Exeter vs Bristol, rd4

[jimKRFC]

Exeter team:
15 Josh Hodge, 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13 Olly Woodburn, 12 Joe Hawkins, 11 Paul Brown-Bampoe; 10 Harvey Skinner, 9 Sam Maunder; 1 Scott Sio, 2 Jack Yeandle (c), 3 Marcus Street; 4 Rusi Tuima, 5 Franco Molina; 6 Jacques Vermeulen, 7 Richard Capstick, 8 Ross Vintcent.

Replacements: 16 Dan Frost, 17 Will Goodrick-Clarke, 18 Josh Iosefa-Scott; 19 Jack Dunne, 20 Ethan Roots; 21 Tom Cairns, 22 Ben Hammersley, 23 Greg Fisilau.

Bristol:
15. Lane, 14. Bates, 13. Jenkins, 12. Janse Van Rensburg, 11. Ibitoye; 10. MacGinty, 9. Marmion; 1. Woolmore, 2. Oghre, 3. Lahiff; 4. Caulfield, 5. Batley; 6, Luatua, 7. S. Grondona, 8. Harding ( c ).

Subs: 16. Capon, 17. Genge, 18. Kloska; 19 Dun, 20. B. Grondona, 21. Randall, 22. Worsley, 23. Elizalde (debut).

Quite a lot of changes for Bristol against a side desperate for a win, can see this being a home win.

[fivepointer]

Quite a difficult one to call. Exeter have been poor but surely must spark into life at some point. Vermeulen back is a positive.
Bristol rotating and will definitely miss Malins.

[Mellsblue]

Bris by 142.5 etc etc

[Oakboy]

Without Slade to create and without even middling competence at 9/10, I think Exeter will continue to struggle. Maybe, their forwards can keep them in games but winning convincingly seems beyond them till something changes at halfback.

[FKAS]

Without Slade to create and without even middling competence at 9/10, I think Exeter will continue to struggle. Maybe, their forwards can keep them in games but winning convincingly seems beyond them till something changes at halfback.

Having that 9 and 10 and only one fit centre really does kill the fact they've got an electric back three doesn't it.

Baxter has loaded up the bench with forwards as well so presumably intends to just try and beat Bristol up.

[Oakboy]

2 tries each for Exeter's superb wingers. Then, that bloody fool, Frost, gets himself carded with Bristol scoring twice immediately. 6 points in it when Exrter should be out of sight.

[Oakboy]

Make that 3 tries. Now Bristol lead.

[Oakboy]

That yellow cost 28 points!!!

[FKAS]

That yellow cost 28 points!!!

Wow, talk about crumbling under pressure.

[fivepointer]

Quite a second half. Exeter had the game under control then managed to fall apart. The yellow was dumb and really hurt them.

Credit Bris for coming to life and Ibitoye took his tries well. Good day for the wingers. Exeter's scored some good ones too.

[jimKRFC]

Didn't see that coming at 60mins!

Bristol sounded dreadful for most of it. Definitely a bit of a stolen win there.

[Oakboy]

Didn't see that coming at 60mins!

Bristol sounded dreadful for most of it. Definitely a bit of a stolen win there.

I think most neutrals would agree that the first half was about even with Bristol ahead on the scoreboard but Exeter having blown 4 or 5 scoring chances by coughing up the ball inside Bristol's 22. After HT Exeter scored 17 unanswered points to reach a position that should have been unassailable. Basically, up to the yellow card, Exeter's forwards out-carried Bristol's, producing more openings. For example Vermeulen, smashed holes till he was replaced by Roots who then carried just as well if not better.

The yellow card was the turning point, reflecting equally Bristol's step up in confidence and attacking conviction and Exeter's loss of defensive shape as their morale cracked. I'm tempted to suggest that Exeter's issues at 9, 12, 13 were the major problem in terms of game control but their opposite numbers only opened up the game at the end because their forwards won and kept the ball.

Sometimes, I need help to understand rugby. I enjoy most of what Baxter says, for instance, but his rating of Skinner baffles me. Would the guy get in any other premiership team at 10 or 22?

[twitchy]

I haven't watched the game yet but CM just did an bit. I'd not heard the term "injury cluster" but it fits very well what has happened at exe. All the issues he mentions are made even worse by the others.

[TheNomad]

Will read that when I get a second. Otherwise, England could do worse than IFW (obviously) and Ibitoye on the wings

Serious finishing with those two

[Banquo]

Will read that when I get a second. Otherwise, England could do worse than IFW (obviously) and Ibitoye on the wings

Serious finishing with those two

justice for Freeman/Sleightholme

[FKAS]

Will read that when I get a second. Otherwise, England could do worse than IFW (obviously) and Ibitoye on the wings

Serious finishing with those two

justice for Freeman/Sleightholme

Roebuck was fantastic this weekend as well. Isn't it four in four now for him as well?

Speedy Backline has got some options.

[Oakboy]

Will read that when I get a second. Otherwise, England could do worse than IFW (obviously) and Ibitoye on the wings

Serious finishing with those two

justice for Freeman/Sleightholme

Has Freeman gone off the boil a bit? Fantastic player, mind.

[TheNomad]

All fair comments. Freeman has to play really. Whether on the wing or centre. I really like Roebuck and Sleighthome too. Options for the first time in a while. Steward coming back into form too

[Mikey Brown]

It’s all moot until Seb Atkinson gets the 12 shirt.

[Banquo]

Will read that when I get a second. Otherwise, England could do worse than IFW (obviously) and Ibitoye on the wings

Serious finishing with those two

justice for Freeman/Sleightholme

Has Freeman gone off the boil a bit? Fantastic player, mind.

no.

[p/d]

It’s all moot until Seb Atkinson gets the 12 shirt.

On the money as usual MB

[Puja]

Will read that when I get a second. Otherwise, England could do worse than IFW (obviously) and Ibitoye on the wings

Serious finishing with those two

justice for Freeman/Sleightholme

Has Freeman gone off the boil a bit? Fantastic player, mind.

Thought he was superb against Leicester - looked every inch an international player stepping down to club level.

Not sure about Ibitoye - very dangerous with great footwork and pace, but he gets his blinkers on too easily and makes the decision to go himself when he'd be better passing. Plus not sure about some of his all-round work and ability to find work rather than waiting for the ball to come to him.

Roebuck was fantastic this weekend as well. Isn't it four in four now for him as well?

Speedy Backline has got some options.

You're not wrong - IFW and Freeman are the starters, but behind there's Roebuck and Sleighholme snapping at their heels, and behind them there's Ibitoye, Hendy will be returning soon, the potential of Bampoe-Brown/Cleaves/Elliot, Hassell-Collins is coming back to form, not to mention Anthony Watson's not past it yet if he can stay fit, and Arundell will likely look for a Prem move in 2026.

ETA. And Murley as well!

For all the whinging about "young English players don't get to play", we haven't half got some strength in depth right now.

Puja

[FKAS]

Agreed on Freeman, looked very classy yesterday. The little shimmy to skip past OHC was largely blamed on OHC for a missed tackle by the commentary team but it was a bit of class skill from Freeman.