Champions Exeter reclaimed top spot in the Aviva Premiership by stinging Wasps 31-17 at Sandy Park and recording a third successive bonus-point victory.
Last season’s Premiership final between the clubs needed extra-time to decide it, but the Chiefs’ ruthless first-half performance meant they were out of sight by the break.
Wing Olly Woodburn scored two tries, while flankers Dave Dennis and Don Armand also touched down – all four scores came between the ninth and 38th minutes – to showcase Exeter’s first-half dominance and underpin a second defeat on the bounce for Wasps after they lost to Harlequins last weekend.
What they said
Exeter head coach Ali Hepher said: “Sladey has been playing very well all season. He is an incredibly driven bloke, a highly-motivated lad. The pace he is taking the ball at now is really helping him, and he has got the ability on the ball. I am really chuffed with how he is going. He is defending as well as any centre in the Premiership, and he is starting to round off into a really top quality player.” Wasps rugby director Dai Young said: “It (Sandy Park) is always a tough place to come, but if you give any team 60 per cent possession and 60 per cent territory, let alone the champions, it is going to be a hard day at the office. That was pretty much the case today.”
Tweet of the match
Star man – Woodburn
Exeter’s England internationals like Jack Nowell and Henry Slade often attract the headlines, but unsung wing Woodburn is among the Premiership’s most prolific finishers. And he underlined his try-scoring prowess once again by claiming another double, striking twice during the first half at Sandy Park and completely outplaying opposite number Christian Wade.
Moment of the match
England head coach Eddie Jones is thought to be looking closely at Slade as a midfield option for the autumn Tests this season, and he delivered an accomplished performance against Wasps, highlighted by a gliding midfield break and effortless brush-off of Wade to create Woodburn’s second try and underline the star quality he possesses.
Stat of the match
Dave Dennis is stopped in his tracks
Wasps, for all of their impressive work under rugby director Dai Young, cannot crack the code for success at Sandy Park. Their latest defeat in Devon was a 10th from 11 visits in all competitions, and the one game they did not lose ended in a draw.
Player ratings
Exeter: Lachie Turner 6, Jack Nowell 7, Henry Slade 8, Ian Whitten 6, Olly Woodburn 8, Gareth Steenson 6, Nic White 7, Carl Rimmer 7, Elvis Taione 6, Harry Williams 7, Mitch Lees 7, Sam Skinner 7, Dave Dennis 8, Don Armand 8, Sam Simmonds 6. Replacements: Julian Salvi 7, Shaun Malton 7, Ben Moon 6, Tomas Francis 6, Stuart Townsend 6, Toby Salmon 6, Tom Hendrickson 5, Max Bodilly 5. Wasps: Rob Miller 6, Christian Wade 5, Elliot Daly 7, Juan De Jongh 5, Josh Bassett 6, Jimmy Gopperth 6, Joe Simpson 7, Matt Mullan 5, Tom Cruse 6, Jake Cooper-Woolley 6, Joe Launchbury 7, Matt Symons 6, Ashley Johnson 7, James Haskell 6, Nathan Hughes 7. Replacements: Simon McIntyre 6, Will Rowlands 6, Thomas Young 6, Marty Moore 6, Jack Willis 6, Brendan Macken 6, Marcus Watson 5, Craig Hampson 5
Who’s up next?
Leicester v Exeter (Aviva Premiership, Saturday September 30)
Wasps v Bath (Aviva Premiership, Sunday October 1)
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