Exeter Chiefs player ratings from Ealing Trailfinders win - 'An absolute menace'

Exeter Chiefs narrowly edged Ealing Trailfinders 28-24 in the semi-final of the Premiership Rugby Cup on Saturday to set-up a final showdown with Bath at Sandy Park next Sunday (midday kick off).

Exeter scored tries through Josh Hodge, Tommy Wyatt and Ethan Roots and were awarded a penalty try to set-up a chance to lift the first silverware of the season. Josh Hodge added six points form the tee. Ealing were outstanding throughout and stayed in the contest until the dying moments having scored tries through Craig Hampson, Reuben Bird-Tulloch and Matt Cornish, with George Worboys adding five points with the boot and his replacement Craig Willis a further four.

South West rugby writer John Evely takes a closer look at the individual performances of the Exeter Chiefs players…

15 Tommy Wyatt - 7

The full back scored the winning try with a show of speed as he joined the line on transition ball following a turnover. He was elusive with his running and stepping all match and outstanding under the high ball. Getting back to his best after that horror knee injury.

14 Paul Brown-Bampoe - 7

The winger didn’t get enough touches on the ball for Exeter’s liking as was given very few opportunities to shine in attack. In the end he had to do it in defence with some perfect kick chases that resulted in dominant tackles and turnovers. An absolute menace on both sides of the ball.

13 Joe Hawkins - 5

The Welsh international struggled to make a big impact on the game.

12 Tamati Tua - 5

The New Zealander was guilty of forcing things a bit too much, conceding a penalty for a no arms tackle early in the match and then forcing an offload that wasn’t on to hand over possession in a promising position after some excellent dancing feet from Greg Fisilau.

11 Josh Hodge - 7

The flying winger took his try well, hugging the left touchline to give his side width but then rounding to make his own kick easier. Made the key break in the lead up to Roots’ try as well.

10 Ben Coen - 5

The young England U20s fly-half failed to find the fluency of last week without the more experienced Stu Townsend playing inside him. Replaced for Harvey Skinner in the second half who really took the game but the scruff of the neck.

9 Tom Cairns - 5

The scrum-half was out played by his opposite number Craig Hampson who controlled the game better and provided a snipping threat.

1 Kwenzo Blose - 4

Exeter’s normally dominant scrum got beaten up throughout the contest to cough up possession and penalties on their own put in.

2 Jack Yeandle - 6

The captain was a steady presence throughout, carrying and tackling hard while doing his basics at the lineout.

3 Josh Iosefa-Scott - 5

The tighthead prop had a rough day in the scrum as the hosts got pushed backwards repeatedly, but he caught the eye with some powerful carries.

4 Richard Capstick - 5

The lock called the lineout which ran relatively well but struggled to establish himself in the match and couldn't bring down Hampson who got an offload away for Bird-Tulloch to score.

5 Christ Tshiunza - 5

The Welsh international had a quiet day as Exeter got sucked into an arm wrestle with the Ealing pack who were their match for much of the contest.

6 Ethan Roots - 8

The England international left a body count against his former side as he was a one-man battering ram in defence. He was one of the few Exeter players on the pitch that showed the intensity required to win games of knockout rugby and he dragged his team over the line, picking and powering over the whitewash following a break from Hodge to complete a great performance.

7 Jacques Vermeulen - 7

The flanker is always amongst Chiefs’ best performers and he immediately brought a high level of physicality on his 100th appearance for the club. The South African’s spinning break through the middle of the Ealing defence was pivotal to Hodge’s opening try.

8 Greg Fisilau - 7

The number eight showed some brilliant quick feet to evade tackles and turned up with plenty of nice linking play touches. Did well at the back of an under-pressure scrum.

Replacements:

16 Dan Frost - 7

17 Billy Keast - 6

18 Marcus Street - 6

19 Franco Molina - 6

20 Martin Moloney - 6

21 Niall Armstrong - 5

22 Harvey Skinner - 7

23 Will Rigg - 6