AVIVA PLAY OFF FINAL 2016 SARACENS v's EXETER CHIEFS

Teams and Officials;

Saracens: Goode; Ashton, Taylor, Barritt (capt), Wyles; Farrell, Wigglesworth; M. Vunipola, Brits, du Plessis, Itoje, Kruis, Rhodes, Fraser, B. Vunipola.

Replacements: George, Barrington, Figallo, Hamilton, Wray, de Kock, Hodgson, Bosch.

Exeter: Dollman; Nowell, Slade, Whitten, Woodburn; Steenson (capt), Chudley; Moon, Cowan-Dickie, Williams, Lees, Parling, Ewers, Salvi, Armand.

Replacements: Yeandle, Hepburn, Francis, Welch, Horstmann, Lewis, Campagnaro, Short.

Referee: Wayne Barnes.

Assistant referees: JP Doyle and Luke Pearce.

Television match official: Sean Davey.

I was at Twickenham in 1991 when Trelawny's army strode forth....I'm expecting something similar today.

Sarries have to be favorites mind?

Ouch

The silence is deafening

Quiet!

COYQ's!

Looking forward to the game but haven't really got much to say about it. Usually, that doesn't stop me from rattling on regardless but it's hard to think of anything new to add.

Well I'm in London but not for this. Seemed to be a fair number of Sarries fans milling about the stations heading in. It could be a classic as Sarries are more than capable of playing ball in hand but I can't see it.

Wanting Sarries to win this TBH.

I bet a lot of folk would love to see Exeter win with them having been a bit of a Cinderella team - I suppose I wouldn't mind that either. If Sarries win then they confirm what I said about them, that they're one of the best club teams that we've seen in Europe - so for that reason I wouldn't mind a Sarries win, just to prove me right.

At least Leicester tried stuff, don't know what exe are doing TBH.

Try Sarries.

Honestly Tigers IMO had the right idea but just lack composure and execution. (Similar to racing).

Didn't I see this match last week?

Exeter looked scared IMO.

Need to just go for it now.

Scores anyone?

24 - 3 (40 mins)

exe have a kick for goal last play of the half.

Poopie

Well I guess I won't watch this later then.

Still Quins beat them earlier in the season so i'm happy

23-6 to Sarries

Sarries been the much better team so far, Exeter game plan seem to be try and go into half time trailing by as little as poss.

23-13 now, and Exeter are a different team. Probably still don't have enough to crack Saracens, but it's made the game more interesting.

Henry Slade making a lot of mistakes in a big game.

Just turned the match on - had an serious emergency at work and had to be connected. In the last sequence before Slade's knock on, it seemed Exeter's forwards were making a yard or so, but were usually taking the ball standing still. NOt going to break down Saracens that way.

Think Exeter should have gone for the kick at goal when they got the penalty at ten points down. I know the lineout had just worked but following up a try with a penalty would have kept the scoring pace up.

That try would have put Exeter level if they'd gone for goal earlier.

What do I know.

Game to Saracens on the 76th minute.

Exeter didn't deserve to win it after the first half.

Scoreline is fair reflection on the game.

Ultimately, it is easy to see Exeter is just missing a bit on attack to go after a team like Saracens. Since I turned the match on it was quite entertaining. Congrats to Saracens.

Exeter need a 9.

Rugby Fan wrote:That try would have put Exeter level if they'd gone for goal earlier.

What do I know.

But if they'd taken the kick the game would have played out differently from that point so you can't know what would have happened ...

From an England point of view, Slade was disappointing and Itoje gave away a couple of unnecessary penalties. Others get a pass mark.

It's always funny watching people being interviewed by Martin Bayfield. He makes everyone appear short.

Heaf wrote:

Rugby Fan wrote:That try would have put Exeter level if they'd gone for goal earlier.

What do I know.

But if they'd taken the kick the game would have played out differently from that point so you can't know what would have happened ...

Of course. That's always true. However, there's a universe in which Exeter took the points and also scored the try. Mind you, from the way Saracens responded to Nowell's try, it's likely Exeter would have lost either way.

It was a classy and respectful act by Saracens to let Charlie Hodgson come out first to collect his winner's medal. And then to give him his minute on the stand alone.

Well done Sarries and hard luck Exeter. From what I saw of it it was an enjoyable match in front of a great crowd.

Well done sarries

Just goes to show what breaking the cap for years can achieve

I say the above comment half cut and with a grudge of respect for sarries

I wonder if, now looking at the beast that is Sarries, the other AP sides regret rolling over and letting them get away with the last few seasons naughties...

Well done Sarries. Best side in Europe by a decent margin this season.

Chiefs were slow starters but a good comeback. It'll be interesting how they go next season.

Ashton, Farrell and Goode did plenty right considering no-one likes them

The best side in Europe, and the best English side I've ever seen. Well done Sarries.

Promising signs that Exeter will be able to compete with them over the next couple of years though.

Not sure if they are as good as that Tigers team yet Dave, but they could surpass them next year.

The age profile is good, the will to win (the most important single quality) is iron, and they have some extremely exciting prospects coming through the academy. It all looks set fair for them at the moment.

This is why it is important that Exeter look like they will be able to battle it out with them, as I can't see sides like Tigers, Saints, Bath or Quins getting near them in the next couple of years. Wasps might have something to say, which would be good as I don't want the AP to become a procession.

mikey_dragon wrote:Not sure if they are as good as that Tigers team yet Dave, but they could surpass them next year.

They could equal them next year. Double in back to back years. If they grabbed the LV I think they'd be the first treble winner's.

I have a lot of respect for Exeter. Baxter spoke well post match, showed a lot of fight after half time. Just can't let the opposition get a 17 point half time lead. I am sure Exeter will be back at Twickenham.

It was nice to see Goode show why he deserved the AP player of the season, he wasn't perfect, he made mistakes but he got Saracens on the front foot and was fitting he scored the winning try.

Thought Barnes did a good job. Okay he didn't penalise any of the not straight line outs from both teams but he was consistent.

Itoje is excellent but needs to work on his discipline a bit.

Other than that it was a game that didn't have the niggle that we've seen in others. Both teams kept the penalty count to a relatively low level, no YCs warranted. Sarries discipline has been pretty good in the last 3 games.