Exeter Chiefs player ratings from Northampton Saints defeat - 'Overshadowed'
Exeter Chiefs were beaten 30-24 away at Northampton Saints on Saturday in Round Two of the 2024/25 Gallagher Premiership after failing to capitalise on visits to the red zone.
Saints appeared to be cruising at 30-10, after tries from Alex Coles, Chunya Munga and Rory Hutchinson and 15 points from the boot of player of the match Fin Smith put the defending champions in a commanding position, but England winger Feyi-Waboso dotted down two converted tries in eight minutes to set up a tense finale after Olly Woodburn had crossed just before half time. However, in the end time ran out on the late revival at cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens.
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South West rugby writer John Evely takes a closer look at the individual performances from the Exeter Chiefs players....
15. Josh Hodge - 7
The full-back kicked excellently from the tee, with a long-range penalty from halfway and on the angle the pick of the bunch. However, in attack Chiefs aren’t managing to utilise him fully as an attacking force.
14. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso - 7
‘Electricity personified’ said Irish legend Brian O’Driscoll before the game kicked off. The England international went head to head with Tommy Freeman who is one of his rivals for a place in Steve Borthwick’s side this Autumn and while he was essentially marked out of the game for the first 70 minutes, two late tries showed his class, albeit they were daily easy finishes, or at least they are when you are this good a player.
13. Olly Woodburn - 7
Starting in the centre having been moved there from the wing early last week after Ben Hammersley was removed for a HIA, the veteran touch down for a try after running a good support line off Harvey Skinner.
12. Joe Hawkins - 6
The Welsh centre was powerful but a bit one dimensional, much like Chiefs in attack generally and got slightly overshadowed by Will Rigg when the less experienced man came on.
11. Paul Brown-Bampoe - 5
Making his first Premiership start having played 75 minutes of Exeter’s opening game of the season after an early injury brought him on, his inability to make repeat full-gas efforts was evident when he had a prime opportunity to sprint into space down the wing but didn’t have the legs under him to exploit the golden opportunity and score a try having worked hard to get back defensively moments earlier. Still coming of age
10. Harvey Skinner - 6
The fly-half produced a moment of magic to open up the Saints’ well organised defence just before half time, wrapping around the corner and selling a dummy to Scotland international Rory Hutchinson before flooding through the gap, drawing the last defender and passing to Woodburn to run the ball home. The stand-off pulled of a couple of brilliant kicks but as the primary playmaker in the side at the moment with Henry Slade absent, the backline’s lack of inventiveness in attack falls heavily on Skinner’s shoudlers.
9. Sam Maunder - 5
Making his long-awaited injury return in a Premiership game having been sidelined for a year and half with a serious knee injury his display will sadly be remembered for a poor charge down by Chunya Munga who regathered it to score. The lack of players in the ruck protecting him from the charge-down will be harshly highlighted in Monday’s analysis session. He looked out on his feet when replaced by Tom Cairns who injected an urgentness to Exeter’s play.
1. Scott Sio - 6
Captaining the side for the second week running the Wallabies loosehead prop put in some meaty carries.
2. Dan Frost - 5
The hooker had a horrible couple of minutes in the first half when he conceded a free kick in a scrum, then threw the ball not straight at a lineout, and moments later conceded a penalty for not releasing after getting isolated. All that said, he made some nice runs and big hits.
3. Ehren Painter - 6
The former Saints man held his own in the scrum and worked hard at the break down.
4. Rusi Tuima - 5
The lock failed to catch the eye with his normal x-factor carries. His physicality was needed more in a game of this nature.
5. Christ Tshiunza - 5
Promoted back into the starting side having been amongst the replacements last weekend, he put in a series of big tackles but still doesn’t carry as effectively as a man of his physical stature should.
6. Ethan Roots - 7
The flanker had a strong day as he looks to have grown from his exposure to international rugby. He carried bullishly and was one of the few Exeter players who repeatedly managed to get over the gain line and on the front foot.
7. Richard Capstick - 5
Playing in his more accustomed backrow position having started a lock last weekend in the defeat to Leicester Tigers, Capstick was the quietest of the three backrow players as Saints repeatedly won penalties in the breakdown for holding on.
8. Ross Vintcent - 8
The Italian international was Exeter’s best player as he repeatedly found gaps he could expose with his dynamic combination of power and speed.
Replacements:
16. Jack Yeandle - 6
17. Will Goodrick-Clarke - 6
18. Marcus Street - 6
19. Jack Dunne - 6
20. Martin Moloney - 5
21. Tom Cairns - 7
22. Will Haydon-Wood - 7
23. Will Rigg - 7