Two-try Vermeulen ‘close’ to eligibility for England call-up
Gloucester could yet end this campaign with two more trophies than Exeter Chiefs, but one side would still harbour significantly more optimism over next season. This breezy bonus-point victory meant Rob Baxter’s men retained a slim hope of reaching the Premiership play-offs. Even if they fall short, followers of Exeter should be highly enthusiastic about the future.
Jacques Vermeulen, the former South Africa Under-20 international, scored twice and was the stand-out of Exeter’s muscular back-row display, in harness with Ethan Roots and Greg Fisilau. Tantalisingly, Baxter confirmed that Vermeulen was “close” to qualifying for England on residency. His ballast, mobility and breakdown nous will be familiar to head coach Steve Borthwick. It is fairly easy to imagine the industrious, Paarl-born flanker, 29, thriving in a Test match.
Speaking of bristling ball-carriers, Immanuel Feyi-waboso maintained the impetus of his exceptional breakthrough with another all-action effort that included a try. While Henry Slade, at 31, is a stalwart of this team, the positive chatter about a contract extension has added to a feeling that Exeter can mount a title tilt next year. He slotted all six kicks from the tee, attacked with typical elegance, and led the defensive line.
Baxter insisted play-off permutations had not figured in Exeter’s planning. Instead, they have been itching to prove that they are learning on the job. Just do not call it overachievement.
“We probably are overachieving a little bit, but in other people’s minds more than our own,” Baxter explained.
“The growth we’ve got is absolutely incredible,” added Baxter, with the reminder that Dafydd Jenkins, 21, the Wales and Exeter captain, could still represent the University of Exeter. “I wanted Gloucester to look at us and go: ‘B----- hell, we’ve got to play Exeter twice next year.’ When we play Harlequins [on May 11], I want them to say the same. All of our lads will be a year older, and they’re not going to be 33. They’re going to be 22.”
George Skivington, meanwhile, was left to rue missed opportunities and passive moments. Damningly, he suggested that Gloucester had one eye on Saturday’s Challenge Cup semi-final against Benetton. Victory in that tournament would complement Premiership Cup success in March. As a mark of their chaotic build-up, though, Gloucester fielded two scrum-halves on the bench, with Santiago Carreras having had surgery following appendicitis last week.
Skivington pointed out that Tomos Williams and Gareth Ans
combe would add experience for next season. “I definitely won’t be happy with the league [Gloucester sit ninth] regardless of what happens,” the head coach conceded. “There are three trophies you can go after in a year. If you get one, you’ve achieved something. We set out to get the Premiership Cup and we got it. Does that make the Premiership form OK? No. It’s a real season of highs and lows.”
Feyi-waboso was into his work quickly. He picked up from a breakdown and buffeted Arthur Clark backwards before chasing his own up-and-under to whack Ruan Ackermann. Slade split the uprights to punish a soft breakdown penalty conceded by Ackermann.
After a scrambling tackle by Olly Woodburn on Max Llewellyn, Exeter found fluency, with Feyiwaboso popping up off the shoulders of Harvey Skinner and Slade. They eked out a close-range penalty and Vermeulen finished.
Dan John had the second, following up Slade’s first-phase break up the middle.
Close to the half-hour, Gloucester mustered a scrappy response through Jonny May but Slade found Woodburn with a well-weighted pass. Jack Clement picked a nice angle and charged through to keep the hosts close enough, but botched chances followed either side of the break. Feyi-waboso and Vermeulen with his second proved Exeter were the more accurate, although Clark charged down Tom Cairns for Gloucester’s third try.
In a ragged final quarter, Gloucester showed plenty of endeavour for little reward. Home supporters left Kingsholm frustrated. They would be forgiven for feeling envious, too.
had initially reached for his pocket to dismiss Care, only to lower his hand “to fully assess the situation”.
Dickson, according to the statement, had initially thought that a ruck had been formed and that Care had “cynically” tackled Mitchell while off his feet. In fact, no ruck had formed on the back of Augustus’s run. As a result, there was “nothing illegal” about Care’s challenge on Mitchell.
Northampton were awarded a penalty for Care’s push on Ramm, but Dickson felt that there was no need for a second yellow card because Ramm was not in a position to receive an offload from Augustus, having overrun his Northampton colleague.
The statement noted that, had a ruck been formed, Ramm would have had to enter it from the side, therefore risking a penalty anyway. Care was replaced within moments of the incident with Will Porter, his deputy, scoring twice to land a 41-32 victory for Harlequins.
Dickson, a former scrum-half who represented the London club between 2009 and 2017 before pursuing a career in officiating, showed three yellow cards to Harlequins over the game.
As well as sending Care to the sin-bin in the first half, he showed yellow cards to Louis Lynagh and Tyrone Green.
Harlequins survived those setbacks, with a late penalty from Jarrod Evans keeping Northampton to a single losing bonus point. Saints remain at the top of the Premiership table, though their lead over Saracens has been cut to four points.