Saracens
EXETER PREVIEW: PLEASE POST ALL MATCH RELATED COMMENTS HERE
By The Saracens
October 20 2022
Well after a tumultuous week, both in rugby and in politics (nuff said), our eyes turn back to the game on the pitch. And Saturday sees our unbeaten boys head west to Sandy Park. There was a time when Exeter was everyone’s favourite 2nd team and Sandy Park everyone’s favourite away venue. No more I suspect. Events over the past few years and some injudicious comments by one Tony Rowe have led to a change of heart for most of us and there isn’t much love lost between the 2 clubs any more. I suspect Exeter have never forgiven us for that Premiership Final back in 2019 when they thought they’d finally got our number – only for us to decide to play for the last 10 minutes and snatch the silverware from their hands.
It's not that easy to interpret the Premiership Table right now with bye weeks to take into account and the results (or not) of games against Wuss & Wasps still to be decided but Sarries sit undisputedly on top with maximum points from 5 games. Exeter have played a game less and are currently in 7th on 14 points. Exeter’s only defeat has come to high-flying Sale Sharks in round 3. In their last Premiership Game, Chiefs put 50 on Bristol with both Nowell and Woodburn scoring a brace a piece. Luke Cowan-Dickie has also been on the scoresheet in each of the Chiefs last 2 games, one the traditional set-piece effort but the other was a “backs try” racing under the sticks to score. Yoda has picked Nowell, Cowan Dickie & Sam Simmonds while Jonny Gray and Stuart Hogg are in the Scotland Squad. Henry Slade will be wanting to prove Yoda wrong for leaving him out.
As for Sarries, injuries are mounting and there isn’t much information coming out from the club. Did Mako do his penance? Will he be available on Saturday? Hopefully Tompkins will be back this weekend, he was sorely missed against Bath. What more Ben Earl needs to do though to make his case is beyond me!
Last season Chiefs won the corresponding fixture 18-15 with Sarries responding 38-22 at StoneX. Sarries will do well to keep this run going, especially after last weekend’s performance. I don’t see Exeter letting us off the hook if we play that badly again. But Saturday is another day – who knows we’ll probably be in a different world by then!
I suspect Sarries will start something like:
Goode, Malins, Loz, Tompkins, Daly, Farrell, Van Zyl; M Vunipola, Pifeleti, Riccioni, Itoje, Hunter-Hill, McFarland, Earl, B Vunipola.
Just as an aside, I see the Exeter Chiefs Naked IV Calendar has launched. Nice bit of eye candy ladies. Shame it’s in Black and White!
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Discussion started by TheSaracens.com , 20/10/2022 13:01
TheSaracens.com
20/10/2022 13:01
20/10/2022 13:01
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:11:01:17:41:35 by Darraghgirl.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:11:01:17:41:35 by Darraghgirl.
Sounds about right to me, though I'd expect Pifeleti rather than Mawi in the middle of the front row!
Successful hills are here to stay
Everything must be this way
Gentle streets where people play
Welcome to the Soft Parade
🌻🌻🌻
Successful hills are here to stay
Everything must be this way
Gentle streets where people play
Welcome to the Soft Parade
🌻🌻🌻
It's up!
Saracens Men team to play Exeter Chiefs:
1 Mako Vunipola
2 Kapeli Pifeleti
3 Christian Judge
4 Maro Itoje
5 Hugh Tizard
6 Theo McFarland
7 Ben Earl
8 Billy Vunipola
9 Ivan van Zyl
10 Owen Farrell (c)
11 Alex Lewington
12 Nick Tompkins
13 Alex Lozowski
14 Max Malins
15 Elliot Daly
Replacements:
16 Theo Dan
17 James Flynn
18 Alec Clarey
19 Callum Hunter-Hill
20 Andy Christie
21 Jackson Wray
22 Ruben de Haas
23 Alex Goode
Saracens Men team to play Exeter Chiefs:
1 Mako Vunipola
2 Kapeli Pifeleti
3 Christian Judge
4 Maro Itoje
5 Hugh Tizard
6 Theo McFarland
7 Ben Earl
8 Billy Vunipola
9 Ivan van Zyl
10 Owen Farrell (c)
11 Alex Lewington
12 Nick Tompkins
13 Alex Lozowski
14 Max Malins
15 Elliot Daly
Replacements:
16 Theo Dan
17 James Flynn
18 Alec Clarey
19 Callum Hunter-Hill
20 Andy Christie
21 Jackson Wray
22 Ruben de Haas
23 Alex Goode
I just hope that the lineout, in attack or defence, will function a whole lot batter than it managed against Bath.
