Armand double keeps Tigers in the danger zone
PREMIERSHIP REPORT: Don Armand’s try double helped Exeter Chiefs continue their recent dominance over Leicester Tigers with a comeback 31-22 bonus-point victory at Welford Road.
The result saw the Chiefs overtake Northampton Saints at the top of the standings and left Tigers rooted in the relegation zone.
A breakneck start saw Jannes Kirsten dive over for Chiefs after a series of pick and goes before Tigers levelled with a brilliant passing move that saw Telusa Veainu step around the defence and find Adam Thompstone, whose overhand pass inside enabled Jonny May to dot down.
It was 19-7 to Leicester by 20 minutes when, firstly, George Ford’s cross-field kick found Jordan Taufua, who barrelled through the last defender to score, before May somehow rolled over in the corner despite three defenders hanging off him – Ford missing the second conversion.
Armand powered over for Exeter’s second try soon after and although a Ford penalty gave the hosts a 22-14 lead at the break, Gareth Steenson’s three-pointer after the interval and Armand’s second score when he finished off a superb team move with 20 minutes left put the Chiefs in front.
Jonny Hill touched down in the corner for Exeter’s fourth try that gave them a nine-point advantage and Tigers couldn’t even find the try that would have given them two points as Chiefs secured a sixth win in the last seven Gallagher Premiership Rugby fixtures between the sides.
Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter said: “I don’t think we started too badly.
“Leicester have a lot of good players. We looked at each other as a coaching group and said: ‘Is this the day they are clicking?’
“You think: ‘This is it. We’ve bumped into them on the day they are going to pull it together’.
“That’s why we did exceptionally well to stay together. We looked a million dollars in that second half.
“We got Leicester in a bit of a stranglehold in the last 15 minutes that we didn’t look like we were ever going to relinquish.”
Leicester Tigers captain Tom Youngs said: “For that first 50 or 60 minutes, we saw what we’re about and where we’re trying to get to as a team, which is pleasing.
“We didn’t quite get a foothold in last 30 minutes, we were under the cosh, gave away a few penalties and gave them field position, which they’re very good at exploiting.
“We want to take away the blueprint of first 50 or 60 minutes but we will also learn lessons from the last 20 – if we had got another try and we would have come away with two points.
“Everyone was extremely disappointed not to get the win but we showed more of what we’re about and that pleases me. It gives me more energy towards next week because we’ve got something to build on here.”
The scorers:
For Leicester Tigers:
Tries: May 2, Taufua
Cons: Ford 2
Pen: Ford
For Exeter Chiefs:
Tries: Kirsten, Armand 2, Hill
Cons: Steenson 4
Pen: Steenson
The teams:
Leicester Tigers: 15 Telusa Veainu, 14 Adam Thompstone, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Noel Reid, 11 Jonny May, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Sione Kalamafoni, 7 Jordan Taufua, 6 Calum Green, 5 Will Spencer, 4 Tomás Lavanini, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Tom Youngs (c), 1 Ellis Genge
Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 Facundo Gigena, 18 Nephi Leatigaga, 19 Harry Wells, 20 Tommy Reffell, 21 Ben White, 22 Tom Hardwick, 23 George Worth
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Olly Woodburn, 13 Henry Slade (c), 12 Ollie Devoto, 11 Ian Whitten, 10 Gareth Steenson, 9 Jack Maunder, 8 Matt Kvesic, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 Don Armand, 5 Jonny Hill, 4 Jannes Kirsten, 3 Harry Williams, 2 Elvis Taione, 1 Ben Moon
Replacements: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Billy Keast, 18 Enrique Pieretto, 19 Dave Dennis, 20 Sean Lonsdale, 21 Stuart Townsend, 22 Sam Hill, 23 Tom Hendrickson
Referee: Luke Pearce
Assistant referees: Jack Makepeace, John Meredith
TMO: Rowan Kitt
Report by @premrugby
