Exeter off to a flier as they outrun Cheetahs

European Challenge Cup

Exeter Chiefs (35) 42

Tries: Ikitau, Fisilau, Skinner, Sio, Slade, Feyi-Waboso Cons: Slade 6

Cheetahs (7) 12

Exeter Chiefs got their European Challenge Cup campaign off to the perfect start with a dominant display against the Cheetahs at Sandy Park.

The hosts went second in Pool 3 level on points with Ulster and Stade Francais after an opening fixture featuring six-tries against the South Africans who were blown away in the first half.

Coach Rob Baxter takes his side to Racing 92 next Sunday for a second outing in Europe’s second tier competition with wind in their sails not only from their strong Prem start but a ruthless display here.

Tries from Len Ikitau, Greg Fisilau, Harvey Skinner, Scott Sio and Henry Slade gave Chiefs a 35-7 half time lead and while the second half saw them add just one more through Manny Feyi-Waboso, they showcased some outstanding defensive sets to put the contest to bed.

All aspects of Exeter’s play started on point with a line-out steal backed up with some bruising phases in the middle then Skinner breaking through the Cheetahs’ defensive line.

His assist to Ikitau got the ball rolling and with Exeter dominant at the breakdown and assured at the line-out they were soon two tries to the good with Fisilau touching down on 20 minutes.

Cheetahs responded to halve the deficit to 14-7 after a fine off-load from Prince Nkabinde seeing Annies go over.

But a close-range effort from Skinner, a pick and go from a line-out from Sio and a cross-field kick from Skinner to Slade, who touched down in the corner, saw them go in 35-7 up.

Slade deserves special mention for the unerring accuracy of his boot from some demanding angles. All six of his conversion attempts went over for extras. But a towering display in defence from Tom Hooper also needs noting.

After Feyi-Waboso cancelled out Hartzenberg’s second-half effort Exeter allowed some sloppy play to creep into their performance but they were back on song towards the end.

Exeter Chiefs assistant coach Dave Walder speaking to BBC Radio Devon:

“We are delighted with the start we have made today to the tournament and while there is lots to work on we are sitting in the changing room very happy.

“We put the game to bed in the first half hour. The try before half-time was really crucial and some of our tries in the first half were outstanding. It was a shame we didn’t kick on in the second half but I think mentally after half an hour we were in a good place.

“Sometimes you can be a little bit fearful [against teams] or get a little bit complacent and I thought we judged it well. If you had said at the start of the day you would win 42-12 and be in the situation we are in you would have taken that.

Exeter: Hammersley; Woodburn, Slade, Ikitau, Feyi-Waboso; Skinner, Chapman; Sio, Yeandle, Tchumbadze, Jenkins, Zambonin, Hooper, Roots, Fisilau

Replacements: Dweba, Goodrick-Clarke, Roots, Pearson, James, Cairns, Haydon-Wood, John

Cheetahs: Annies; Hartzenberg, Ackermann, du Plessis, Nkabinde; van der Walt, Jansen van Vuren; Dawson, van der Westhuizen, Coetzee, Wegner, Sekekete, Uys, Venter, van der Merwe

Replacements: Paulo, Nieuwoudt, dos Reis, Vumazonke, Volschenk, Maartens, Nel, Jasper