to victory in helter-skelter quarter-final
Exeter's Henry Slade celebrates and an inset of Benetton's Jacob Umaga.
Following Exeter Chiefs’ 44-41 victory over Benetton, here are our five takeaways from the Challenge Cup quarter-final.
The top line
A helter-skelter quarter-final befitting the Challenge Cup saw Exeter Chiefs and Benetton throw everything they had at one another in a bid to progress to the semi-finals, with the former coming out on top courtesy of a clutch Henry Slade penalty which sets up a semi-final date with Ulster.
The England veteran was central to Exeter’s victory with a lethal kicking performance, including four conversions and three penalties for a 17-point personal haul. The last of his shots was perhaps the most impressive, even if it wasn’t the trickiest, as he lined up the kick from 27-odd metres out, on the angle with the Treviso crowd jeering in an attempt to put him off. But he held his nerve, as he did for much of the match, to coolly slot the kick that put Exeter 44-41 up, a lead that they maintained with a minute left on the clock.
Once the first whistle went, it was clear that this game was always going to come down to the wire as Niccolo Cannone powered over the line in the fourth minute to put Benetton ahead but his try was quickly cancelled out three minutes later as Olly Woodburn responded for the visitors.
That trend of punch and counter-punch continued throughout the first half as Exeter were awarded a penalty try, Jacob Umaga polished off a stunning attacking move in response on 19 minutes and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso weaved through the Benetton defence four minutes later.
But it was the hosts who had the final say of the opening 40 through Onisi Ratave and then a penalty from Umaga’s boot as the teams went into the sheds all square at 24 points apiece.
Benetton were quickest out the blocks in the first half so it was only fitting that it was Exeter’s turn to start a half more brightly as Harvey Skinner pushed his side ahead in the opening minute but again the Italian response was rapid.
Umaga levelled the scores when he converted Bautista Bernasconi’s try in the 44th minute and Andrea Zambonin made sure that the script was fluid three minutes later as the back-and-forth continued.
Benetton looked to have taken a stronghold on the encounter as Umaga nailed a penalty, scored his second try and added the extras, but Slade had other ideas nailing back-to-back penalties in the 69th and 78th minutes to secure Exeter’s passage to the semi-finals.
Defence optional as attack dominates
It’s easy to look at the final scoreline and rue the lack of defensive pressure from either side and soft tackling, and whilst that is partially true, the two attack coaches must take a lot of credit for the spectacle produced today.
The changes in the escort laws have not only allowed for more of a contest for possession but also created more attacks to be sparked from loose ball, and that was certainly the case today. At the same time, the attacks from the set-pieces were equally impressive as Exeter utilised Slade’s excellent disruption brilliantly while Benetton created space for the likes of Malakai Fekitoa and Tommaso Menoncello.
For much of the match, both teams were able to generate quick ruck speeds with around 40% of their attacking rucks between 0-3 seconds, meaning that they were winning the gainline and making it difficult for the opposition to compete the breakdown. Those stats highlight two things: the defence wasn’t quite of the highest standard, but also just how accurate and effective the respective attacks were.
For Benetton, Lorenzo Cannone was crucial to their success with his hulking carries into the heart of the Exeter defence, regularly taking multiple defenders with him and grabbing a five-pointer. The same is true with Jimmy Roots and he was ably assisted by Tom Hooper and Greg Fisilau.
Benetton show their true colours in fearless performance
It’s been a tough season for Benetton after the departures of Juan Ignacio Brex and Tomas Albornoz. Last season, they finished just outside of the URC play-offs and heading into this quarter-final, their chances of making the last eight are pretty non-existent.
That removed the shackles for the Italians as they turned their focus fully on their Challenge Cup bid and we saw Benetton’s true colours, a team not playing within themselves and fully expressing their strengths.
They competed at the lineout relentlessly and often spoiled Exeter’s possession; their ruck work was superb, and when the opportunity arose, they freed up their back. Benetton also looked far more comfortable with the ball in hand, more confident, than they have in recent matches.
It’s been a disappointing URC campaign, but they can certainly hold their heads up high for their efforts in the Challenge Cup after finishing the pool stages as the second seed team, eked out a hard-fought victory against a strong Cardiff team, and pushed Exeter right to the limit.
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Immanuel Feyi-Waboso builds on blockbuster return as Henry Slade seals the deal
After a stunning Man of the Match display in the round of 16 victory over Munster, Feyi-Waboso played a full 80 minutes for the first time since his recovery from the injury that saw him miss the entirety of the Six Nations.
Once again, he showed his ruthlessness and predatory instincts to get on the scoresheet while causing all kinds of havoc when the ball came his way. He beat three defenders, made 60 running metres, and made two clean breaks.
Feyi-Waboso is a key cog in the Exeter machine, a point he has driven home on his two games back, despite the likes of Paul Brown-Bampoe and Campbell Ridl shining in his absence, and the same is true for England, who sorely missed the world-class winger. The timing of his return quite simply could not have been better for Rob Baxter’s side.
While Feyi-Waboso was superb, the real class act and the difference between the two teams today was stalwart Slade, whose silky skills allowed Exeter to punch through holes in the Italian defensive wall, and whilst his defence wasn’t airtight, it got the job done. But when it mattered the most, he was the man who rose to the occasion and showed nerves of steel.
Looking ahead
Benetton’s season is now pretty much over as they essentially play for pride in their final four games of the United Rugby Championship. They are 12 points adrift of the eighth-placed Bulls, who they face on the final round of the regular season, but have tough meetings against Munster, Leinster and the Sharks before then.
There is an outside chance for them to make the last eight but it’s incredibly unlikely, and they will need a whole host of favours for that to occur.
As for Exeter, a potential double is now very much on the cards as they return to PREM Rugby action where they sit in fourth-place and crucially a semi-final spot. They do have to navigate tough fixtures against Northampton Saints, Gloucester, Bath, Harlequins, Leicester Tigers and Saracens before then with a semi-final meeting with Ulster and a possible final sandwiched in between.
However, Baxter has been there and done that, when it comes to competing on more than one front. Not to forget just how good a job he has done with the team that finished last season in ninth position on the PREM Rugby standings.
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