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Exeter Chiefs 18 Saracens 16: Simmonds try downs European champions at the death
Saracens’ bid for a double double is over. The English and European champions were overturned in a classic Aviva Premiership semi-final by an outstanding Exeter side who proved every bit as relentless and resilient as the irresistible force of club rugby.
Ruthless, too. When wing Mike Ellery scored while being turned head over feet with five minutes to go to put Saracens 16-13 ahead that seemed to be that. The dream-crushers strike again. But Exeter refused to stop believing.
With just over a minute to play, they won a penalty well inside their own half. Henry Slade, a replacement, gambled on kicking as deep as he could. His wind-assisted 60-metre howitzer found touch just four metres from the tryline. If there were awards for kick – or indeed brass balls – of the season, Slade, the forgotten golden boy of English rugby, just scooped it.
Mark McCall, the Saracens director of rugby and not a man given to hyperbole, said, “It was one of the great kicks of all time from Henry Slade. He puts that anywhere else and I would be sitting here talking about one of the great wins and fights from a team who were a bit tired.”
The job was only half done. Geoff Parling claimed the line-out, the drive was formed and another replacement Sam Simmonds buried beneath a pile of bodies with 26 seconds left.
Cue pandemonium. Beer flew in all directions. All four stands turned into a threshing machine of flaying limbs and bodies. Saracens players stood under the posts barely able to process what had just happened with the clock now turned red. For once it was they who had to absorb the pain of a last-minute sucker punch.
There can be no shame or regret in defeat. Backing up a bruising victory against Clermont Auvergne seven days ago in the Champions Cup final was always going to be an almighty task, even with a club as well stocked as Saracens. That was even before they lost two key players in Michael Rhodes and Chris Ashton, in his last appearance in English rugby, to injury inside 11 minutes.
That they were afforded a lap of appreciation by Sandy Park is a demonstration of their part in a rip-roaring, full-blooded contest that swung way and then the other. Like a Shakespearean play, there were four acts: the opening quarter controlled by Saracens, Exeter bossing the next 30 minutes, the champions’ fightback and then the thrilling denouement.
In the end the glory belongs to Exeter, who march to Twickenham for the Premiership final for a second successive year having vanquished their conquerors from 2016. It was a magnificent team performance interspersed with some quite extraordinary individual performances from a group of players with barely a handful of international caps between them.
The centres, Ian Whitten and Ollie Devoto, were titanic ball-carriers, Phil Dollman a constant threat from full back, back-rowers Thomas Waldrom and Dom Armand were monstrous, and Jack Nowell his usual excellent self. Yet the best player, in his 59 minutes on the pitch, was hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie, who combined set-piece excellence with an frightening appetite for contact.
Last year’s jaunt to south-west London was a grand day out. Next week they go with a determination to finish the job off the back of an unbeaten league run that stretches back to October. No matter whether they fall short next week, it will not be because of any lack of self-belief.
Whatever Edinburgh took out of Saracens physically and mentally, there was no sign of any wear and tear as they set about their business at Sandy Park. Owen Farrell got them on the scoreboard with a monster 45-metre penalty on the right as Exeter were scrambling to put out fires lit by Saracens’ arsenal of grubbers, bombs and touchfinders.
A five-metre scrum yielded a penalty that Farrell kicked but, despite at times bending to a 90 degree angle, Exeter’s defence would not break. The whole momentum of the first half seemed to shift upon a passage of play when Saracens were camped in the Exeter 22. Awarded a penalty, Saracens opted to play on only for Mako Vunipola to be driven back outside the 22.
Suddenly Exeter found their groove. Farrell was forced into a mistake which resulted in James Short hacking downfield. A close-range line-out followed, Exeter’s meat and veg. The maul was stopped and from the subsequent series of pick-and-go Exeter were held up over the line. A penalty was already coming, which Gareth Steenson kicked, and another duly followed as Exeter drew level.
Who won players’ player of the year at each of the 12 Aviva Premiership clubs?