Innings
Points win matches: tries win hearts and minds.
Innings
Points win matches: tries win hearts and minds.
Exeter Chiefs v Saracens
Referee: Tom Foley
ARs: Jack Makepeace & Jonathan Healy
TMO: David Rose
Referee: Tom Foley
ARs: Jack Makepeace & Jonathan Healy
TMO: David Rose
Exeter Chiefs team news
15 Stuart Hogg
14 Jack Nowell
13 Henry Slade
12 Ian Whitten
11 Olly Woodburn
10 Harvey Skinner
9 Jack Maunder
1 Alec Hepburn
2 LukÄ™ Cowan-Dickie (capa)
3 Harry Williams
4 Ruben Van Heerden
5 Jonny Gray
6 Dave Ewers
7 Christ Tshiunza
8 Jacques Vermeulen
Replacements
16 Jack Yeandle
17 Josh Iosefa-Scott
18 Patrick Schickerling
19 Jack Dunne
20 Sam Simmonds
21 Sam Maunder
22 Joe Simmonds
23 Rory O’Loughlin
15 Stuart Hogg
14 Jack Nowell
13 Henry Slade
12 Ian Whitten
11 Olly Woodburn
10 Harvey Skinner
9 Jack Maunder
1 Alec Hepburn
2 LukÄ™ Cowan-Dickie (capa)
3 Harry Williams
4 Ruben Van Heerden
5 Jonny Gray
6 Dave Ewers
7 Christ Tshiunza
8 Jacques Vermeulen
Replacements
16 Jack Yeandle
17 Josh Iosefa-Scott
18 Patrick Schickerling
19 Jack Dunne
20 Sam Simmonds
21 Sam Maunder
22 Joe Simmonds
23 Rory O’Loughlin
Some stupid moments from Owen and Mako, Ex not really making their possession count luckily for us. Still don't understand how they get away with so much at the breakdown though
I know there’s a lot of spice in this fixture but frustrating we seem to lose our heads the last few times we’ve gone down to Sandy Park. If we can survive the latest yellow and keep everyone on the field the we might give ourselves a chance with the wind behind us.
Bloody hell can we stop leaving it until the last minute to win it. Not sure my heart can take it and I'm only 36!
Goode wins it with a last minute penalty. FT 20-22
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:10:22:16:54:45 by Sarriebone.
Goode wins it with a last minute penalty. FT 20-22
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:10:22:16:54:45 by Sarriebone.
What a game, my jog my!
No close up on Moany Rowe after Goode’s kick though what a shame.
No close up on Moany Rowe after Goode’s kick though what a shame.
I would never in a million years have predicted before the game that we would get 7 scrum penalties and Exeter get 0.
Ian Peel should be man of the match for that result.
Bloody good win against a very strong team.
Shame that next week against Sale it will be much weaker teams battling it out.
Ian Peel should be man of the match for that result.
Bloody good win against a very strong team.
Shame that next week against Sale it will be much weaker teams battling it out.
Thanks very much to the Chiefs fans for booing through Alex’s final winning kick. Hugely sporting gesture which clearly settled his nerves and determination …….
That’s 4 out of 6 wins that have gone to the wire - nobody can complain that the Premiership isn’t exciting and competitive this year.
2 of those 4 required us to either convert a try (Farrell) or kick a penalty (Goode) with the clock in the red. It takes nerves of steel in such match defining moments.
