By the final whistle Todd Blackadder’s cunning plan had turned to chaos but to fault Bath for this defeat does not do justice to Exeter’s ruthless edge. They march towards Europe with a sixth win from their opening six matches and another bonus point to boot.
Already there is a growing sense that they and Saracens are streets ahead of the rest and, if there is any solace for Bath, it is that after playing both in six days they do not have to do so again for a while.
If last week was Bath’s B team, the As at least made a game of it for an hour. Blackadder wants to make the Rec “a fortress” and the commitment, led by Zach Mercer, was impressive. But the Chiefs weathered it and found a gear in the final quarter well beyond their hosts as all the while Gareth Steenson marshalled his troops superbly.
Another five tries, including three in the last 20 minutes, send them top of the table with Saracens slipping to second – that is a tussle likely to end up at Twickenham. “I can’t speak highly enough of the players for the way they stood up and took hold of the situation in the second half,” said Exeter’s director of rugby, Rob Baxter.
Whether it is considered waving the white flag or shrewd management of resources, Blackadder has been defiant in the face of criticism for making so many changes last weekend, then recalling the cavalry.
There is nothing to say he cannot do so – determining anyone’s strongest side is subjective – but to be vindicated Blackadder needed, if not victory against Exeter, then a performance to carry Bath into the Champions Cup double header. He could hardly have asked for more in the opening quarter. Consecutive crunching tackles from Dave Attwood and then Talupe Faletau ensured Exeter’s first siege of Bath’s line was resisted and had the Rec rocking. Bath cleared their lines and continued their bright start with the opening points – Freddie Burns on target with a penalty after Harry Williams had infringed.
Semesa Rokoduguni, furious with himself for a fumble when well placed, made amends a few minutes later, kicking ahead after a sharp passing move had opened space on the right. Priestland was supporting and gathered for a clean run under the posts and Burns’ conversion made for a 10-0 lead. It was already clear, however, that Exeter had the ascendancy at the scrum and in what can be considered a compliment to Bath considering how few penalties the Chiefs have kicked at goal this season, Steenson pointed to the posts and duly put his side on the board.
Within moments the Chiefs were level. Stu Townsend must be commended for his interception and run to the line but Burns’ pass was dreadful – the Exeter scrum-half already waiting to receive the ball gratefully. Burns added another penalty after a bludgeoning run from Tom Dunn but Exeter led when Don Armand powered over in the right corner after collecting Steenson’s grubber.
Burns and Steenson exchanged penalties early in the second half before Rokoduguni was sent to the sin-bin for a deliberate knock-on. Santiago Cordero’s pass was heading for the arms of Phil Dollman outside him and there is no doubting Rokoduguni’s touch took it away from him.
Bath resisted – indeed they did so until Rokoduguni was back on the field, having nosed 19-18 ahead with another Burns penalty – but a barrage of Exeter penalties and lineouts ensued. Bath managed to stem the flow but they could not hold back the tide and after the referee, Christophe Ridley, consulted with the TMO, a try was eventually awarded to Matt Kvesic. By this stage, the Chiefs’ tails were up and an arcing run from Jack Nowell prised open the space for Ian Whitten to score the decisive try.
To compound matters for Bath, Faletau went off with an arm injury and shortly Henry Slade’s breakaway run led to Nowell adding try No 5 for the Chiefs. Chris Cook’s late try for Bath was a beauty, spotting space inside and carving his way inside it, but it was small consolation – a long way short of vindication. “In parts we played really well and I thought we put in a massive defensive performance,” said Blackadder. “But it was the little tiny moments which cost us and Exeter were very clinical and took their opportunities.”