The crowd lapped up every little dual won. Armand handed off Chris Wyles. Farrell was deposited on his backside by a charging Waldrom. Every scrum penalty was celebrated like a league-winning try. Still they wanted more and they so nearly had it when Nowell was only just brought down by Richard Wigglesworth.
From a position of complete authority in the first half, Saracens were relieved to make it to half-time at 6-6. The parity was misleading as they had the benefit of the wind in the first half. Advantage Exeter. Tails rose further when Maro Itoje knocked on the restart. Immediately the Chiefs capitalised. Dollman made the initial break before the ball went right where Devoto was held just short and there was Nowell to dive over. Steenson kicked the conversion.
Saracens were staggered but recovered their senses to strike back in the 57th minute. With a wonderful combination of patience and precision, Saracens went through close to 22 phases until they found space on the left. Itoje held his run expertly to put Chris Wyles over in the corner. Farrell’s conversion was missed leaving the champions 13-11 adrift.
Farrell is not the first fly-half to fail to judge Sandy Park’s unique microclimate and his frustration mounted as he missed another penalty to touch. Still the England man was at the heart of the move that resulted in Schalk Brits, who did more than any individual to lead the Saracens fightback, popping a pass to Ellery who did superbly to ground the ball at the most awkward of angles.
Farrell again missed the conversion, leaving the stage set for Slade to set up the grandest of finishes.
Second time lucky?
So, Exeter Chiefs go through to their second consecutive Premiership final. Now, can they go one better? Over to the Ricoh Arena to find out who they will be facing.
Ian Whitten
It was the centre's 100th match for Exeter Chiefs today and he was outstanding.
Ian Whitten being presented with a memento marking his 100 appearances. pic.twitter.com/HSfPiC694B
— Exeter Chiefs (@ExeterChiefs) May 20, 2017
Mark McCall
"We showed the qualities we pride ourselves on as a club in that second half."
Insight
"Sarries are a champion side and that was a champion try. I don't know how we turned it around but we did."
Exeter backs coach Ali Hepher goes on to pay tribute to Henry Slade's phenomenal touch-finder. "It was do or die for us at that stage"
All business
"It's a different feeling to last year. We still know there's a job to be done."
Exeter captain Gareth Steenson refuses to get carried away, even amid the pandemonium. Impressive man.
Full-time | Exeter 18-16 Saracens
Wow. The hosts wholeheartedly deserve that. But Saracens were just so tough to put away. Henry Slade's touch-finder at the end was monstrously ballsy.
Try, Sam Simmonds | Exeter 18-16 Saracens, 80 mins
Chiefs have won it! Their maul splinters Saracens and Simmonds is at the heart of it! Awesome scenes.
79 mins
Exeter win a scrum penalty....and Slade finds touch five metres from the line!
78 mins
Saracens are reinvigorated, launching into line-speed that we have not seen all afternoon. Exeter are pushed back almost to their 22. Eventually the ball ricochets forward from Saracens, so it'll be an Exeter scrum.
77 mins
Alex Goode takes the restart, rolls away from a couple of tackles. Then Brits does the same and Wigglesworth goes high.
76 mins
Farrell misses the kick. It's a three-point game.
Try, Mike Ellery | Exeter 13-16 Saracens, 75 mins
How have they done this? Brits finds Ellery, who hurdles Henry Slade and slam-dunks for a score that snatches the lead.
74 mins
Trademark Saracens strike-move from the lineout...they're into the Exeter 22...
73 mins
Mako. Vunipola. Again. Anothyer turnover from the loosehead prop. Saracens clear. Breathless.
72 mins
Chudley goes high and Ian Whitten follows up with a huge tackle. Bosch hacks into touch and exeter have an attacking lineout.
71 mins
...but Exeter have battled back to win a turnover! It was replacement Sam Simmonds.
71 mins
Wigglesworth's box-kick is recovered and Saracens break!
Duncan Taylor goes straight through and links with Ellery...
70 mins
Henry Slade is on as well. Saracens are looking stretched and Chudley dribbles a grubber through. Saracens have a lineout about seven metres out from their own line. Michele Campagnaro replaces Ollie Devoto.
