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England trio sin-binned as Bath extend Exeter's winless Prem start

By PA
Guy Pepper of Bath celebrates with team-mate Miles Reid after scoring a try during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Bath Rugby and Exeter Chiefs at The Recreation Ground on November 30, 2024 in Bath, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

Exeter suffered a seventh successive Gallagher Premiership defeat of the season as Bath regained top spot with a 19-15 victory at the Recreation Ground.

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It was not a game that will live long in the memory, but Bath had enough to thwart Exeter and leave them stuck at the Premiership basement.

Flanker Guy Pepper, number eight Miles Reid and replacement hooker Niall Annett scored tries for Bath, with fly-half Finn Russell adding two conversions, although a vastly improved performance will be required in their next game against Investec Champions Cup opponents La Rochelle.

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Exeter often belied their league position as Jacques Vermuelen crossed for a try and Henry Slade kicked a penalty, remaining in the contest until Annett’s score 13 minutes from time finished them off, although number eight Greg Fisilau’s 80th-minute effort that Slade converted secured a losing bonus.

Chiefs remain the only side in this season’s Premiership without a league win, and they are already a distant 18 points adrift of the play-off places.

Fixture
Gallagher Premiership
Bath
19 - 15
Full-time
Exeter Chiefs
All Stats and Data

Bath, though, have no such worries, nudging west country rivals Bristol into second place without remotely hitting top gear.

England wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, making his first appearance since suffering concussion during the autumn Test defeat against Australia, conceded a third-minute penalty following a late tackle on international colleague and Bath scrum-half Ben Spencer.

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It allowed Bath to establish a territorial foothold, and they went ahead four minutes later when Pepper powered over on the back of slick lineout possession, with Russell converting.

Exeter weathered the early storm, though, and a lengthy Slade kick to touch gave them a platform to attack through their forwards before Vermeuelen crossed from close range.

Bath then saw flanker Ted Hill yellow-carded by referee Sara Cox following a head-on-head collision with Exeter scrum-half Stu Townsend, and the home side were forced to absorb considerable pressure, although Chiefs could not make it count.

Bath also struggled in the aerial contest, where Exeter prospered, and skipper Vermeulen led a strong effort at the breakdown.

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Exeter’s greater cohesion was rewarded just before half-time when Slade kicked a penalty, giving his team an 8-7 interval advantage.

Bath needed just four minutes of the second period to go back in front, and it was Reid who went over after a sweeping attack that involved Spencer and wing Will Muir put Chiefs on the back foot.

But back came Exeter, setting up camp inside Bath’s 22 after Spencer was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on that interrupted a floated pass to Feyi-Waboso.

However, Chiefs over-threw the resulting lineout and Bath escaped as Exeter only had themselves to blame for blowing a gilt-edged scoring chance.

Bath rediscovered some of their early purpose and vigour during the final quarter, and they wrapped up the points when Annett touched down after a dynamic lineout drive.

Russell kicked the conversion, and there was no way back for Exeter despite Fisilau’s consolation as they must now pick themselves up for a testing Champions Cup opener against the Sharks in South Africa.

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M
MA 3 hours ago
How the four-team format will help the Wallabies defeat the Lions

In regards to Mack Hansen, Tuipoloto and others who talent wasnt 'seen'..

If we look at acting, soccer and cricket as examples, Hugh Jackman, the Heminsworths in acting; Keith Urban in Nashville, Mike Hussey and various cricketers who played in UK and made the Australian team; and many soccer players playing overseas.


My opinion is that perhaps the ' 'potential' or latent talent is there, but it's just below the surface.


ANd that decision, as made by Tane Edmed, Noah, Will Skelton to go overseas is the catalyst to activate the latent and bring it to the surface.


Based on my personal experience of leaving Oz and spending 14 months o/s, I was fully away from home and all usual support systems and past memories that reminded me of the past.


Ooverseas, they weren't there. I had t o survive, I could invent myself as who I wanted, and there was no one to blame but me.


It bought me alive, focused my efforts towards what I wanted and people largely accepted me for who I was and how I turned up.


So my suggestion is to make overseas scholarships for younger players and older too so they can benefit from the value offered by overseas coaching acumen, established systems, higher intensity competition which like the pressure that turns coal into diamonds, can produce more Skeltons, Arnold's, Kellaways and the like.


After the Lion's tour say, create 20 x $10,000 scholarships for players to travel and play overseas.


Set up a HECS style arrangement if necessary to recycle these funds ongoingly.


Ooverseas travel, like parenthood or difficult life situations brings out people's physical and emotional strengths in my own experiences, let's use it in rugby.

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