‘Flat-out’ Cowan-dickie gives England a reminder of what they missed in autumn
18-15 Saracens
Rob Baxter hailed Luke Cowandickie for a “flat-out” performance on a try-scoring return for the British and Irish Lions hooker.
Cowan-dickie was given the Exeter captaincy in his first appearance since suffering an ankle injury during a 27-23 win over Wasps on Oct 16.
The 28-year-old missed England’s autumn internationals as a result, with Eddie Jones turning to Jamie George, Jamie Blamire and Nic Dolly in the middle of his front row.
However, Cowan-dickie returned in fine form. He carried with typical venom and was the beneficiary of a powerful maul to register his team’s second try in the 57th minute.
Much earlier, his fierce counterrucking had also forced the initial breakdown penalty from which Billy Vunipola’s dissent for Saracens earned Exeter 20 metres and, eventually, three points.
“You know what kind of character he is,” Baxter, the Exeter director of rugby, said of Cowan-dickie. “He’s flat-out. He’s got one speed, and that’s what he was like today.
“He’s had an incredible period of rehab. Our conditioners almost can’t believe how hard he’s worked. He’s probably come back in better condition than they’ve seen him for quite a while. I think it is a great credit for him that he’s been able to get back this quickly and [to be] in the shape to put in 60 minutes like he has today.”
Despite the busy Tom O’flaherty collecting a Joe Simmonds crosskick to score for Exeter on the stroke of half-time, on the back of a break from Cowan-dickie, Saracens stayed close throughout.
They left a rainy Devon with a losing bonus point after repelling more than 20 phases of Exeter attack late on. Alex Lozowski kicked five penalties and Maro Itoje led an impressive defensive effort, which was backed up by a strong scrummaging display spearheaded by Vincent Koch.
A frustrated Mark Mccall, the Saracens director of rugby, was left to rue his side’s ill-discipline, but is optimistic of another meeting between these rivals in the play-offs.
“It was a game full of mistakes and errors, but two good sides going at each other physically,” Mccall said. “We’re hopeful of being able to play them twice more, not just once more. We’ll see.”