Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Video: Veteran Exeter midfielder Phil Dollman gives Semi Radradra a taste of his own explosive medicine

(Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images)

The first round of midweek matches in the restarted 2019/20 Gallagher Premiership campaign took place on Tuesday evening in Coventry and Bristol and a moment of brilliance that caught out Semi Radradra at Ashton Gate stood out. 

ADVERTISEMENT

English rugby fans had been salivating since last Friday night after Fijian flyer Radradra tore Gloucester asunder with an all-singing, all-dancing attacking performance that left his dull Bears debut versus Saracens the previous weekend quickly forgotten.

More fireworks were expected from Radradra on Tuesday in the meeting between second-place Bristol and table-topping Exeter, but the initial explosion came from an unexpected source.

Video Spacer

England forward Courtney Lawes guests on All Access, the RugbyPass interview series hosted by Jim Hamilton

Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 16:26
Loaded: 0.00%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 16:26
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
    • en (Main), selected
    Video Spacer

    England forward Courtney Lawes guests on All Access, the RugbyPass interview series hosted by Jim Hamilton

    It was ten years ago when Dollman was part of the Exeter set-up that came to the Memorial Ground and upset Bristol in the Championship play-off final. That secured the Chiefs a first-ever promotion to the Premiership and the Devon club have never looked back, going on to lift the top-flight title in 2017 and consistently challenging for honours. 

    Now 35, Dollman is in the twilight of his career and with Exeter making 14 changes from the team that had won at Sale last Friday, the expectation was that they were ripe for a beating at Bristol. Not so. 

    It may have taken a converted 76th minute try from replacement Billy Keast to eventually tip the scoreline 25-22 in Exeter’s favour, but the Chiefs were set on the road to that victory with excellence from Dollman 13 minutes into the contest. 

    Bursting onto a pass away from a scrum by Sam Hidalgo-Clyne on the 22, old-timer Dollman glided through the Bristol cover with a snazzy step that Radradra would have been proud of. 

    ADVERTISEMENT

    The Fijian did hit back, executing some flair play in the build-up to Piers O’Conor’s second-half try, but the hard running earlier from Dollman was a reminder that the Fijian won’t have everything his own way in the Premiership.    

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Boks Office | Episode 37 | Six Nations Round 4 Review

    Cape Town | Leg 2 | Day 2 | HSBC Challenger Series 2025 | Full Day Replay

    Gloucester-Hartpury vs Bristol Bears | PWR 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

    Boks Office | Episode 36 | Six Nations Round 3 Review

    Why did Scotland's Finn Russell take the crucial kick from the wrong place? | Whistle Watch

    England A vs Ireland A | Full Match Replay

    Kubota Spears vs Shizuoka BlueRevs | JRLO 2024/2025 | Full Match Replay

    Watch now: Lomu - The Lost Tapes

    Trending on RugbyPass

    Comments

    0 Comments
    Be the first to comment...

    Join free and tell us what you really think!

    Sign up for free
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Latest Features

    Comments on RugbyPass

    TRENDING
    TRENDING 'I'm not surprised': Former Sevens coach impressed with All Blacks bolter Former Sevens coach impressed with All Blacks bolter
    Search