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Exeter's rotten start to the season continues thanks to last gasp penalty

By PA
PA

George Furbank kicked a last-minute penalty to send last season’s runners-up Exeter to a second defeat in the opening two weeks of the new Gallagher Premiership campaign as they lost 26-24 at home to Northampton.

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It was also Northampton’s second success at Sandy Park in the calendar year as they triumphed 13-12 back in February.

Alex Mitchell and Matt Procter scored their tries with James Grayson kicking two penalties and two conversions with Furbank adding the two late crucial penalties.

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Exeter outscored their opponents in terms of tries by scoring three with Jack Maunder, Don Armand and Rus Tuima on the scoresheet with Joe Simmonds converting all three and adding a penalty.

Saints made an explosive start as the first play saw Furbank run 50 metres from inside his own 22 but a knock-on ruined their chances of taking a first-minute lead.

They were soon made to pay as Exeter scored two converted tries within three minutes. First Armand finished off a succession of forward drives before a flowing move ended with Maunder chasing a kick from Henry Slade to collect a favourable bounce and score.

Northampton were shell-shocked but they responded by opening their account. Grayson split the defence before kicking ahead, with the ball evading the covering Tom O’Flaherty for Mitchell to touch down.

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The visitors continued to look sharp in attack and it came as no surprise when they drew level as Proctor brushed away weak tackles from Simmonds and Will Whitty to race away for an excellent solo try.

Exeter <a href=
Chiefs v Northampton Saints – Gallagher Premiership – Sandy Park” width=”1024″ height=”686″ /> George Furbank /PA

The game was rapidly turning into a contest between a dominant Chiefs’ pack up against the dexterity and speed of Northampton’s backs.

There were a number of sustained periods of pressure from the home eight but somehow Saints kept their line intact to break out with a lot of enterprise and it was they who picked up the next score when Grayson kicked a penalty.

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Two minutes before the interval, Northampton hooker Sam Matavesi was yellow-carded for a no-arms tackle with the hosts immediately capitalising with a close-range try from Tuima. A third conversion from Simmonds gave his side a 21-17 half-time lead.

Exeter Chiefs v Northampton Saints - Gallagher Premiership - Sandy Park

Matavesi returned from the sin-bin in time to see Simmonds kick a penalty, which was the only score of the third quarter as the outside half missed with another attempt.

Grayson kicked his second penalty as the second half continued to lack the entertainment of the first with both sides now favouring the kicking option.

Saints took off Grayson in favour of Tom Freeman with Furbank moving to outside-half and assuming the kicking duties and it was he who was the match-winner as he held his nerve to succeed with two penalties.

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Mick Cleary: 'Borthwick needs to have faith in Marcus Smith' Mick Cleary: 'Borthwick needs to have faith in Marcus Smith'
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