Gallagher Premiership 2019/20

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Table

Pos	Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against	Pts Difference	Bonus	Points
1	Northampton Saints	7	5	2	0	194	146	48	3	23
2	Exeter Chiefs	6	4	2	0	142	97	45	4	20
3	Gloucester Rugby	7	3	4	0	149	121	28	6	18
4	Bristol Bears	7	3	3	1	157	165	-8	4	18
5	Bath Rugby	7	4	3	0	139	145	-6	1	17
6	Worcester Warriors	7	4	3	0	122	144	-22	1	17
7	Sale Sharks	7	3	4	0	144	105	39	5	17
8	Harlequins	7	3	3	1	158	169	-11	3	17
9	London Irish	7	2	4	1	128	179	-51	2	12
10	Wasps	7	2	5	0	134	191	-57	3	11
11	Leicester Tigers	7	1	5	1	118	191	-76	0	6
12	Saracens	6	5	1	0	158	87	71	-32	-13

Bath
Last Season - 6th

Players in: Lewis Boyce (Prop), Christian Judge (Prop), Will Stuart (Prop), Mike Williams (Utility Forward), Josh McNally (Second Row), Ollie Fox (Scrum Half)
Promoted from Academy: Miles Reid, Will Vaughan, Sam Nixon, Tom de Glanville, Will Britton, Jack Davies, Tom Doughty, Levi Davis promoted (X Factor permitting)

Players Out: Dave Attwood (Second Row), Paul Grant (Back Row), Luke Charteris (Second Row), James Wilson (Utility Back), Kahn Fotuali'i (Scrum Half), Jacques van Rooyen (Prop), Jack Wilson (Wing), Cooper Vuna (Wing), Anthony Perenise (Prop), Michael van Vuuren (Hooker), Max Lahiff (Prop)


Bristol Bears
Last Season - 9th

Players in: Dave Attwood (Second Row), Nathan Hughes (Back Row), Nicky Thomas (Prop), Max Lahiff (Prop), Tyrese Johnson-Fisher (Wing)
Promoted from Academy: Sam Bedlow, John Hawkins, Toby Fricker

Players out: Nick Haining (Back Row), George Smith (Back Row), Nick Fenton-Wells (Back Row), Joe Latta (Second Row), Tusi Pisi (Fly Half), Sione Faletau (Prop), Jack Lam (Back Row)


Exeter Chiefs
Last Season: Runners Up

Players in: Stuart Hogg (Full Back), Will Witty (Second Row), Tom Price (Second Row), Stan South (Utility Forward), Jannes Kirsten (Utility Forward), Jacques Vermeulen (Utility Forward)

Players out: Santiago Cordero (Wing/FB), Tom Lawday (Back Row), Moray Low (Prop), Ollie Atkins (Second Row), Mitch Lees (Second Row)


Gloucester
Last Season: 3rd

Players in: Joe Simpson (Scrum Half), Jamal Ford-Robinson (Prop), Chris Harris (Centre), Corne Fourie (Prop)
Promoted from Academy: Charlie Chapman, Alex Seville, Alex Craig, Ciaran Knight, Tom Seabrook, Henry Walker

Players out: Paddy McAllister (Prop), Gareth Denman (Prop), Kyle Traynor (Prop) Tom Savage (Second Row), Gareth Evans (Back Row), Ben Vellacott (Scrum Half), Henry Purdy (Centre/Wing)


Harlequins
Last Season 4th

Players in: Santiago Garcias Botta (Prop), Martin Landajo (Scrum Half), Michele Campagnaro (Centre), Scott Baldwin (Hooker), Stephan Lewies (Second Row), Glen Young (Second Row), Will Evans (Flanker), Simon Kerrod (Prop), Tom Lawday (Back Row), Travis Ismaiel (Wing), Veriniki Goneva (Wing), Tevita Cavubati (Second Row)

Players out: Alofa Alofa (Utility Back), George Merrick (Second Row), Lewis Boyce (Prop), James Horwill (Second Row), Josh Ibuanokpe (Prop), Tim Visser (Wing), Charlie Walker(Wing), Demitir Catrakilis (Fly Half), Mat Luamanu (Back Row), Luke Wallace (Flanker), Stan South (Second Row), Dave Ward (Hooker), Dave Lewis (Scrum Half), Ben Glynn (Second Row)


