Exeter their own worst enemy as George Furbank’s touch of class seals deal for Northampton

The Premiership champions are up and running. This was far from a vintage Northampton performance, but some stout defence combined with a touch of class from full-back George Furbank enabled Phil Dowson’s team to withstand a furious Exeter fightback.

Rob Baxter, meanwhile, was left fizzing with frustration despite Immanuel Feyi-Waboso’s two late tries rescuing a bonus point. Leicester’s sucker punch last week was bad enough in a game they dominated and Exeter were once again their own worst enemies at Franklin’s Gardens.

In the first half, it took seven visits to the Northampton 22 before they scored through Olly Woodburn. They were similarly profligate in the second half, with Northampton withstanding defensive stands of 12 and 22 phases in the final quarter.

Even when they fought their way back from 13-0 down to close the gap to three points, they gave away a disaster-class of a try to Chunya Munga and then fell into a 30-10 hole. Feyi-Waboso’s pair of finishes proved too little, too late and Exeter will be left to reflect upon countless opportunities spurned.

“I’ve said before the game we had a tough couple of review days last week and I said, ‘Lads, we’re going to have a couple more’,” Baxter said. “People used to call us a machine because we didn’t use to get those things wrong. We’re getting them wrong now so we have to find the power of the machine again.

“We need individuals to take responsibility because until you get a team who is responsible for their own actions you’re not going to go anywhere. That’s just tough love. The lads understand.”

Northampton, meanwhile, were far more clinical. Fin Smith was perfect from the tee and added a drop goal for a haul of 15 points, while Furbank just oozes class with ball in hand and especially when he dropped a perfect crosskick to Rory Hutchinson to score a decisive third try (watch video below). Yet most of their best work was done on the back foot, both at the breakdowns where they won 11 turnovers, and in defence, making 198 tackles.

“Defensively I thought we were brilliant in terms of when we did get broken we worked hard to get back and make them go through more phases and we dug in which is what you have to do against a side like Exeter,” Dowson said. “It came thick and fast in that last 10 but we just about held on.”

Northampton started purposefully as hooker Curtis Langdon timed his pop-pass perfectly for the rampaging Juarno Augustus to burst through the middle. Exeter’s cover defence got back but Augustus slowed his run to offload to Alex Coles on his shoulder to score.

Smith converted and added a pair of penalties, one from 50 metres to give Saints an early advantage.

If a 13-0 lead painted a picture of Northampton dominance then that was misleading. The real story of the half was of Exeter’s repeated visits to the 22 and their repeated failures to capitalise in the red zone, Josh Kemeny and Hutchinson each coming up with important turnovers.

Eventually the dam burst. Ethan Roots provided the impetus with a dominant carry that allowed Harvey Skinner to exploit a dogleg in the defensive line. Woodburn appeared on his inside shoulder to go under the posts five minutes before half-time (watch video below). A peach of a long-range penalty from Josh Hodge closed the gap to three points.

Alas, what followed will make for painful viewing in Exeter’s team review. Firstly, they barely contested the Northampton restart, enabling Smith to kick to the corner. Jack Yeandle’s lineout over the top was secured but Munga was given a clear run to charge down Sam Maunder and gather to score.

Northampton had their tails up and their playmakers started to toy with Exeter. Twice Smith kicked crossfield, first to Kemeny and then to James Ramm. As Northampton came central again, Furbank pulled the trigger with a gorgeous hanging kick that dropped straight into the arms of Hutchinson in the corner.

Smith converted and then added a drop goal to take the home side out to a 30-10 lead that proved enough of a buffer, despite Feyi-Waboso’s late brace of tries.

Match details

Scores: 5-0, Coles try; 7-0, Smith con; 10-0 Smith pen; 13-0, Smith pen; 13-5, Woodburn try; 13-7, Hodge con; 13-10, Hodge pen; 18-10, Munga try; 20-10, Smith con; 25-10, Hutchinson try; 27-10, Smith con; 30-10 Smith drop; 30-15, Feyi-Waboso try; 30-17, Hodge con; 30-22, Feyi-Waboso try; 30-23, Feyi-Waboso con

Northampton Saints: G Furbank; J Ramm (O Sleightholme, 51), F Dingwall (T Thame, 76), R Hutchinson, T Freeman; F Smith, T James (A McParland, 59); E Iyogun (T West, 59), C Langdon (R Smith, 59), T Davison (L Green, 51), C Munga, A Coles (A Scott-Young, 61), J Kemeny, T Pearson, J Augustus (S Graham, 58)
Sin-bin: Hutchinson 76

Exeter Chiefs: J Hodge; I Feyi-Waboso, O Woodburn, J Hawkins (W Rigg, 61), P Brown-Bampoe; H Skinner (W Haydon-Wood, 61), S Maunder (T Cairns, 60); S Sio (W Goodrick-Clarke, 41), D Frost (J Yeandle, 41), E Painter (M Street, 41), R Tuima (J Dunne, 50), C Tshiunza, E Roots (M Moloney, 68), R Capstick, R Vintcent

Referee: A Leal