Slade missile sets up smash and grab raid
SARACENS’ bid for successive Premiership and Champions Cup doubles was wrecked 27 seconds from time by what boss Mark McCall described as ‘one of the great kicks of all time from Henry Slade’.
Exeter dug deep and refused to succumb after losing their richly-deserved lead four minutes from time when Saracens replacment winger Mike Ellery scored an outrageous try.
Owen Farrell fed Schalk Brits who timed his pass perfectly and Ellery launched himself over the top of Slade’s tackle to score. The blow would have deflated most sides but Exeter’s outstanding pack produced one final effort to secure a scrum penalty.
Slade, who had come off the bench, launched a huge 60-metre penalty into the corner and the trademark Chiefs catch and drive did the rest, taking Sam Simmonds over for the winning try 11 minutes after replacing man-of-the-match No.8 Thomas Waldrom.
“Terrific,” said Chiefs skipper Gareth Steenson. “It had to be within a certain range to give us a chance and it was a heck of a shot.
“Henry showed class there – and a bit of bottle. Then it was up to the boys up front to nail the lineout and they did.”
The knockout blow came after Saracens appeared to have soaked up everything rampant Exeter threw at them. Showing the heart of champions, they rode out a pummelling and came again in the final 20 mintues after it looked as though the gruelling European final victory over Clermont Auvergne had caught up with them.
But Exeter, unbeaten in the Premiership since October and desperate to avenge last season’s 28-20 final defeat by Sarries, are heading to Twickenham again.
Farrell eased Saracens ahead with two early penalties. In between they lost flanker Michael Rhodes – replaced by the huge presSteenson ence of South Africa icon Schalk Burger – and winger Chris Ashton.
After Farrell was penalised for not releasing, Steenson found touch to set up a relentless assault which ended with Waldrom, playing the advantage, being held up over the line before Steenson opened Exeter’s account with the penalty.
Exeter forced the champions to put in a huge defensive effort and, after the visitors strayed offside, levelled.
Waldrom showed he can do far more than rumble with a deft diagonal kick from the touchline to have Saracens hanging on before, on the fourth drive, Exeter infringed.
After Mako Vunipola and Exeter lock Dave Dennis departed for assessments after a sickening clash of heads, from which both returned, Exeter grabbed the opening try.
Ollie Devoto’s defencesplitting burst ended just short but Nowell snatched up the ball to squeeze over with Steenson converting from the touchline.
Saracens reduced the deficit to two points when Maro Itoje put Chris Wyles over and Ellery plundered the try which looked to have won it. Crucially, Farrell missed both touchline conversions before Slade’s thundering left foot provided the platform for Exeter to win a truly titanic clash.