Leicester Tigers
Last season 11th

Players in: Jordan Taufua (Back Row), Noel Reid (Fly Half/Centre), Calum Green (Second Row), Jaco Taute (Centre), Tomas Lavanini (Second Row), Nephi Leatigaga (Prop), Charlie Clare (Hooker), Joe Thomas (Centre), Johnny McPhillips (Fly Half), EW Viljoen (Utility Back), Hanro Liebenberg (Back Row), Jordan Coghlan (Back Row)
Promoted from Academy: Tom Hardwicke, Joe Heyes, Sam Lewis, Jordan Olowefela, Tommy Reffell, Sam Aspland Robinson, Harry Simmons, Ben White

Players out: Matt Toomua (Centre), Mike Williams (Utility Forward), Graham Kitchener (Second Row), Mathew Tait (Utility Back), Will Evans (Flanker), Tom Varndell (Winger), James Voss (Second Row), Matt Smith (Centre), Gareth Owen (Centre), Michael Fitzgerald (Second Row), Brendon O'Connor (Back Row), Valentino Mapapalangi (Back Row), Fred Tuilagi (Back Row), Leonardo Sarto (Wing),  Joe Ford (Fly Half), David Feao (Prop), David Denton (Back Row), Ross McMillan (Hooker), Campese Ma'afu (Prop), Charlie Thacker (Centre)


London Irish
Last Season: Promoted

Players in: Allan Dell (Prop), Nick Phipps (Scrum Half), Curtis Rona (Wing), Sean O'Brien (Back Row), Sekope Kepu (Prop), Paddy Jackson (Fly Half), Waisake Naholo (Wing), Adam Coleman (Second Row), Ruan Botha (Second Row), Steve Mafi (Utility Forward), George Nott (Utility Forward)

Players Out: Josh McNally (Second Row), Ian Keatley (Fly Half), Brendan McKibbin (Centre), Mike Coman (Back Row), Tommy Bell (Utility Back), Topsy Ojo (Wing), Fergus Mulchrone (Centre), Luke McLean (Full Back), Sebastian de Chaves (Second Row), Ofisa Treviranus (Back Row), Greig Tonks (Utility Back),  Napolioni Nalaga (Wing), Sam Twomey (Second Row), Filo Paulo (Second Row), Manasa Saulo (Prop)


Northampton Saints
Last Season: 4th

Players in: Matt Proctor (Utility back), Owen Franks (Prop), Ryan Olowofela (Wing), Henry Taylor (Scrum Half), Michael van Vuuren (Hooker)
Promoted from Academy: Ehren Painter, Fraser Dingwall,  James Grayson,  Alex Mitchell,  Alex Moon

Players Out: Luther Burrell (Centre), Jamal Ford-Robinson (Prop), James Craig (Utility Forward), James Haskell (Back Row), Dominic Barrow (Second Row), Nafi Tuitavake (Wing), Ken Pisi (Centre)


Sale Sharks
Last Season: 7th

Players in: Jake Cooper-Woolley (Prop), Robert du Preez (Fly Half), Akker van der Merwe (Hooker), Lood de Jager (Second Row), Coenie Oosthuizen (Prop), Dan du Preez (Utility Forward), Jean-Luc du Preez (Back Row), Simon Hammersley (Full Back), Mark Wilson (Back Row)

Players Out: Andrei Ostrikov (Second Row), Mark Jennings (Centre), Alexandru Țăruș (Prop), Johnny Leota (Centre),  Paolo Odogwu (Wing), James O'Connor (Utility Back), Josh Strauss (Back Row), George Nott (Utility Forward)


Saracens
Last Season: Champions

Players in: Elliot Daly (Utility back), Rhys Carré (Prop), Jack Singleton (Hooker), Josh Ibuanokpe (Prop)
Promoted from Academy: Alistair Crossdale, Dominic Morris

Players out: Christopher Tolofua (Hooker), Sione Vailanu (Back Row), Hayden Thompson-Stringer (Prop), David Strettle (Wing), Henry Taylor (Scrum Half) Dominic Day (Second Row), Marcelo Bosch (Centre), Schalk Burger (Back Row)


Wasps
Last Season: 8th

Players in: Malakai Fekitoa (Centre), Jeffery Toomaga-Allen (Prop), Ben Vellacott (Scrum Half), Matteo Minozzi (Utility back), Sione Vailanu (Back row), Biyi Alo (Prop), Paolo Odogwu (Wing), Zach Kibirige (wing)
Promoted from academy:  Will Porter,  Callum Sirker,  Sam Spink,  Tom Willis,  Tim Cardall,  Gabriel Oghre,  Owain James, Jacob Umaga

