How Chiefs rated: A Herculean effort from Baxter’s boys
CHARLIE Hynes takes a closer look at the individual performances of the men that helped Exeter Chiefs complete their unbelievable rise to the top:
It was far more than a 15-man effort with the back row replaced either side of the hour mark with the replacements coming on and doing their bit in creating history.
15 Stuart Hogg – 9
The full-back was solid under the high ball and also made a vital turnover in his own 22 on 62 minutes just as Racing were gathering momentum for their late onslaught.
14 Jack Nowell – 9
The England man made a great read to intercept Finn Russell’s poor pass and then produced a great offload on the turn to put Slade in for the second half score. Nowell received a cut to the head but came back on the field to Eddie Jones’ relief.
13 Henry Slade – 9
Slade was back to his best as he offered a constant attacking threat for Chiefs. Saved by a matter of millimetres as his high challenge on Juan Imhoff went unpunished. However, He made up for it as he scored what would prove to be the winning try.
12 Ian Whitten – 8
The Irishman offered stability in attack and defence when it counted for the Chiefs. He made four tackles and five carries as well as competed kicks well in which he caused a mistake by Racing to give Chiefs good territory just before their first try of the second half.
11 Tom O’Flaherty – 7
The winger struggled to get enough space to properly display his dangerous pace but swept up at the back well on occasions making 10 carries. He was caught out of position defensively early on by a great looping Russell pass over the top to Simon Zebo for Racing’s first try and then was unable to stop Zebo again for Racing’s third.
10 Joe Simmonds – 10
Simmonds converted all five kicks, to confirm his side as European champions. His 11 points make him the top point scorer in this season’s Champions Cup and we walked off with the official man of the match award. The young captain showed an experienced head on young shoulders and is starting to look like he has the full package for a fly half and looks likely to be a potential England star for years to come.
9 Jack Maunder – 8
The young scrum-half offered stability for the Chiefs as his box kicking was consistent and allowed strong kick chases.
Hepburn was at the heart of the Chiefs success in the scrum as he forced Racing’s Georges-Henri Colombe into conceding a number of scrum penalties. His work rate in defence was also good as well as his carries in attack.
2 Luke Cowan-Dickie – 9
The England hooker put in a big shift in his 55 minutes with nine carries and six tackles. He scored a trademark Cowan-Dickie try form close range early on to give Chiefs a good foundation for their title bid.
3 Harry Williams – 9
Williams put in an immense defensive effort making nine tackles with dominant, chopping hits. He was another beneficiary of Exeter’s lethal instinct from close range as he went over under the posts just to before half time to give Chiefs a vital nine-point lead.
4. Jonny Gray – 8
The Scot was another part of the immense defensive effort making 10 tackles in 58 minutes, including seven in the first half. He showed his international quality at the line out and with his calm head in high pressure situations.
5 Jonny Hill – 9
Hill completed 16 tackles, the most of any Chiefs player. He was unlucky not to capitalise on a calamitous Finn Russell spillage in his own in goal area early on.
6 Dave Ewers – 9
Another tackle machine in the Exeter ranks, making 14 tackles. His carrying offered his side a solid base as he made the most of any Chiefs player with 13 carries. He also made a vital turnover during Racing momentum in the second half.
7 Jacques Vermeulen – 7
The South African went about his work quietly, working in unison with Ewers and Simmonds with his carrying.
8. Sam Simmonds – 9
The elder of the Simmonds brothers secured the prize of European player of the year as he added to his previous seven with a close-range effort in the 15th minute. He also made 10 tackles as well as 12 carries as he gave another herculean performance from the back of the pack.
Replacements
16 Jack Yeandle –
17 Ben Moon –
18 Tomas Francis – 6
19 Sam Skinner – 7
20 Jannes Kirsten – 8
21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne – 8 23 Ollie Devoto – 8