69 mins
Big moment. Chiefs' front row, bolstered by two replacements in Jack Yeandle and Carl Rimmer, wins a penalty....and Exeter have gone quickly!
68 mins
Loud boos as Wayne Barnes rules that a Bosch drop travels backwards before calling a Chiefs knock-on when Short drops Bosch's subsequent chip.
67 mins
The game is opening up. Schalk Brits sprints away from a Saracens maul. Exeter scramble back but Saracens come right. A chip from Alex Goode is dropped on by a Chiefs player, so it'll be an Exeter 22 drop-out.
66 mins
Steenson drops back now, but, like Farrell minutes before him, he send the kick into touch on the full.
Over in Coventry...
Leicester Tigers have arrived ahead of the second semi-final...
The players getting a soaking as they take a look at the pitch #WASvLEIpic.twitter.com/VbJNZsSHcV
— Leicester Tigers (@LeicesterTigers) May 20, 2017
65 mins
Saracens snaffle the lineout! They just won't lie down here.
63 mins
Exeter win a penalty out of Saracens at the breakdown close to halfway. With the wind, Steenson can find touch inside the opposition 22.
62 mins
Saracens lose momentum and Farrell drops back into the pocket, but kicks out on the full.
61 mins
Wigglesworth looks to find touch but James Short slips past a couple of chasers and Exeter clear. Saracens back with the ball and into their shape. Mako Vunipola is getting through a lot of carries.
59 mins
Mitch Lees is on for Horstmann, meaning Dave Dennis slots into the Chiefs back row. Tomas Francis is also on for the hosts at tighthead prop.
58 mins
Wigglesworth goes high, and Wyles recovers for Farrell to grubber through. Billy Vunipola looks in pain but he waves away the Saracens physio.
Try, Chris Wyles | Exeter 13-11 Saracens, 56 mins
What a try. What patience. It's taken almost 20 phases, but Saracens have unlocked Exeter. Farrell conducted numerous forward runs before the ball came left via Goode to Itoje, who waited before feeding Wyles. The just got over past Nowell's tackle. Farrell misses the conversion.
54 mins
Billy Vunipola finds himself in the outside channel close to the right touchline and barrels Saracens into the Chiefs 22...
53 mins
Saracens win a scrum penalty but Owen Farrell misses touch. Dollman clears and Saracens must come again.
52 mins
Will Chudley is on for Stuart Townsend, who has been impressive at scrum-half for Exeter.
51 mins
Saracens are just inside the Exeter half looking to spark something. Exeter are standing firm, though. Steenson nearly snatches an acrobatic interception and knocks on.
50 mins
Mako Vunipola wins what could be a very important breakdown penalty. Saracens clear.
49 mins
Wigglesworth hoists, Short is tackled by Ellery but Exeter keep coming.
48 mins
Exeter look strong in phase-play and then Townsend drops a lovely kick over the defence into touch inside the Saracens 22.
47 mins
Saracens get a free-kick at the scrum and clear to halfway.
46 mins
Saracens were on the ropes but a little knock-on from Kai Horstmann derails the move. Mako Vunipola and Dave Dennis return from their HIAs.
46 mins
Mitch Lees charges through some flimsy Saracens fringe defence. Exeter are in the Saracens 22 again...
45 mins
Schalk Brits is on for Jamie George.
45 mins
Now Maro Itoje gives away a penalty for offside at the ensuing restart. Are Saracens unraveling? They certainly look tired.
Coversion, Gareth Steenson | Exeter 13-6 Saracens, 44 mins
Steenson brings a superb kick back through the uprights from close to the right touchline.
Try, Jack Nowell | Exeter 11-6 Saracens, 43 mins
Exeter bring the ball right and Ollie Devoto goes close but Jack Nowell picks and shunts over! Huge score.
42 mins
After all that, we have a scrum. Exeter shove hard and Dollman breaks through again.
42 mins
Huge collision in midfield! Dave Dennis was trying to regather the ball and Mako Vunipola came steaming through. Both players are on the floor, the Exeter medics are on to have a look at Dennis.
