Irish 20 Chiefs 24
London Irish 20
Exeter Chiefs 24
Mark Stevens at the Tech Community Stadium
For all the talk that Exeter’s golden generation will disperse at the end of the current campaign, Chiefs fans need not worry too much about those who are set to follow in their successful footsteps.
All season Rob Baxter and his team of coaches have waxed lyrical about the new stock coming through at Sandy Park.
Although still very much a ‘work in progress’ - the ‘Class of 2023’ have been brought up in the shadows of some modern-day greats. Form is temporary, class in permanent. Lining up alongside such talent, it doesn’t take long for the magic to rub off.
Up against a hard-nosed London Irish outfit, when push came to shove, the Chiefs duly delivered, wrapping up a third Premiership Rugby Cup crown in the nation’s capital.
Aidon Davis’ extra-time try proved the difference in an enthralling encounter which had pretty much everything. The Chiefs trailed 14-10 at the break, Exiles hooker Ignacio Ruiz crossing twice, only for the visitors to counter with a Jack Innard try and a penalty from Iwan Jenkins.
Irish extended their lead early in the second half with a Jacob Atkins penalty, before the Chiefs hauled themselves level with five minutes of normal time remaining thanks to a converted try from replacement prop Josh Iosefa-Scott.
With nothing separating the two at the end of normal time, Atkins slotted a second penalty during the first period of extra time to restore his side’s lead, before the Chiefs produced a grandstand finale, South African forward Davis thundering his way over to send the Devonians into dreamland.
Back in the final of this competition for the first time since winning it in 2018, Pellow opted to stick largely with the same squad that had seen off Sale Sharks 46-3 in the semi-finals. That meant it was a healthy mix of youth and experience that took to the field, including Welshman Dan John who was a late call-up into the Exeter starting line-up after Immanuel Feyi-Waboso failed a fitness check in the team run 24 hours previous.
Irish, whose perfect five from five in the qualification stages meant they had home advantage for the tie, also opted to go with the same personnel who had served them so well in the early rounds, but they were put under early pressure as the Chiefs started brightly. Full-back Tom Wyatt set the attacking tone for the Devonians, producing a stylish burst from deep inside his own 22, only to be thwarted at the other end by some last-gasp defence from the Exiles.
It was, however, encouraging stuff from the visitors who continued to probe in the early stages. Jack Dunne and Christ Tshiunza both provided some decent forward thrust, only for prop Danny Southworth to knock-on with the try-line beckoning.
Threat averted, Irish then showed their rivals how it should be done, hitting their top-flight counterparts with a hammer blow in their first meaningful visit into enemy territory. Having won a penalty midway inside the Chiefs half, they used the boot of Atkins to position themselves to within sniffing distance of the Exeter line. With the set-piece offered five metres out, Irish used their potent pack of forwards to propel hooker Ruiz over for the game’s opening points.
Irish were certainly good value for their lead, but the Chiefs were desperate to find a rapid response. Initially their efforts to draw level were halted, either by some miserly defence from the Londoners or an over-willingness to try and force the play.
Wyatt was a constant threat in attack for the Chiefs, running from deep on numerous occasions, whilst No.8 Rus Tuima, along with Jack Dunne and Davis, continually threw themselves into some heavyweight collisions. The momentum, however, was building and having kicked a penalty of their own to the left corner, the visitors were able to work the ball inside off a collapsed maul to the hands of Tom Hendrickson and Sean O’Brien, who between them fashioned the opening for skipper Innard to crash over by the posts.
With parity restored, Irish were given a helping hand when Exeter loosehead Danny Southworth saw yellow for a high hit on home No.8 So’otala Fa’aso’o. It wasn’t pretty on first viewing and it didn’t get much better the more it was shown on the big screens. Thankfully, referee Adam Leal felt there was mitigation in terms of the prop’s actions and he was sent to the sidelines for a ten-minute stint.
In his absence, Irish took just two minutes to make their numerical advantage tell, Ruiz stealing over from a second close-range line-out move to restore his side’s lead heading towards the break.
To their credit, the Chiefs brushed off the try within seconds and having made the most of Irish stuffing up the restart, they capitalised on an indiscretion from Atkins to cut the deficit to four at the turn, Jenkins plundering a long-range penalty to keep his side in touch.
HALF TIME: LONDON IRISH 14 EXETER CHIEFS 10
No doubt keen to address a few issues during the break, the Chiefs re-emerged for the second half looking to pull themselves back into contention. Again, they started brightly, throwing themselves into collisions and making decent enough gains through the middle of the pitch.