Well done Alex on equalling the club record of games played and as Smally said we can celebrate him breaking it next week at home!
2 of those 4 required us to either convert a try (Farrell) or kick a penalty (Goode) with the clock in the red. It takes nerves of steel in such match defining moments.
Well done Alex on equalling the club record of games played and as Smally said we can celebrate him breaking it next week at home!
It was amusing listening to bbc Devon and the commentators compliment the supporters for not making a noise while Goode was kicking. All you could hear was an awfully unsportspersonlike crowd. Lol
Quote:Nosher1979
What a game, my jog my!
No close up on Moany Rowe after Goode’s kick though what a shame.
Shame on BT sport, we had to see him close up when they were winning, multiple times! 😂
Great to pull through, that’s the sort of physical matchup we were losing last season. Tizard has added a lot of grunt up front and CHH is a proper force to bring off the bench. Massive hand to the front row for their dominance in the scrum, Judge was great and Pifeleti improved his throwing dramatically from previous weeks and in blustery conditions.
Quote:Ha, I and many other Saracens fans not only cheering that dramatic finale but shouting for BT Sport to cut back to Moany Tony if only for balance of opinion. Sale will be interesting if they hold their 100% record later.Nosher1979
No close up on Moany Rowe after Goode’s kick though what a shame.
My wife has told me that she's considering ending our marriage due to my utter obsession with rugby.
I'm begging her for one more try!
Really deep dug performance, great improvement on last week , well done Sarries
So much booing, so much Tomahawk chopping, so much of Rowe's sour face. Classy bunch down there. Makes any win very enjoyable indeed.
Very happy. What a game, IMO that genuinely would have been worthy of a final. Both sides left nothing out there and whilst I think the better side won we could have had no complaints had Chiefs snuck it.
Fantastic performance form the whole team but super props (literally) to the 6 front-rowers. I don't know enough to know whether they were just better, had favourable ref interpretation or Chiefs front row isn't what it was but I'll go with the former! Watching them marmalise Chiefs with Mako, Dan and Clarey was beautiful. Excellent game by Judge.
Great in attack and defence and kicking from Daly and Malins showed what we'll miss. At least a couple of try-saving tackles, massive defensive shift against Chiefs big carriers and integral in the move that resulted in McFarlands try. Great identification and kick from Lozo too.
Hopefully Farrell and LCD are ok. Forget about Tony he's not Chiefs owner whatever he thinks and they're a great club. Brilliant to a very passionate Tiki-Tonga! in the changing room
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:10:23:11:03:32 by OldMarovian.
Fantastic performance form the whole team but super props (literally) to the 6 front-rowers. I don't know enough to know whether they were just better, had favourable ref interpretation or Chiefs front row isn't what it was but I'll go with the former! Watching them marmalise Chiefs with Mako, Dan and Clarey was beautiful. Excellent game by Judge.
Great in attack and defence and kicking from Daly and Malins showed what we'll miss. At least a couple of try-saving tackles, massive defensive shift against Chiefs big carriers and integral in the move that resulted in McFarlands try. Great identification and kick from Lozo too.
Hopefully Farrell and LCD are ok. Forget about Tony he's not Chiefs owner whatever he thinks and they're a great club. Brilliant to a very passionate Tiki-Tonga! in the changing room
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:10:23:11:03:32 by OldMarovian.
Exeter fans all around me top class and very gracious. A bit of pantomime booing but nothing serious!
Well done lads! Sadly had to listen to Radio Devon commentary and as you would expect they felt the ref had a mare with the scrum and shouldn’t have given us all those pens. They did always look to ramp up the supposed bad blood and niggle between the 2 sides, too. Glad we came through that, could have lost it and we couldn’t have complained. Will watch later in the knowledge all will be Goode in the end!
Thought our scrum looked really good today - and won the game for us; well done boys
Chiefs fan here ……….Congratulations on the win.
