All White for Chiefs as slick Nic helps put them top
EXETER’S former Australia scrum-half Nic White produced two inspired moments which left Newcastle, this season’s Premiership shock side, playing catch-up for the rest of the match.
The bonus-point win took the champions back to the top of the table as they head into the European Challenge Cup and White, who turned his back on international rugby in 2015 after winning 22 caps, said: “It’s been everything I expected and more.
“When you see how hard the forwards work it makes it easy to play my role.”
Newcastle, who went to Sandy Park in second place, overcame two yellow cards to contest the match all the way but director of rugby Dean Richards described the dressing room atmosphere as one of “frustration”.
Henry Slade’s try-saving tackle on Juan-Pablo Socino behind the line, denied Newcastle an early try before Exeter took control.
The home side showed their intent by opting for touch rather than taking an easy penalty and it paid off when, two phases later, close-season signing White dummied over for his first Chiefs try.
Gareth Steenson extended the lead to 10-0 from in front of the posts before White carved out the second try, drawing two defenders before presenting a clear run-in to countryman Lachie Turner, who had switched to the wing from full-back only a minute earlier after England winger Jack Nowell suffered a knock below his left eye which resulted in a hospital trip for a scan.
Newcastle drove skipper Will Welch over for their opener but the respite was short as the Chiefs struck with the try of the match.
The ball went through five pairs of hands before No.8 Sam Simmonds, with danger-man Olly Woodburn outside him, cut inside two defenders to register his fifth try of the season.
Newcastle responded again, with Tait and Vereniki Goneva combining to put centre Socino in but Sonatane Takulua missed his second conversion to leave the Falcons trailing 24-10.
Socino was yellowcarded four minutes into the second half for leading with his elbow, catching tackler Ian Whitten in the face, and Steenson landed the penalty.
Five minutes after being introduced for the first appearance of his second spell with Newcastle, former England star Toby Flood created a try for Tait and added the conversion to cut the deficit to ten points.
It took Exeter only four minutes to secure the bonus point, with Don Armand’s lineout take producing a steamroller drive which earned a penalty try and cost Newcastle their second yellow with winger DTH van der Merwe binned for entering the maul at the side, preventing the touchdown.
The Falcons secured a deserved losing bonus point when replacement scrumhalf Sam Stuart, from the base of the setpiece, sent left-wing Vereniki Goneva in down the short side for his side’s fourth try.