Irish, though, were soaking up the pressure and having kept their counterparts at bay, they themselves strode down field, creating a series of multi-phase attacks which, in the end, saw Tuima slap down the ball, gifting them a penalty that Atkins landed from in front of the posts.
A converted score behind and with work to do, the Chiefs turned to their bench. Senior stars such as Iosefa-Scott, Jannes Kirsten and Ollie Devoto were all thrown into the heat of battle, as was Joe Simmonds, himself no stranger to the big occasion.
The Exeter pressure was certainly mounting, but with a mis-functioning line-out hindering their progress, so the sense of frustration started to grow within the Chiefs ranks. Undeterred, they continue to push forward in numbers, this time creating an opening for O’Brien in the shadows of the Irish posts. The centre seemed destined to score, but he was crudely stopped by a thumping hit from home flanker Josh Basham.
On initial viewing it seemed like another spurned opportunity for the Chiefs. However, closer scrutiny revealed the former Connacht centre had been clocked high to the head. Again, it was trial by TV, countless replays revealing the extent of the hit in all its glory. But, just as he had done in the first half, Leal chatted through the footage with TMO, Rowan Kitt, and again they opted for a yellow card.
Now with the man advantage, it was the turn of the Chiefs to try and turn the screw in attack. A tap penalty appeared to have laid the foundations for Tuima to power his way over, but as the Fijian-born forward tried to touchdown, he spilled the ball and the chance again went begging.
With the minutes ticking down, it was all or nothing for the Chiefs in their pursuit of glory. To a man, however, they all stood up, took the proverbial ‘bull by the horns’ and lay siege on the Irish 22. They pushed and probed, going right, then left, before Iosefa-Scott picked up close to the line and drove his way over for his second try of the season. Simmonds obliged with the extras and we were level once more.
Now with the bit between their teeth, the Chiefs looked to deliver the killer blow. Again, a series of attacking raids ensued in the dying embers, but Irish were having none of it, standing firm in the heat of battle, which was now ferocious and saw Kirsten depart the scene after what appeared to be another questionable high hit.
Just as it was 12 months ago, the final again headed for extra time. Irish - now back to full complement - used the break to regroup and whatever was said, it had the desired effect as they started on the front foot, re-establishing their lead with a second Atkins penalty after the Chiefs strayed offside in front of their own posts.
Irish could - and probably should - have added to that tally when afforded another penalty chance not long after. This time, they went for greater reward, a tactic which would ultimately backfire on them as the Chiefs averted the challenge, before clearing their lines.
Still with little to choose between either side as the game entered into the second period of extra time, it was the Chiefs who would rally one more time. James Kenny was a real livewire in the loose for the visitors who, having won a penalty deep inside the Irish 22, patiently went about their work to fashion the opening for Davis to land the decisive blow.
It was a fitting moment for the South African, whose first season in Devon has been largely curtailed by a torn bicep picked up just weeks into pre-season. Now, fully recovered, the gifted back-row forward is looking to make up for lost time. His telling effort here will not only quash those injury demons, but also write his name into the history books for years to come. Simmonds, just as he done earlier, again converted to put his side four clear with just minutes remaining.
Try as they may, Irish huffed and puffed late on, but this Chiefs side were clearly hellbent on securing the silverware, producing a defensive lock-out which, come the end, had defence guru Omar Mounieme punching the air in delight.
Who says you win nothing with kids?
Irish: J Stokes; M Williams (A Harmes 64), W Joseph (E Poolman 54), T Hitchcock, M Dykes; J Atkins, H O’Sullivan (C Englefield 90); F Gigena (T Haffar 51), I Ruiz (M Cornish 64), L Chawatama (C Parker 65); J Caulfield (E Scragg 90), C Munga; J Cooke (capt), J Basham, S Fa’aso’o (J-M Gonzalez 53).
Tries - Ruiz (2); Conversions - Atkins (2); Penalties - Atkins (2)
Yellow Card: Basham
Chiefs: T Wyatt; D John, S O’Brien, T Hendrickson (O Devoto 56), R O’Loughlin; I Jenkins (J Simmonds 72), T Cairns (W Becconsall 51); D Southworth (J Kenny 64), J Innard (capt, I Harris 64), P Schickerling (J Iosefa-Scott 55); M Williams (J Kirsten 55, C Teague 80), J Dunne; C Tshiunza, A Davis, R Tuima.
Tries - Innard, Iosefa-Scott, Wyatt; Conversions - I Jenkins, J Simmonds (2); Penalty - I Jenkins
Yellow Card: Southworth
Referee: A Leal
Attendance: 7,663