And apologies for the moronic booing at Goodes penalty kick. I’m not proud of that one bit. There is a ‘dislike’ towards your club from many at SP but that’s no reason to disrespect a kicker
Unfortunately we seem to attract a lot of mindless idiots who have no interest in the game …..possibly students on the lash but I don’t want to label folk.
I thought we did well first half and was confident we would press on and get a narrow win, but we were in truth dumb, gave away far to many penalties which quite frankly played into your hands. I think it was a case of us not dealing with your pressure as opposed to you playing better rugby.
You’ll be in the mix at the end of the season for sure.
In response to Barty II …..the ‘chop’ is a dirge……it’s a three tone chant that is not going away
And apologies for the moronic booing at Goodes penalty kick. I’m not proud of that one bit. There is a ‘dislike’ towards your club from many at SP but that’s no reason to disrespect a kicker
Unfortunately we seem to attract a lot of mindless idiots who have no interest in the game …..possibly students on the lash but I don’t want to label folk.
I thought we did well first half and was confident we would press on and get a narrow win, but we were in truth dumb, gave away far to many penalties which quite frankly played into your hands. I think it was a case of us not dealing with your pressure as opposed to you playing better rugby.
You’ll be in the mix at the end of the season for sure.
In response to Barty II …..the ‘chop’ is a dirge……it’s a three tone chant that is not going away
Quote:The Judge did very well against both opponents, both choosing to hinge. Pifileti plays like I thought Tolofua would. Very good!derbyshire fan
Thought our scrum looked really good today - and won the game for us; well done boys
Congrats from an Exe fan. I thought you were more clinical and took your chances better than did we.
I am disgusted at the treatment of Alex Goode as he kicked the winning penalty. I thought we were better than that. In comparison the treatment of OF’s indiscretions seemed ironic rather than bad tempered. !
In all a proper old fashioned rugby match with both sides knocking lumps off each other in a generally good natured manner.
I am disgusted at the treatment of Alex Goode as he kicked the winning penalty. I thought we were better than that. In comparison the treatment of OF’s indiscretions seemed ironic rather than bad tempered. !
In all a proper old fashioned rugby match with both sides knocking lumps off each other in a generally good natured manner.
ChiefUther...it happens mate, A few different decisions and you would have won with a bonus point!
Quote:and Alex Goode, Mr 100%. Mr 338. Thanks for so many brilliant memories, here's to more to come!!derbyshire fan
Thought our scrum looked really good today - and won the game for us; well done boys
Quote:myleftboot
ChiefUther...it happens mate, A few different decisions and you would have won with a bonus point!
Which decisions do you think should have been given differently?
Better side won on the day.
Didn't think the ref had a clue at the breakdown for either side, some consistency would have been nice!
Appalled at the booing before Goode took his kick, absolutely no place for it whatsoever.
Massive congratulations to him on equalling a record that, had England had competent management, he'd never have got near.
Didn't think the ref had a clue at the breakdown for either side, some consistency would have been nice!
Appalled at the booing before Goode took his kick, absolutely no place for it whatsoever.
Massive congratulations to him on equalling a record that, had England had competent management, he'd never have got near.
Quote:How do you men? Please explainmyleftboot
First up, Stu Hogg not wasting the longer studs
Read some of the Chiefs board comments. These guys know a great deal more than some of the professional commentators. Analysis of what went wrong for their team today is clinical and seems spot-on.
Innings
Points win matches: tries win hearts and minds.
Innings
Points win matches: tries win hearts and minds.
Quote:ChiefUtherQuote:myleftboot
ChiefUther...it happens mate, A few different decisions and you would have won with a bonus point!
Which decisions do you think should have been given differently?
I couldn’t say but I think the original comment was fair. Such an evenly matched contest. Many crucial decisions made by the ref that on another day with another ref might possibly have gone the other way. Both teams gave us a great contest.