Players out: Jake Cooper-Woolley (Prop), Nathan Hughes (Back row), Will Stuart (Prop), Elliot Daly (Centre), Joe Simpson (Scrum half), Willie le Roux (Full Back), Michele Campagnaro (Centre), Kearnan Myall (Second Row), Gabiriele Lovobalavu (Centre), Matt Mullan (Prop)


Worcester Warriors
Last Season 10th

Players in: Graham Kitchener (Second Row), Jono Kitto (Scrum Half), Melani Nanai (Wing), Ed Fidow (Wing)
Promoted from Academy: Andrew Kitchener,  Ted Hill

Players out:  Bryce Heem (Wing), Josh Adams (Wing), Darren Barry (Second Row), Wynand Olivier (Centre), Dewald Potgieter (Back row), Jack Singleton (Hooker), Jonny Arr (Scrum half), Carl Kirwan (Back row), Luke Baldwin (Scrum Half), Ben Te'o (Centre), Alafoti Fa'osiliva (Back row)

Tighter than it should have been really.

Good for Wasps. That might entice Rowlands to stay put after he was rumoured to be moving to Wales .

mikey_dragon wrote:Good for Wasps. That might entice Rowlands to stay put after he was rumoured to be moving to Wales .

He leaves this season or next. He's only got one more year on his contract so at the latest next summer he has to move to keep his international aspirations alive.

If Wasps had managed to acquire a lock or two of quality (and size) they might have been talked into letting him go. As they e currently got Levi Douglas on loan to fill out their options I guess they aren't up for it.

He was rumoured to be leaving sooner Sam. Well we're still in this season, so he's good until next season which isn't long after this season finishes. I don't imagine we would be seeing him until then at least.

mikey_dragon wrote:He was rumoured to be leaving sooner Sam. Well we're still in this season, so he's good until next season which isn't long after this season finishes. I don't imagine we would be seeing him until then at least.

I meant next year. Apologies. He's apparently got one more year to run on his Wasps deal. The Wasps pack looked good against Saints today. Wasps flankers stole the show but the Wasps tight five which is normally considered pretty average edged out their opposition.

Hill has really gone backwards. Looked to be such a good prospect and has just faded.

JP Doyle has been made redundant by the RFU.

Not sure if that means he will no longer ref Premiership matches, or if he could do so on a match fee basis.

LondonTiger wrote:JP Doyle has been made redundant by the RFU.

Not sure if that means he will no longer ref Premiership matches, or if he could do so on a match fee basis.

I presume that he will now operate on a self employed basis. Am I right in thinking that's what all refs outside the 10 elite refs do?

 Cost cutting measures by the RFU are going to be the norm for the next few months I would have thought.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Hill has really gone backwards. Looked to be such a good prospect and has just faded.

I assume that refers to Paul, not Ted.

Yup. Paul not Ted.

LRZ is at full-back for Glaws. That’s an interesting move, and would be great for Wales if he can pull it off. He still looks like a ‘world class’ player in the making. 

Young and Rowlands absent from Wasps, but I imagine that’s just squad rotation.

The whole Wasps starting XV has been rotated by the looks of it. They are obviously targeting the mid week game.

Makes sense in a way for LRZ to play 15. If you kick loosely he's got the ability to make a lot of metres very quickly. Be a test of his kicking and positional play.

He's got May and Thorley on the wings, he'll be sweet. Will only improve him as a player

No 7&1/2 wrote:Yup. Paul not Ted.

Tighthead is a weird one to predict u20s, look how long it seemed to take for Sinckler to come through but in reality he's still pretty young at 27. Can't see Hill making it now, but it does make me think twice when watching the real youngsters in the Prem. The lad at Leicester looks like he could be very good but I'd imagine in the next RWC cycle realistically

BamBam wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:Yup. Paul not Ted.

Tighthead is a weird one to predict u20s, look how long it seemed to take for Sinckler to come through but in reality he's still pretty young at 27. Can't see Hill making it now, but it does make me think twice when watching the real youngsters in the Prem. The lad at Leicester looks like he could be very good but I'd imagine in the next RWC cycle realistically

A fair few props who break through early tend to pick up injuries that stall them - Nick Auterac and Henry Thomas jump to mind. Others see their game change completely to adjust to senior rugby. There was a time when Marler was an eye catching ball carrier with suspect scrummaging. Now he's a rock in the scrum, excellent in defence and carries very little.