Now each of them are heading to the sidelines for a head injury assessments. Titi Lamositele is on for saracens, with Mitch Lees joining exeter's ranks.
41 mins
Steenson goes high, Itoje spills the restart and Exeter are on the attack straightaway, well inside the Saracens 22.
Players back out
We are ready to go again here. Saracens need to respond.
Saracens rattled
Former Saracens skipper Alistair Hargreaves is talking about an "uncharacteristic lack of urgency" from his old side. By contrast, Exeter are full of energy. With a couple of better decisions, the hosts would be ahead. A fascinating second period awaits.
Our man at Sandy Park
Exeter are winning the scrum battle and bettering Saracens in most collisions. Can they keep it going to land an upset?
Wonderful resilience from Exeter to get back to 6-6. Saracens face huge 40 mins v relentless Chiefs carrying, raucous crowd and the wind
— Daniel Schofield (@danscho1) May 20, 2017
Half-time: Exeter Chiefs 6-6 Saracens
Schalk Burger pilfers a turnover and Alex Goode kicks the ball out. Saracens reach the refuge of half-time with the scores level. Exeter Chiefs have been the better side by some margin. Ominously, the champions are in touch.
39 mins
Again the Exeter scrum ploughs through Saracens. Billy Vunipola has to charge away from the base rapidly and Farrell clears.
38 mins
It's another effervescent performance from Nowell. He barges through Kruis and Burger, but forces an offload on the last tackle. It goes forward and Saracens have a scrum.
37 mins
Chiefs are into their phase attack. Nowell flips Itoje in a big clear-out, bringing a cheer from the home crowd.
36 mins
Saracens' maul edges over halfway but Mike Ellery mis-times his chase and it's another Exeter penalty.
35 mins
Waldrom arcs off the base but is blasted back by Billy Vunipola. Two phases later, the Saracens number eight wins a penalty on the deck. Fantastic effort.
34 mins
Chiefs look to get a nudge on but Wayne Barnes wants a re-set.
33 mins
Townsend snaffles an interception and Chiefs spark a stunning counter!
Nowell released a gorgeous offload to Armand and the ball came left, where Waldrom kicked infield. Taylor had to scramble back for Saracens to carry the ball over the line. Five-metre scrum to Chiefs.
32 mins
There goes Itoje, spoiling a scrum-half box-kick again. Saracens return the kick and are up to the 22.
Penalty, Gareth Steenson | Exeter 6-6 Saracens, 30 mins
Half an hour gone and we are all square.
29 mins
Exeter are definitely winning collisions here. Their clearin out is extremely accurate too, and another penalty comes when Billy Vunipola goes off his feet. Steenson will go for posts from straight in front.
28 mins
Sloppy from Saracens. The ball comes loose in a routine lineout drive. Dollman slices through from turnover ball and only and excellent tackle from Wigglesworth stops him.
27 mins
Mako Vunipola spills in contact and Dollman kicks down-field. Saracens will have to rebuild from a lineout in their own half.
Penalty, Gareth Steenson | Exeter 3-6 Saracens, 26 mins
Easy opportunity for Exeter's stalwart and skipper.
25 mins
Chiefs gets into their pick and go patterns. They are held up over the line, so we come back for the penalty.
24 mins
Parling takes the lineout, the maul creeks forward and wins a penalty advantage...
22 mins
A big swing. Farrell's pass drops to nobody and James Short hacks the loose ball through. Farrell recovers but gives away a breakdown penalty and Exeter go to the corner.
21 mins
A rush of blood from Saracens. They win a penalty as Thomas Waldrom comes through onto Wigglesworth. However, a quick tap allows Exeter to flood through and spoil.
20 mins
Don Armand looks to have stopped the maul but Saracens are into their pick and gos...
19 mins
Saracens escape to halfway and spread the ball left thanks to a gorgeous pass from Marcelo Bosch. Wyles is tackled by Nowell but the Exeter man is penalised to failing to release before competing on the floor. Now Saracens go to the corner.
