Henry Slade leads the way in which as dominant Exeter rout Leicester | Premiership

Christmas is coming however Exeter have already obtained their good reward. A membership document crowd of 15,000 witnessed this dominant bonus-point victory that cements the Chiefs within the high 4 of the 10-team Gallagher Premiership desk on the season’s midway level and leaves a hapless Leicester down in eighth.

Whereas the Tigers might not have but consumed their turkey, they already know what stuffing seems like. Exeter led 24-0 after 50 minutes and had manner an excessive amount of power, line velocity and talent for the lacklustre guests, who had gained their earlier 5 video games in all competitions. The youthful Chiefs, in the meantime, haven’t misplaced at dwelling since October 2022 and are rising in confidence by the week.

Even a robust Leicester aspect boasting 9 beginning gamers who featured at this 12 months’s World Cup had been no match for opponents who’ve additionally seen off Toulon and Munster in dramatic style within the Champions Cup this month.

The in-form Henry Slade scored a try to contributed a complete of 12 factors to say the person of the match award however the Chiefs pack had been additionally collectively wonderful once more with the No 8, Greg Fisilau, having fun with one other positive sport and Rus Tuima scoring his aspect’s fourth attempt within the closing moments.

Leicester, in distinction, can have headed dwelling distinctly missing in seasonal cheer. They’d travelled down on Friday however initially resembled a group nonetheless mentally on the M5. Scrum strain gave Chiefs an early alternative to kick a penalty to the nook and shortly sufficient a gleeful Jacques Vermeulen was over for his aspect’s first attempt. The Tigers might additionally haven’t any complaints about Exeter’s second attempt, George Martin tackling Rory O’Loughlin off the ball to concede each a penalty try to a yellow card.

Whereas the Chiefs’ dressing room could also be filled with recent faces, huge reputations don’t appear to faze them. Fisilau and the Welsh worldwide lock Dafydd Jenkins are clearly fast-rising skills, with Leicester’s Springbok World Cup profitable back-rower Jasper Wiese and several other different high-profile clubmates unable to achieve any constant ahead momentum.

Other than the lineout, the place the guests stole just a few balls, the Chiefs had been superior in most areas and will have added not less than a pair extra first-half tries. Lewis Pearson was responsible of hanging on to the ball with two gamers in promising positions and Jack Yeandle had a attempt dominated out for a double motion near the road. On the plus aspect there was a notable first league begin of the season for Ollie Devoto, who has battled his manner again into Exeter’s midfield after two hip operations.

So as to add to Tigers’ woes they misplaced England’s most capped scrum-half, Ben Youngs, with a leg damage with solely half an hour gone and issues quickly went from unhealthy to worse. Slade, beginning to rival Noddy Holder for dependable Christmas influence, was quickest to a free cross thrown by Pollard and, having scooped it superbly off the deck, had the tempo to spring 40 metres to attain between the posts.

Leicester had little different choice however to redouble their efforts. They edged the second half 10-8 and did handle to create tries out large for England Check males Anthony Watson and Freddie Steward nevertheless it supplied solely a short respite. A ultimate close-range surge ended with Tuima discovering a gap within the defensive position within the closing seconds, with Slade’s pulled conversion proving to be his solely missed kick all day.

Chiefs, who face Bristol at Ashton Gate on Friday, now sit solely 4 factors behind the midway leaders, Tub, and this was one other vital end result for a group beginning to make a behavior of turning over theoretically superior opposition. “The way in which the blokes pitched up mentally was actually pleasing,” stated their head coach, Ali Hepher. “They’ve had the bit between their tooth all week so we had an inkling a efficiency was coming.”

Leicester’s director of rugby, Dan McKellar, acknowledged his aspect had suffered from “a poor begin” and would wish to enhance considerably to bounce again towards Tub on New Yr’s Eve. “I don’t suppose it’ll be too laborious to show issues round for Tub,” he stated. “Rugby’s all about collision and we misplaced the collisions at this time in all areas. In the event you do that you just’re not going to beat anybody. We’d like to verify we flip up with a special mindset and an intent subsequent Sunday.”