I like the look of Painter, Heyes and Street from the young EQP tightheads. I hope one of those can break through over the next RWC cycle. Williams has never quite convinced at international level and Stuart getting very little game time off the bench felt telling in terms of Jones viewing him as a long term option.

It encourages me that all 3 of Painter, Heyes and Street are at clubs with depth at tighthead so their game time can be managed. Cole and Franks are experienced internationals for Heyes and Painter to learn from, then Williams and Francis are good tightheads for Street to compete with.

FFS

Second string selection from Tigers.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Second string selection from Tigers.

Don't get me started.

My wish list for the end of the season was:

1) Try to make WR a fortress again
2) Play the young guys alongside experienced heads
3) Stop playing locks at 6

Are Leicester starting with a scrum half on the wing? Do I have that right?

Sale:

Starting XV 15. Simon Hammersley, 14. Byron McGuigan, 13. Sam James, 12. Manu Tuilagi, 11. Marland Yarde, 10. Rob du Preez, 9. Faf de Klerk; 1. Coenie Oosthuizen, 2. Akker van der Merwe, 3. Will-Griff John, 4. Jean-Luc du Preez, 5. Lood de Jager, 6. Jono Ross (Capt.) 7. Tom Curry, 8. Daniel du Preez

Replacements 16. Curtis Langdon, 17. Ross Harrison, 18. Jake Cooper-Woolley, 19. James Phillips, 20. Ben Curry, 21. Will Cliff, 22. AJ MacGinty, 23. Denny Solomona.

Sale's starting pack doesn't make good reading from an English point of view again.

15 Stuart Hogg
14 Alex Cuthbert
13 Henry Slade
12 Ian Whitten
11 Olly Woodburn

10 Joe Simmonds (capt)
9 Jack Maunder

1 Ben Moon
2 Luke Cowan-Dickie
3 Harry Williams
4 Jonny Gray
5 Jonny Hill
6 Dave Ewers
7 Jacques Vermeulen
8 Sam Simmonds

16 Jack Yeandle
17 Billy Keast
18 Tomas Francis
19 Sam Skinner
20 Jannes Kirsten
21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne
22 Gareth Steenson
23 Tom Hendrickson

Cumbrian wrote:Are Leicester starting with a scrum half on the wing?  Do I have that right?

Simmons is a guy who has played FB and Wing (for Development side) but yes is principally a SH.

Cumbrian wrote:Sale:

Starting XV 15. Simon Hammersley, 14. Byron McGuigan, 13. Sam James, 12. Manu Tuilagi, 11. Marland Yarde, 10. Rob du Preez, 9. Faf de Klerk; 1. Coenie Oosthuizen, 2. Akker van der Merwe, 3. Will-Griff John, 4. Jean-Luc du Preez, 5. Lood de Jager, 6. Jono Ross (Capt.) 7. Tom Curry, 8. Daniel du Preez

Replacements 16. Curtis Langdon, 17. Ross Harrison, 18. Jake Cooper-Woolley, 19. James Phillips, 20. Ben Curry, 21. Will Cliff, 22. AJ MacGinty, 23. Denny Solomona.

Sale's starting pack doesn't make good reading from an English point of view again.

Five English in the starting XV? Plus 8 Saffers, 1 Welshman and 1 Kilted Saffer.

BATH RUGBY SIDE TO FACE LEICESTER TIGERS
15. Anthony Watson, 14. Semesa Rokoduguni, 13. Jonathan Joseph, 12. Cameron Redpath, 11. Ruaridh McConnochie, 10. Rhys Priestland, 9. Ben Spencer; 1. Lewis Boyce, 2. Tom Dunn, 3. Will Stuart, 4. Josh McNally, 5. Charlie Ewels (C), 6. Tom Ellis, 7. Sam Underhill, 8. Taulupe Faletau

REPLACEMENTS
16. Jack Walker, 17. Beno Obano, 18. Christian Judge, 19. Elliott Stooke, 20. Josh Bayliss, 21. Will Chudley, 22. Josh Matavesi, 23. Tom de Glanville


Feck me we are in trouble. Good EQP representation from Bath though.