Quote:Are you fishing? It was a very close game, where the major talking points were mistakes, and injuries rather than genius. Hogg is your highest paid player, he fell over in dangerous positions at least. You seem determined what was given as a friendly handshake into forther proof of our, dunno whatChiefUtherQuote:How do you men? Please explainmyleftboot
First up, Stu Hogg not wasting the longer studs
Quote:myleftbootQuote:Are you fishing? It was a very close game, where the major talking points were mistakes, and injuries rather than genius. Hogg is your highest paid player, he fell over in dangerous positions at least. You seem determined what was given as a friendly handshake into forther proof of our, dunno whatChiefUtherQuote:How do you men? Please explainmyleftboot
First up, Stu Hogg not wasting the longer studs
Mlb - I took ChiefUther's post as a genuine question because he didn't understand your point about the studs. Not fishing at all IMHO.
On another point I have little confidence in Foley, although I don't think he had any game changing howlers today. However I did wonder if only one team had got his memo that side-entry to the rucks and mauls was allowed yesterday.
MLB I think he was genuinely asking what you meant, he's not the only one that didn't get the metaphor!
Very gracious from all the Chiefs above, thank you. Every club has its morons who give the rest a bad image. Hopefully see some of you for a warm welcome at the StoneX.
Very gracious from all the Chiefs above, thank you. Every club has its morons who give the rest a bad image. Hopefully see some of you for a warm welcome at the StoneX.
Quote:Debenair
In all a proper old fashioned rugby match with both sides knocking lumps off each other in a generally good natured manner.
A really hard fought victory against a decent Exeter side. I thought Slade, Nowell and Hogg looked lively for them but they lacked something at half back. Fair play to our defence which was very organised and disciplined.
Thought the ref did fine - got the two yellows spot on and otherwise fair to both sides and kept a lid on things. Our scrum looked decent, hence the penalty count, and Schickerling got completely turned inside out in that last scrum by Mako who put in a decent shift (other than the 10 minutes in the bin).
Thought Williams was a bit fortunate early on when he went into a ruck trying to take someone's head off with his shoulder but only caught fresh air. That was the one Owen got penalised for for taking umbrage.
Just for the Daly doubter (I can't remember who it is) - another excellent aerial display by Elliot at 15 in tricky conditions.
Thought the ref did fine - got the two yellows spot on and otherwise fair to both sides and kept a lid on things. Our scrum looked decent, hence the penalty count, and Schickerling got completely turned inside out in that last scrum by Mako who put in a decent shift (other than the 10 minutes in the bin).
Thought Williams was a bit fortunate early on when he went into a ruck trying to take someone's head off with his shoulder but only caught fresh air. That was the one Owen got penalised for for taking umbrage.
Just for the Daly doubter (I can't remember who it is) - another excellent aerial display by Elliot at 15 in tricky conditions.
Quote:JimG
Just for the Daly doubter (I can't remember who it is) - another excellent aerial display by Elliot at 15 in tricky conditions.
That'd be me. You can say many things about me but whenever he's played well I acknowledge it.
when is a ruck not a ruck.
when the two clearer-outs go a yard or two beyond the man on the floor and leave him all alone, holding the ball on the ground.
I have two observations. Why Mr.Foley did you let Exeter get away with this at almost every breakdown. Secondly, when Billy entered behind the two American Football style blockers, but legally in the correct manner to the actual ruck. That is if it still existed and attempted to play the ball that was out. Why Mr. Foley did you penalise him for competing in a situation when the #9 should get no protection
when the two clearer-outs go a yard or two beyond the man on the floor and leave him all alone, holding the ball on the ground.
I have two observations. Why Mr.Foley did you let Exeter get away with this at almost every breakdown. Secondly, when Billy entered behind the two American Football style blockers, but legally in the correct manner to the actual ruck. That is if it still existed and attempted to play the ball that was out. Why Mr. Foley did you penalise him for competing in a situation when the #9 should get no protection
Tom Foley may not be perfect, but he deserves a medal for awarding Sarries a 7th scrum penalty when it was potentially a result decider.
How many refs would have bottled that, and called a reset?
It's a long time since Sports network paid anything!
How many refs would have bottled that, and called a reset?
It's a long time since Sports network paid anything!
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