Can anyone really stop Exeter Chiefs and Saracens?
Last year's Premiership finalists are leading the way once again in 2018/19
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TRU Contributor Gregg Boon feels this season's Gallagher Premiership could already be a two horse race.....
Two clubs with two very different styles, but the same uncompromising outcome occurred at the weekend.
Exeter and Saracens, still far from their best, swept past their respective Round Four opposition to cruise to another bonus point win.
Before the season began, it was hard to imagine the contest for the Gallagher Premiership being anything but a two-horse race. Four points already separate the top two and the chasing pack. It seems as though there is a gulf in quality between the performances of Saracens and Exeter and the other teams.
Exeter achieved a hard-fought win at Kingston Park on Friday night, a fixture they lost last season. They were rusty, caught napping at the start of both halves against a tenacious Newcastle. Newcastle to their credit forced Exeter into taking a penalty, an achievement in itself as the Chiefs have not kicked a single penalty this season.
Newcastle opened the scoring with Tom Arscott and Jonny Williams piercing the Chiefs defence before Zack Kibirige scorched over. Jonny Williams, a fantastic piece of business from Dean Richards, was superb as was the light-footed Simon Hammersley. One of his breaks really should have resulted in a try.
The Falcons came across Exeter at the right time, still looking to get in the groove, but they wasted a golden opportunity. Their set piece, handling of the restarts and the normally solid Toby Flood all went missing at various stages. They gifted Exeter possession, line out ball in their own 22 and here you could see the difference in class. Exeter are more than clinical in the red zone. Given a choice between betting my life on a Jonny Wilkinson penalty and an Exeter try from a 5-metre line out, I would probably put my money on Exeter.
By the time the game had finished, Exeter had grabbed three tries from close range, two coming for Sam Simmonds. While far from perfect it was a typical Exeter victory built on possession forward power, delicate handling and excellent patience and decision making.
In Joe Simmonds, Exeter have a fly half that will allow them to develop their game. His partnership with Henry Slade should be cherished. It is these talents that will allow Exeter to move away from their possession-based game plan – when required.
As for Saracens, they cruised to victory against a ragged Gloucester outfit that failed to reach the heights they had had hit in the first three rounds. Saracens never needed to get out of third gear having made the most of their first half wind advantage. They raced to a 21-point lead at half time, with Maro Itoje benefiting from a perfectly weighted Owen Farrell kick and a fair bit of luck with the bounce.
It provided an increasing comparison between the two sides. Gloucester had taken a healthy 20-point lead and stuttered to a draw in the second round as they allowed Bath back into the game whereas Saracens, the Champions, would offer the Cherry and Whites no such way back. Despite a good amount of possession, 21 phases at one point, a directionless Gloucester failed to make gains. Alex Goode latched onto an impeccable Farrell pass before shipping onto the outstanding Sean Maitland to score early in the second half, securing the bonus point.
There’s no shame in losing to Saracens. They may well be the best club side in the world and could give several international side’s a competitive game. Gloucester will be disappointed with their performance. If they would have reached the levels they are no doubt capable of and had the likes of Jaco Kriel and Ruan Dreyer available, then Saracens at their peak, would likely still have bettered them.
Saracens have too much in their armoury. While Exeter still has to develop a plan B & C away from their attritional possession-based style, Saracens can flex their game. Their forwards are dominant and Mako Vunipola is one of the best looseheads in the world. If they need to play a forward orientated game, they can and they have taken a bonus point from each match this season so there are no questions over their ability to play an expansive style. We’ve not seen it for some time, but they are no doubt still capable of starving opposition with their kick chase rugby.
This is two sides that are only going to get better, two sides that are capable of much more. The threat to their dominance is not rival teams but international call ups, injuries and squad depth. Can they keep winning through the autumn internationals and after Europe has taken its toll on their players? This is when you hope to come up against Saracens and Exeter, when you can take points off them and close the gap. Otherwise, they are a class apart and a joy to watch.