As a Bath fan for more years than I care to think about, it has been a long time since I can last remember going to Welford Road feeling this should be straightforward......

There are more Tiger debutants for this game than there are non EQ players in the Bath twenty three! Strange times.
It was always the Tigers games within a season but that fixture now looks like being replaced back with the locals, Bristol.

LondonTiger wrote:

Cumbrian wrote:Sale:

Starting XV 15. Simon Hammersley, 14. Byron McGuigan, 13. Sam James, 12. Manu Tuilagi, 11. Marland Yarde, 10. Rob du Preez, 9. Faf de Klerk; 1. Coenie Oosthuizen, 2. Akker van der Merwe, 3. Will-Griff John, 4. Jean-Luc du Preez, 5. Lood de Jager, 6. Jono Ross (Capt.) 7. Tom Curry, 8. Daniel du Preez

Replacements 16. Curtis Langdon, 17. Ross Harrison, 18. Jake Cooper-Woolley, 19. James Phillips, 20. Ben Curry, 21. Will Cliff, 22. AJ MacGinty, 23. Denny Solomona.

Sale's starting pack doesn't make good reading from an English point of view again.

Five English in the starting XV? Plus 8 Saffers, 1 Welshman and 1 Kilted Saffer.

They should be doing a lot better with that team tbh. And most of them are available all season.

LondonTiger wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:Second string selection from Tigers.

Don't get me started.

My wish list for the end of the season was:

1) Try to make WR a fortress again
2) Play the young guys alongside experienced heads
3) Stop playing locks at 6

I'm just about alright with the rotation in the pack. Liebenberg at 6 would give them some more leadership and I'd have preferred Heyes to be paired with Genge then Cole to be paired with Leatigaga to split the strength in the props. Other than that I can about cope with the forwards.

The backs just annoy me though. Looking at that I can only presume that Youngs, Ford, Scott, Taute and possibly Nadolo will play the midweek game together. That's not rotation, it's just 1st string and 2nd string. I try to be positive and I understand that Borthwick is in a tough position with half our new signings not here and 3 games in 10 days. Just pick at least one of the experienced backs to give them some leadership though FFS. Lenny and Ford have 170 caps between them. They can play rugby without being in the same side.

I'm excited to see what Zach Henry can do as I think he's a good signing. I'm happy to see Harry Simmons in the back three and Worth in the centre as I think those could be their best respective positions moving forward. I'm happy to see Ben White as skipper as I think he's a natural leader in the squad.

I really feel for the backs as a unit though. If I were Guy Porter or Harry Potter I'd be struggling not to ask some early questions about my recent career choices. Thrown to the wolves.

Hopes for the game:

1. The lineout functions well again in attack but maul defence is better - against Ewels the later will be a challenge.
2. Leatigaga, Kerr and Heyes fare well as a unit. All are good front rows who I think have the potential to get better.
3. The back three cope with Spencer and Priestland's kicking OK. The back three really struggled in that regard last week. Bath have international half backs and a back three who are excellent on kick chase so it will be a tough examination.
4. No cricket score.

LondonTiger wrote:

Cumbrian wrote:Are Leicester starting with a scrum half on the wing?  Do I have that right?

Simmons is a guy who has played FB and Wing (for Development side) but yes is principally a SH.

It's ok, you've got a real wizard on the other wing

BamBam wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:

Cumbrian wrote:Are Leicester starting with a scrum half on the wing?  Do I have that right?

Simmons is a guy who has played FB and Wing (for Development side) but yes is principally a SH.

It's ok, you've got a real wizard on the other wing

When the teams went up my uncle who is a huge Tigers fan text me a screen shot of the team along with the message, "This selection feels like it's Matt O'Connors final horcrux. At least there will be one upside to Bath destroying it".

Crawley is a really talented batsman. It would be a great early positive to take from this final Test if he can record a maiden Test ton.

C'mon Zak!

king_carlos wrote:Crawley is a really talented batsman. It would be a great early positive to take from this final Test if he can record a maiden Test ton.

C'mon Zak!

Wrong board

LondonTiger wrote:

king_carlos wrote:Crawley is a really talented batsman. It would be a great early positive to take from this final Test if he can record a maiden Test ton.

C'mon Zak!

Wrong board

My bad, teaches me to have multiple tabs open!