18 mins
Parling takes the lineout. Saracens stay firm to halt the maul so Exeter go into midfield. Cowan-Dickie is pinged for getting up after being held in a tackle.
17 mins
Maro Itoje forces a knock-on on the gainline but Chiefs' scrum puts Saracens on the back foot and the hosts win a breakdown penalty. They go to the corner...
16 mins
Maro Itoje takes the restart. He's lost just three games from his last 55 starts, Yikes.
Penalty, Owen Farrell | Exeter 0-6 Saracens, 15 mins
No mistake from the metronome.
15 mins
Now Saracens eke out a scrum penalty. That is exactly how they build pressure and points.
14 mins
Chiefs rush the lineout, knock on and hand Saracens a five-metre scrum...
13 mins
Gareth Steenson misses touch but Exeter counter hard when Saracens clear. Billy Vunipola forces a turnover in the tackle though, and Owen Farrell finds touch five metres from the Chiefs line.
12 mins
Exeter win another scrum penalty on halfway. Luke Cowan-Dickie looks pumped up!
11 mins
Michael Rhodes, Saracens' players' player of the season, has had to limp from the field. Schalk Burger is on in his place. Chris Ashton has left the field as well, Mike Ellery joining the game. The champions have lost two important players.
10 mins
Saracens go close. Mako Vunipola sends Billy Vunipola through midfield. The ball comes right and Farrell grubbers through but Nowell beats Chris Wyles to touch down.
Meanwhile, Chris Ashton is receiving treatment on a shoulder injury.
9 mins
Parling takes another lineout and Exeter clear down-field to Billy Vunipola, who trucks the ball back and Wigglesworth will go to the air.
8 mins
Very interesting. Exeter took the ball back over their own line, so Saracens had a five-metre scrum, but Mako Vunipola has been penalised for hinging.
7 mins
Parling nabs it! The Japan-bound lock springs in front of Itoje.
6 mins
Typical Saracens. They spread the ball right and Duncan Taylor slides a grubber in behind the Exeter line. Phil Dollman gathers, but is forced into touch. Five-metre lineout to Saracens.
5 mins
Geoff Parling is having his knee strapped on the pitch. His lineout nous is important to Exeter. Thankfully, he's staying with us.
Penalty, Owen Farrell | Exeter 0-3 Saracens, 4 mins
Fantastic strike from Owen Farrell.
3 mins
Owen Farrell is sizing up a kick at goal from distance.
2 mins
Plenty of kicking early on as these two sides feel each other out. Exeter look to spread the ball left after a sparky return from Nowell but Saracens recover and Maro Itoje wins a penalty on the floor.
1 min
Richard Wigglesworth hoists a box-kick now. Jack Nowell takes, absorbing a heavy tackle from Jackson Wray.
Kick-off
And we're off! Owen Farrell goes high and Chiefs recover. Townsend boots a box-kick that is taken by Alex Goode and Exeter stream through onto Saracens.
Players out
Referee Wayne Barnes has just found a mobile phone on the pitch...so we have a slight delay.
Teams
Exeter first. It's a big call to start Stuart Townsend at scrum-half.
For Saracens, skipper Brad Barritt has failed to recover from a calf complaint. Duncan Taylor starts at centre and Owen Farrell captains the side.
Head-dresses ahoy
Yep. They're here.
10 minutes until kick-off
The weather is grim, the ball will be slippery and the surface wet. But we'll have a hugely intriguing game.
Statistics
The rain is coming down now, and how about these numbers to whet the appetite.
Saracens have conceded just 345 points in 22 matches across the regular Premiership season - the fewest by 95 points. Exeter scored 667, the second highest tally behind Wasps.
*Irresistible force meets immovable object klaxon*
Turnaround
Don't forget, Exeter won just two of their opening 10 matches of this season across all competitions.
They've reached this semi on the back of eight (EIGHT) consecutive bonus wins.
15 minutes to kick-off
With a quarter of an hour to go, jump into this piece on Saracens' territory-based approach. They play the percentages, but by them impeccably well.
