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Mick Cleary's verdict: Double-winners Exeter Chiefs join elite club after show of heart, soul and muscle

The celebrations begin for Exeter Chiefs - GETTY IMAGES
The celebrations begin for Exeter Chiefs - GETTY IMAGES

One title in a season can be passed off as happenstance. A Double, however, transcends the moment and confers true champion status on those who defeat all-comers across all territories. There can be no flukes, no lucky bounces, no refereeing injustices to sully the debate. That is the measure of Exeter Chiefs' achievement. Rugby’s Mount Rushmore is ready for another carving in stone. Devon’s finest rightly take their place on such a promontory.

As previous Double-winners in England, Leicester, Wasps and Saracens, had themselves shown, you have to be a class apart – remorseless, clever and appealing. Chiefs needed victory to get that defining affirmation and they merit every last bit of praise, every plaudit. This was a triumph based on the character of the squad, proof that Exeter are a team of heart and soul as much as they are of muscle and bone.

It would have taken something extraordinary to deny them. Wasps were more than happy to audition for that role, such laudable opposition, fearsome and unforgiving. They had one shot late in the match to deny the Double but they blew it as their lineout once again came up with a dud. Exeter finished the stronger, truly worthy winners.

It was a pity that the Premiership powers couldn’t have had a word with the weather Gods. From the warm bask of early summer when the final is usually held to a sodden, chill Saturday evening. The weather was filthy. Several times the ball popped out in contact. The Premiership showcase was, unfortunately, littered with errors. Covid ensured that the game was played behind closed doors: shame it couldn’t have been indoors.

There is to be no disputing Exeter’s class as this fifth successive appearance in the Premiership final demonstrated. But could they also add touches of genius that stand the test of time, that can light up even the darkest afternoon? Did they have heroes to inspire, icons to emulate? A Martin Johnson or Lawrence Dallaglio or Owen Farrell that have bestrode that Double stage before them?

English clubs to win domestic and European double
English clubs to win domestic and European double

Yes, they do and they did. See the way in which Stuart Hogg prowled the rear field, dealing with the rain and the turbulence, sensing the way play might unfold, ready to launch himself into the attack. Or Jack Nowell alongside, the Cornish trawlerman’s son still true to those seafaring ways, bold and brave, shirking no challenge, thrusting himself through each and every tackle as if were cresting a wave, of which there were a few given the torrential rain. Nowell was as busy and bustling as ever in the tricky conditions while his mate right back from Academy days, Henry Slade, was all elegance and speed, as he so compellingly demonstrated when arcing outside for the first try. It was a moment to light up a dismal Twickenham evening.

Slade, a smooth, consummate operator, has all the hallmarks of famed All Black centre, Conrad Smith, silky yet teak-tough. The opening score was testimony to that, all glide and grace.

Wasps, though, have been no-one’s pushovers. Well, not since Covid sent everyone into lockdown and Wasps into a period of critical introspection. They lay tenth in the league at that point, listless and rudderless, without a director of rugby following Dai Young’s enforced departure after nine years at the helm.

Wasps have been transformed under Lee Blackett. The new head coach has pushed the buttons and the players have responded as they showed here with the deep-welled spirit in their play. It was a fitting final, a contest of equals in resolve and commitment. 

Take your pick of that they had to offer from evergreen inside centre, Jimmy Gopperth, all savvy and edge, quicksilver scrum-half, Dan Robson and the boss of the breakdown, Jack Willis. Robson was a menace throughout. Lock, Joe Launchbury has been the heart and soul of Wasps, a noble, uncomplaining figure, a rallying point on the field in particular as he showed when turning over the first of those usually lethal Exeter drives from a lineout close to the line.

Even if they had had a full complement, Wasps would have been faced with a mammoth task given the consistent high standards set by the Chiefs. But Wasps’ luck deserted them in the build-up. They were without four front-line players due to the coronavirus. They had only managed two full training sessions over the last fortnight. At least they would be fresh as was seen in their dervish-like pursuit of the ball. They put every ounce of conserved energy to good use.

Robson strained at the leash, the Wasps forwards dug deep. Exeter knew that history was at their fingertips but they were also aware that hanging on to anything in such rain-lashed circumstances was far from easy. They managed to close out the deal.

The Pantheon only admits the very best. It has a new member – Exeter Chiefs.