Recwatcher16 wrote:As a Bath fan for more years than I care to think about, it has been a long time since I can last remember going to Welford Road feeling this should be straightforward......

There are more Tiger debutants for this game than there are non EQ players in the Bath twenty three! Strange times.
It was always the Tigers games within a season but that fixture now looks like being replaced back with the locals, Bristol.

Bath must be thinking about a TBP. Could be a record breaking score looking at that Bath back division and there being decent weather forecast.

Agree with LT the continual selection of a lock at 6 is enough to make you want to bang your head against the wall. I feel for young George Martin who has the potential to be an outstanding lock very much in the horrible traditions of the club. Being plonked in at 6 for his debut at 19 against three experienced backrow options for Bath, two of whom will be on the hunt for a Lion's spot. Similarly 20 year old Thom Smith has a huge ask at 8.

McPhillips has been a waste of space as a signing so far and I would have rather given Henry the 10 shirt and put Steward in at 15. A 6ft 4 natural fullback with a cannon of a boot being preferable under the barrage that will be coming.

It leaves us likely to play LI with our strongest team most of whom will then be fatigued for the game next weekend. That seems a bad choice for me. We as LT rightly said should be trying to make WR a fortress again, ok the fans of there so you won't get the wall of sound but that's not the point.

A LBP would be good at this point.

Typical - couldn't you put your best team out this weekend and save the weaker ones for LI please?

Heaf wrote:Typical - couldn't you put your best team out this weekend and save the weaker ones for LI please?

1.Genge 2.Youngs 3.Cole 4.Wells 5.Green 6.Liebenberg 7.Reffell 8.Taufua
9.Youngs 10.Ford 11.Nadolo 12.Scott 13.Taute 14.Olowofela 15.Steward

My guess from looking at the team for tomorrow is Borthwick is saving that for Wednesday when LI will be resting players. It's a good XV given the signings that haven't arrived yet.

I can understand trying to target one comfortable win rather than risking a couple of closer games with both possibly being losses. If Tigers can climb from 11th (on a technicality...) to 7/8th then things will look a lot rosier in the end of season write ups.z

I worry about it from a player development point of view though. It's been a long time since Tigers were good at rotating the squad to give experience and youth game time alongside each other. I was optimistic that might change quickly under Borthwick but that selection has a frustrating lack of balance in it!

Listening to Exeter vs Sale.
Three tries in ten minutes. Apparently sloppy defence by Exeter for the third try.

Sale certainly looking better than they did last week - putting a lot of pressure on Exeter with their defensive press.

Half time. Sale 14-10 ahead.
Tom Curry and Tuilagi playing well

I can't decide whether Sale faded or Exeter belatedly decided to bring the business. Either way, it is going to be hard to see past Exeter as champions this year.

Sale couldn't maintain their defensive intensity and Exeter also woke up a bit ...

Dammit thought all the games were on at the same time. How did Maunder get on?

Bristol are running riot.

Maddogflanker wrote:Listening to Exeter vs Sale.
Three tries in ten minutes. Apparently sloppy defence by Exeter for the third try.

Air tackling for that one. Last try of the game is worth look at for the Sam James chip and then cushioning the ball coming out of the air on his boot in a Messi esque fashion before toeing it on.

Gloucester have conceded three tries in the first quarter Vs Bristol. Radrada is living up to the bill.

Gloucester are on the end of a beefing if things don't change.

Exeter look so hard to breakdown and the way they punished Sale for their second half errors was pretty ruthless stuff.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Bristol are running riot.

I have BT Sport now but I couldn’t see where this was on?

Cumbrian wrote:I can't decide whether Sale faded or Exeter belatedly decided to bring the business.  Either way, it is going to be hard to see past Exeter as champions this year.

The amount of penalties given away by Tom Curry was probably the turning point.

I was uninspired by Willgriff John, we previously had high expectations. He didn’t seem that up for it, Francis seemingly has higher work rate. If we brought him in to scrum fair enough, as Dillon Lewis is awful, but Exeter gave him a hard time there as well. I thought Oosthuizen was good but like John seemed to run out of gas. 
Exeter look pretty difficult to stop. Everything they do seems to work, they’re an almost perfect unit.

Looks like some exciting games last night in comparison to last week - looking forward to catching up on them.

What's going on at Sale? That's an expensively assembled squad to be losing every week. Granted not many teams would beat Exeter just now, but they certainly didn't look a cohesive unit.