Injury concerns for Sharks' Bok contingent
MATCH REPORT: Exeter moved back into the Premiership play-off zone with a 19-12 victory over Sale Sharks at Sandy Park.
The Chiefs climbed to fourth, leap-frogging Gloucester and London Irish, after a controlled display highlighted by two tries from flank Jacques Vermeulen.
It was Exeter’s fourth successive Premiership victory as Sale endured a difficult match that saw them hit by a number of injury setbacks.
Flank Cameron Neild was carried off, while Springboks Cobus Wiese and Coenie Oosthuizen, as well as Raffi Quirke made premature exits.
England prop Bevan Rodd returned to Sale’s starting line-up, but lock Bok lock Lodewyk de Jager was a late injury withdrawal, so fellow Bok Jean-Luc du Preez moved into the second row and Ben Curry started at openside flank.
Even without their sizeable England contingent, Exeter dominated most of the contest, with wing Olly Woodburn also touching down, while flyhalf Joe Simmonds kicked two conversions.
Chiefs will be frustrated, though, at their failure to increase a 19-0 lead, missing out on a bonus point, with the only second-half scoring being Sale tries from Ewan Ashman and Curtis Langdon, plus one AJ MacGinty conversion.
Vermeulen made his first appearance of the season for Exeter after twice undergoing surgery on an injured hamstring, while Scotland internationals Stuart Hogg and Sam Skinner returned from Six Nations duty.
Exeter made a flying start in blustery conditions, taking the lead after just five minutes following Hogg’s initial counter-attack from deep inside his own half.
Tom O’Flaherty then ran strongly into the heart of Sale’s defence, before quickly recycled possession enabled his fellow wing Woodburn to finish off a flowing move, and Simmonds converted.
There was a vibrancy about Exeter’s play, with O’Flaherty and scrumhalf Sam Maunder particularly threatening in terms of attacking intent, and Sale were stretched defensively to keep them out.
Exeter enjoyed unrelenting territorial dominance, and they increased their lead midway through the half after the forwards took charge.
Sale could not escape from a position deep inside their 22, and the Chiefs expertly controlled line-out possession before Vermeulen touched down in the corner to open up a 12-0 advantage.
The visitors needed a response, but although they showed plenty of endeavour with limited ball, Sale could not create any clear-cut opportunities.
They also saw Wiese go off, while Quirke departed for a head injury assessment nine minutes before half-time and was replaced by South African World Cup winner Francois de Klerk.
Sale then lost Oosthuizen, before fullback Sam James received a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on and Sharks immediately conceded a third try.
Exeter’s pack again assumed close-range control, making sufficient in-roads for Vermeulen to claim his second touchdown, and Simmonds converted from the touchline as Exeter moved 19 points clear at the interval.
Sale’s problems showed no sign of abating, as Neild, who replaced Jono Ross at half-time, was carried off just six minutes into the second period.
But Sale regrouped impressively after such disruption, and they opened their account with a 52nd-minute try for Ashman that MacGinty converted to give the visitors hope.
Exeter went back on the offensive for most of the final quarter but could not add to their first-half try haul as O’Flaherty and Skinner saw late touchdowns ruled out.
And it was Sale that finished the stronger through Langdon’s score that gave them an unlikely losing bonus point.
The scorers
For Exeter Chiefs
Tries: Woodburn, Vermeulen 2
Cons: Simmonds 2
For Sale Sharks
Tries: Ashman, Langdon
Con: MacGinty
The teams:
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Olly Woodburn, 13 Ian Whitten, 12 Tom Hendrickson, 11 Tom O’Flaherty, 10 Joe Simmonds, 9 Sam Maunder, 8 Richard Capstick, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 Dave Ewers, 5 Sam Skinner, 4 Jannes Kirsten, 3 Marcus Street, 2 Jack Yeandle (captain), 1 Alec Hepburn.
Replacements: 16 Jack Innard, 17 James Kenny, 18 Harry Williams, 19 Will Witty, 20 Santiago Grondona, 21 Jack Maunder, 22 Harvey Skinner, 23 Facundo Cordero.
Sale Sharks: 15 Sam James, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Robert du Preez, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Arron Reed, 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Raffi Quirke, 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Jono Ross (captain), 6 Jean-Luc du Preez, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Bevan Rodd.
Replacements: 16 Curtis Langdon, 17 Simon McIntyre, 18 Joe Jones, 19 JP du Preez, 20 Ben Curry, 21 Faf de Klerk, 22 Luke James, 23 Byron McGuigan.
Referee: Wayne Barnes
Assistant referees: Matthew Carley, Christophe Ridley
TMO: Tom Foley
Sources: PA & RugbyPass
