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Rampant Exeter Chiefs crush Newcastle Falcons

By PA

Reigning champions Exeter kept up the pressure on Gallagher Premiership leaders Bristol with a 12-try 74-3 demolition of Newcastle as the Falcons maintained their miserable run at Sandy Park.

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It was Falcons’ 13th consecutive loss in all competitions at the ground but it came as no surprise as they fielded a weakened 23, which contained five players making their Premiership debuts for the club.

Exeter’s win took them to within three points of Bristol at the top with two games remaining.

Bristol have to face Leicester at Mattioli Woods Welford Road and then London Irish at home, with Exeter travelling to Northampton next Sunday before entertaining Sale.

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Jacques Vermeulen and Henry Slade both scored two tries, with Sam Skinner, Sam Simmonds, Alex Cuthbert, Stuart Hogg, Harvey Skinner, Dave Ewers, Tom O’Flaherty and Joe Simmonds one apiece with Joe Simmonds adding seven conversions.

A penalty from Toby Flood was Newcastle’s sole response.

Exeter <a href=Chiefs v Newcastle Falcons – Gallagher Premiership – Sandy Park” />

It took Exeter less than three minutes to open the scoring. Neat passing sent Cuthbert away down the right flank to gain a platform in the opposition 22 from where the home pack drove over for Sam Skinner to touchdown.

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Flood put Newcastle on the scoreboard with a straightforward penalty before Chiefs scored their second. It was a replica of the first but this time number eight Sam Simmonds was the beneficiary to score his 20th try of a record-breaking season.

Despite having to play into a keen wind, Falcons were making a decent fist of frustrating their opponents with some resolute tackling but they were dealt a blow when Scottish international flanker John Hardie was sin-binned for a high tackle on Luke Cowan-Dickie.

Exeter Chiefs v Newcastle Falcons - Gallagher Premiership - Sandy Park

Exeter looked to have capitalised immediately when Simmonds crashed over from a lineout but TMO replays ruled out the try for an earlier obstruction.

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It mattered little as Exeter soon scored a third try when an angled run from Ollie Devoto provided Cuthbert with an easy run-in.

Devoto was also instrumental in creating his side’s bonus-point try when his well-judged kick was collected by Slade before Vermeulen forced his way over to leave his side with a 31-3 interval lead.

Four minutes after the restart, Vermeulen battered his way over for his second before Exeter brought on Hogg as a replacement for the lively Cuthbert.

Exeter Chiefs v Newcastle Falcons - Gallagher Premiership - Sandy Park

Fellow Lion Jonny Hill was also introduced together with international props Ben Moon and Tomas Francis as the home side rang the changes but it did not stop their momentum.

O’Flaherty made the running for Slade’s second with Hogg doing the same for Joe Simmonds as Exeter took their tally to 50 with over a quarter of the match still remaining.

Ewers scored Exeter’s ninth before Chiefs ended in style with further tries from Hogg, Harvey Skinner and O’Flaherty enabled Exeter to equal their record Premiership score.

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SK 19 minutes ago
Why England's defence of the realm has crumbled without Felix Jones

The way they are defending is sometime pathetic to be honest. Itoje is usually on the inside of the rush and he is paired with a slower tight forward. Unable to keep up with the rush we have seen the line become disconnected on the inside where the big boys are. How many times have we seen Earl rush past the first receiver almost into no mans land covering no attacker. It looks like a system without any guidance. Tome Wright, Ikitau and a number of Wallabies went back to this soft centre as did Williams, Jordan and several others. Also when the line is broken the multiple lines of defence seems to be missing. The rush is predicated on a cover and recovery system with multiple lines of defence but with England you dont see it any more. Fitness and conditioning seems to be off as well as players are struggling to keep up with the intensity of the rush. Felix Jones has left a huge hole. The whole situation was and is a mess. Why they insist on not letting him go and having him work remotely is beyond me. Its leading to massive negative press and is a hot button issue thats distracting from the squad. Also the communication around Jones and his role has been absolute rubbish and is totally disjointed. While some say he is working remotely and playing a role others are saying theres been no contact. His role has not been defined and so people keep asking and keep getting different answers. England need a clean break from him and need to start over. Whatever reason for his leaving its time to cut the rope before the saga drags the whole Borthwick regime down. As for Joe El Abd well good luck to him. He is being made to look like an amateur by the whole saga and he is being asked to coach a system thats not his and which has been perfected and honed since 2017 by Nienaber, Jones, Erasmus and Co and which was first started by White in 2004. He is literally trying to figure out a system pioneered by double world cup winning coaches at the highest level and coach it at the same time. Talk about being on a hiding to nothing.

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