Baxter forced to dig deep into reserves to keep Sharks at bay
Players take flight for pair of rugby league-inspired tries
A spirited Sale Sharks performance stretched Exeter Chiefs’ resources on Saturday, but a third consecutive bonus-point win only reinforced the enviable depth and cohesion of Rob Baxter’s squad.
Injuries and rotation plans had persuaded Baxter to make seven changes to the starting side who beat Wasps 42-31 a week previously. Then Matt Kvesic and Sam Simmonds were struck by sickness on Friday night. Sean Lonsdale and Tom Lawday, both on dual registration with Cornish Pirates last season, were drafted in hours before kick-off to make their first Premiership starts. The rejigged hosts encountered a difficult test.
With England openside Tom Curry busy throughout, Sale delivered their best display of the season. Marland Yarde pounced on AJ Macginty’s left-footed chip and Bryn Evans scored from a stunning Paolo Odogwu offload in the second half. But, bolstered by the returning Jack Nowell and Jonny Hill, Exeter had enough.
Joe Simmonds, forming a halfback partnership with fellow 21-year-old Jack Maunder, set up Santiago Cordero for a try that stirred Sandy Park. Hill shunted over, another mesmeric Henry Slade run released Maunder senior – later replaced by younger brother and England Under-18 international Sam – and new signing Alex Cuthbert sealed the bonus point. The industrious Lawday completed the scoring late on.
Admitting that improvements will be required next week against the “energy and aggression” of Newcastle at Kingston Park, Baxter was content in the wake of a problem-solving afternoon.
“We just about had enough to see ourselves home,” he said. “Henry Slade was outstanding, which is great news for us and for England.
“We’ve got a lot of plus points – Alex Cuthbert getting a try and looking lively, Jack Nowell back on the pitch, Harry Williams and Luke Cowan-dickie starting, Jonny Hill getting up and running.
“The big bonus is that we have two fresh England international back-rowers [Kvesic and Simmonds] to come back next week.”
Indeed, the back-row reshuffle emphasised Exeter’s strength. Dave Dennis, an 18-cap Wallaby, moved on to the bench. Dave Ewers, who started May’s Premiership decider against Saracens, is available but has yet to feature this campaign.
Meanwhile, a phlegmatic Steve Diamond lamented a failure to capitalise on scoring opportunities. Despite suffering two defeats in the first three matches, Sale’s director of rugby expects to climb the ladder in due course.
South Africa scrum-half Faf de Klerk, an architect of the 36-34 win over New Zealand, will be reintegrated after the Springboks’ return fixture against the All Blacks on Oct 6 and Chris Ashton’s ban ends on Oct 15. Centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg and versatile back James O’connor are nearing fitness again. “I think that when I get the squad together that’s in place and we stick to the plan – and we did for long periods today – we can be challenging for a top-six place,” Diamond said. In August 2015 during England’s Rugby World Cup preparations, before the final squad was named, wings and full-backs separated from the rest of the training group.
A high jumpstyle crash mat was laid down in the corner of the pitch at Pennyhill Park and coach Andy Farrell used a tackle shield to pressurise his charges – including Marland Yarde – as they honed acrobatic finishes.
Players holding the ball in their inside hand and pouncing for the try-line may seem to offer covering defenders more of a chance to force it loose. But the attackers also have more scope to score in tight spaces.
Since 2008, making contact with the corner flag has not constituted “in touch”. So it does not matter if the rest of a try-scorer’s body is over the sideline as long as they are airborne.
Like many skills in rugby union, this has been cribbed from rugby league.
On Saturday, Sale wing Yarde used this technique to dot down amid Jack Nowell’s last-gasp tackle. At the Twickenham Stoop, Joe Cokanasiga juggled an offload and slam-dunked in similar style. The 20-yearold had an even more spectacular effort chalked off because his left knee hit the turf.