Exeter stage astonishing comeback to draw at Saints

The Prem.

Northampton Saints (33) 33

Coles, Pearson, Todaro 2, Litchfield Cons: Belleau 4, and Coles, Pearson,

Chiefs of Exeter (7) 33

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso’s Chiefs of Exeter won their second game tries against Northampton Saints, which was a remarkable comeback draw.

The England winger’s shoulder issue prevented him from playing competitive rugby since December and gave up a score just four minutes into the Prem season opener against Franklin’s Gardens.

In a devastating spell of attacking rugby, Saints appeared to have won the match by half-time thanks to debutants Alex Coles, Tom Pearson, and Tom Litchfield, who both scored two tries.

In the second half, Ross Vintcent added two to Paul Brown-Bampoe’s and Feyi-Waboso’s scores as he hobbled over the line and four unanswered tries for Exeter. After the game, Chiefs boss Rob Baxter confirmed that the cramp was not a muscle injury.

With home fervor roiling for a successful new campaign following their success last year, Franklin’s Gardens was packed with fans of the Saints, who included three exciting debutants, Anthony Belleau, and giant South African lock JJ Van Der Mescht.

However, France international Belleau started poorly, and Saints were caught napping as Feyi-Waboso raced over the line after being caught in a ruck, ducked under a tackle, and made it to the bottom of the standings.

With five tries in 22 minutes, which Coles slammed over from close range, Northampton were not far behind.

Before Todaro, 19, made his dream debut by scoring Saints’ third goal thanks to an outrageous reverse pass from James Ramm, Pearson completed another flowing move by moving wide on the left.

After Saints threatened to run away from the reeling Chiefs, Litchfield received a delicious Fraser Dingwall short pass before Todaro scored his second try.

As Northampton eased off on the accelerator, Exeter somehow drew some faith into the second half, and they were soon able to reclaim the lead.

Brown-Bampoe, who scored 21 tries last season, did so with his first of the campaign, but it still seemed like a couple of consolations even after Feyi-Waboso’s excellent aerial work teed up Vintcent’s first try.

However, Saints’ sleepiness was made clear when Vintcent was sent over for another after Jack Yeandle’s low, sharp throw from a line-out abruptly made them both vulnerable.

Exeter produced some thrilling rugby of their own, and when Stephen Varney looped a reverse pass that could be deemed either inspired or wild, Chiefs worked the ball wide right and Feyi-Waboso slipped over the line.

Saints were riled by the low points, but Chiefs held on even after Josh Hodge was sent off for a 20-minute red card for making head-to-head contact with Sam Graham as the back rower was set to score.

Phil Dowson, Northampton’s rugby director, stated to BBC Radio Northampton: “

“We gave up a 33-7 half-time lead to draw a game that should have been out of sight,” said one player.

We continued giving them field position and possession in the second half because we didn’t value the ball, we didn’t look after it for any length of time, and we were consistently punished.

We initially appeared to be unable to regain our momentum once we lost it.

We basically didn’t get past three phases in the second half despite some really good attacking and some fairly average defense from both teams.

Rob Baxter, Exeter’s rugby director, stated to BBC Radio Devon:

You can’t escape that Northampton team because there were many really talented players who weren’t there, they were in fact.

Literally, the first few things that went our way in the first half caused a slog that required us to go through. I have a responsibility to continue working with the players, giving them the confidence to carry it out, and sticking to it, with the hope that today’s outcome will contribute to that.

At half-time, we had nowhere to go. Fair play to the young men, they both stood up and fought, and we either had to roll over and die or fight.

Walker, Fischetti, Miller Mills, Van Der Mescht, Graham, Weimann, Hutchinson as replacements

Hodge, Feyi-Waboso, Slade, Hammersley, Brown-Bampoe, Brown-Bampoe, Skinner, Varney, Goodrick-Clarke, Dweba, Iosefa-Scott, Tuima, Pearson, Tshiunza, Fisilau, Vintcent, and others.

Yeandle, Blose, Tchumbadze, Jenkins, Zambonin, Chapman, Lilley, James as replacements.