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Wasps player ratings vs Exeter Chiefs - Premiership Final
By Ian Cameron
It was always going to be a big ask of Wasps, who lost Brad Shields, Kieran Brookes, Simon McIntyre and Alfie Barbeary who were ruled out due to contact tracing protocols, while Malakai Fekitoa missed out through a groin injury picked up in the semi-final against the Bristol Bears.
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Wasps had won on just two of their last seven appearances at Twickenham, which didn’t bode for a tilt at the might of Exeter at HQ, but that didn’t stop them pushing Exeter right to the limit. They could have just been happy to be there, but they came to win.
WASPS PLAYER RATINGS
15 MATTEO MINOZZI
The little Italian looked like a drowned rat at times and didn’t get the better of Chiefs’ kick to contest strategy. Not the horse for this particular course. Looked relieved when he came off – 5
14 ZACH KIBIRIGE
Proved a safe pair of hands under the high ball despite the horrid conditions, although unable to play himself into the game – 5.5
13 JUAN DE JONGH
The former Springbok posed a constant threat and kept Exeter’s defence honest throughout the first half, when he got the ball that is. Remained hungry – 6
12 JIMMY GOPPERTH
The veteran New Zealander was the first to draw blood on the scoreboard and was the cool headed sharp shooter to Umaga’s young gunslinger – 7.5
11 JOSH BASSETT
Another victim of the conditions, Bassett was left mopping up a lot of the aerial bombardment, an area of the game which had more or less become a lottery – 6
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10 JACOB UMAGA
Hard not to view his duel with Simmonds as a mock audition for Eddie Jones’ next flyhalf idol. Greasy, windy conditions didn’t suit him off the boot but his remarkable 31st minute try more than made up for any early inaccuracies – 7.5
9 DAN ROBSON
The England nine tested Exeter’s backline with some smart kick choices in the opening minutes. He was as sharp a tack throughout and a standout for the men from Coventry – 8
1 TOM WEST
The durable prop only missed one game since the restart of the season, and was maybe the best scrummager of eight props on show – 7
2 TOMMY TAYLOR
A real ding-dong battle with Luke Cowan-Dickie. Came off early, spent through exertion – 6
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3 JEFF TOOMAGA-ALLEN
Got the better of the very early scrum exchanges, but that changed as the big front-rower seemed to run out of puff – 4
4 JOE LAUNCHBURY (C)
A huge turn over in the 12th minute felt massive at the time gifted Wasps a hard-fought exit from their 22. Fought his heart out and utterly dejected at the end – 7
5 WILL ROWLANDS
The hulking Welshman didn’t put in a highlight reel performance. It was a night for grim, sodden, piano shifting stuff and that he did do – 5
6 JACK WILLIS
None of the fancy stuff for the young tyro but lots of graft and smarts at the breakdown. A brilliant steal in the 47th minute saved an almost certain Chiefs try – 7
7 THOMAS YOUNG
Carried well through contact but Wasps didn’t get the rub of the green when it came to referee Craig Maxwell-Keys – 6
8 TOM WILLIS
The other Willis brother did not look altogether out of place considering he was playing in a Premiership Final, but a defensive lapse did gift Slade an easy try. Got replaced by Gaskell minutes into the second half and looked a bit sore walking off – 5
PLAYER RATINGS
How we rated the victorious Exeter Chiefs players #EXEvWAS ?https://t.co/uR8d5QPehP
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 24, 2020
REPLACEMENTS
16 GABRIEL OGHRE
A real impact off the bench, not least single-handedly stopping a Chiefs rolling maul on its way to Wasps’ try line. Two awful lineout throws maybe cost Wasps the title – 4.5
17 BEN HARRIS
Clearly delighted to deal out some damage when he came on. A memorable tackle helped Wasps level it at 13 – 13 in the 59th minute – 7.5
18 BIYI ALO
It was even stevens at the scrum by the end and giant prop played his part – 6
19 JAMES GASKELL
A solid if not remarkable shift after replacing Willis – 6
20 BEN MORRIS
Not on long enough to rate.
21 BEN VELLACOTT
Not on long enough to rate.
22 LIMA SOPOAGA
Was outstanding when he came on and one wonders should he have started – 8.5
23 MICHAEL LE BOURGEOIS
Not on long enough to rate.
