Slade stays on song for Exeter in treble of wins and bonus points
Three rounds, three victories, three bonus points. But, ominously for the rest of the Gallagher Premiership, Exeter Chiefs will feel there is far more in the tank after shaking off an improved Sale Sharks with the help of more Henry Slade magic.
It was a day of problem-solving for last season’s runners-up, who planned seven changes from the win over Wasps. They needed to make nine, drafting in back-rowers Sean Lonsdale and Tom Lawday when Matt Kvesic and Sam Simmonds withdrew hours before kick-off due to sickness.
Despite the cohesion and quality of Rob Baxter’s squad, the hosts took time to settle. They lost their first line-out, and Slade suffered a bloody nose after a collision with Mark Jennings. In the third minute, Sale’s AJ MacGinty kicked a penalty from 45 metres.
Like Jack Nowell and Jonny Hill, 21-year-old fly-half Joe Simmonds had been unleashed for his first start of the season. He roused Sandy Park, searing through Sale’s defensive line. Santiago Cordero arrived on his shoulder to score. MacGinty then laid on a try for Marland Yarde with a left-footed chip.
MacGinty lobbed Nowell and Yarde pounced. Aside from that, Nowell looked refreshed after his ankle surgery.
Two set-piece staples, Exeter’s scrum and their driving maul, eked out penalties and Hill shunted over to cap a pick-and-go passage. That put Chiefs back in front at 14-13.
Half an hour remained when Slade almost reproduced his individual try against Wasps.
As Exeter emptied their bench, a scuffle cost Hill and Sale captain Jono Ross yellow cards. The visitors hit back when Bryn Evans collected a wonderful offload from Paolo Odogwu, but Alex Cuthbert responded with his first Premiership try.
Freed by a strike-move from a scrum inside Sale territory, the Wales wing loped home for a simple finish. Lawday picked up Exeter’s fifth.