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Luke Cowan-Dickie hat-trick inspires Exeter to thumping win over Bulls

By PA
Luke Cowan-Dickie of Exeter celebrates scoring a try during the Heineken Champions Cup Pool A match between Exeter Chiefs and Vodacom Bulls at Sandy Park on December 17, 2022 in Exeter, England. (Photo by Ben Hoskins/Getty Images)

Exeter took a huge step towards the Heineken Champions Cup knockout phase as they blitzed South African challengers the Bulls 44-14 at Sandy Park.

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It was the Chiefs’ second successive bonus-point victory in this season’s tournament, underpinned by captain Luke Cowan-Dickie’s try hat-trick, plus touchdowns for flanker Dave Ewers, who was also yellow carded late in the game, centre Henry Slade and substitute Solomone Kata.

The Bulls claimed a five-point maximum in defeating Lyon last weekend, but they had no answer to Exeter’s forward power and set-piece excellence.

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The Chiefs, European champions in 2020, were out of sight by the break as fly-half Joe Simmonds added four conversions and two penalties.

And the Bulls, despite an early try by wing Stravino Jacobs and centre Chris Smith’s second-half effort, both converted by fly-half Morne Steyn, could find no way back into a one-sided Pool A encounter.

Exeter showed one change from the side that claimed a bonus-point victory over Castres last weekend, with Cowan-Dickie returning after injury, replacing Jack Yeandle.

Simmonds kicked Exeter into a fourth-minute lead after the Chiefs gained a scrum penalty inside Bulls’ 22, but the visitors responded impressively.

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Full-back Wandisile Simelane made an initial break before patient build-up play ended with Jacobs surging through a sizeable midfield gap to claim a try that Steyn converted.

It was a bright, entertaining start to the game and Exeter went back in front through an 11th-minute Ewers try from close range, which Simmonds converted.

And the Chiefs continued to enjoy momentum, fashioning one of their trademark tries from a five-metre lineout as Cowan-Dickie touched down, opening up a 15-7 lead.

The Bulls attempted to give Exeter a taste of their own medicine, twice driving lineouts within touching distance of their line, but Exeter held them up on both occasions.

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Exeter then showed their opponents exactly how it should be done, posting a third try nine minutes before half-time, with Cowan-Dickie again the beneficiary of relentless power.

Simmonds’ conversion left the Bulls in a state of escalating strife, 15 points adrift as Exeter sensed a try bonus-point as the interval approached.

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And it duly arrived following superb link work between Sam Simmonds and his back-row colleague Ewers, which prop Scott Sio took on before Slade applied an impressive finish.

Simmonds’ third successful conversion left the Bulls in damage-limitation mode, before he kicked a penalty to make it 32-7 at the break.

Cowan-Dickie completed his treble just five minutes into the second period, with Simmonds converting, and that was the hooker’s thoroughly-satisfying afternoon’s work completed as he made way for Jack Yeandle.

The Bulls were a shadow of the side that had won seven from nine United Rugby Championship games this season and Exeter required no second invitation to capitalise on such lethargy.

Exeter were at a different level, continuing from where they left off against Castres in France last weekend and moving to within touching distance of the Champions Cup last 16.

Kata added Exeter’s sixth try following Smith’s consolation for the Bulls that Steyn converted, but the game lost its shape as both head coaches inevitably made a raft of substitutions.

Although the Bulls had arguably their best spell of the game during the final quarter, it was an away day to forget for Jake White’s team.

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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
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