Weather update
It's greasy at Sandy Park, and a trademark wind appears to be blowing about. Does that favour Saracens' gnarled pack?
"We have to be comfortable talking about winning this"
Great insight from Rob Baxter, as usual. "We want to attack each day in the positive way." He knows the Chiefs need unwavering belief to beat Saracens today.
Team news
A late change for Saracens sees Jim Hamilton drop out of the replacements. Kelly Brown comes in to wear the number 19 shirt.
Jack's attack
Speaking of Jack Nowell, take a look at this analysis piece looking at his sheer weight of contributions in attack. In short, he pops up everywhere.
Lions together
A nice moment during the warm-ups, as England teammates and fellow British and Irish Lions squad members tourists Jack Nowell and Billy Vunipola meet.
Statistics
A clash of styles awaits, and territorial kickers Saracens will surely try to squeeze Exeter, who love keeping the ball in hand and going through the phases. This table from BT illustrates these trends nicely.
Sandy Park send-off
Geoff Parling is heading to Japan at the end of this season, his second with Exeter. Clearly he hopes this is his penultimate game for the Chiefs with a final to come next weekend.
Line in the sand
Jamie George has been telling BT Sport reporter about the honour of Saracens becoming back-to-back European champions, but says a line was drawn in the sand on Monday and all of the focus switched to Exeter Chiefs from Tuesday.
Everything you need to know
Everything you need to know ahead of a compelling play-off contest is right here.
What is it?
A rematch of last season’s Premiership final sees Exeter, who finished second on the regular season ladder, host European champions Saracens at Sandy Park.
What time is kick-off?
All being well, referee Wayne Barnes will get things underway at 2.30pm.
What channel is it on?
BT Sport 1 is showing the action, with coverage beginning at 1.45pm.
Who won players’ player of the year at each of the 12 Aviva Premiership clubs?
What is the team news?
Gareth Steenson skippers Exeter from fly-half and James Short lines-up against his former club on the wing, while at centre Steenson’s compatriot Ian Whitten will run out for his 100th league appearance for the Chiefs.
On the bench, Mitch Lees is another returnee having overcome a knee injury, while international duo Henry Slade and Michele Campagnaro are both included having missed the win at Gloucester last time out.
Exeter Chiefs: 15. Phil Dollman, 14. Jack Nowell, 13. Ian Whitten, 12. Ollie Devoto, 11. James Short, 10. Gareth Steenson, (captain), 9 Stuart Townsend; 1. Ben Moon, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Harry Williams, 4 .Dave Dennis, 5. Geoff Parling, 6. Kai Horstmann, 7. Don Armand, 8. Thomas Waldrom. Replacements: 16. Jack Yeandle, 17. Carl Rimmer, 18. Tomas Francis, 19. Mitch Lees, 20. Sam Simmonds, 21. Will Chudley, 22. Henry Slade, 23. Michele Campagnaro.
The big news here comes in the Saracens camp where Mark McCall makes one change to the side that defeated ASM Clermont Auvergne in Edinburgh in the Champions Cup final. And it could be a significant one, with skipper Brad Barritt forced to sit-out the clash with a leg injury.
Owen Farrell will captain Saracens in Barritt’s enforced absence, with Scotland international Duncan Taylor coming into the side at inside centre.
Saracens: 15. Alex Goode, 14. Chris Ashton, 13. Marcelo Bosch, 12. Duncan Taylor, 11. Chris Wyles, 10. Owen Farrell (captain), 9. Richard Wigglesworth; 1. Mako Vunipola, 2. Jamie George, 3. Vincent Koch, 4. Maro Itoje, 5. George Kruis, 6. Michael Rhodes, 7. Jackson Wray, 8. Billy Vunipola. Replacements: 16. Schalk Brits, 17. Titi Lamositele, 18. Petrus Du Plessis, 19. Jim Hamilton, 20. Schalk Burger, 21. Ben Spencer, 22. Alex Lozowski, 23. Mike Ellery.
What are the odds?
Exeter: 6/4
Saracens: 1/2
Draw (80 minutes): 20/1
