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London Welsh pummelled by Exeter Chiefs on return to Premiership London Welsh pummelled by Exeter Chiefs on return to Premiership
(41 minutes later)
Promotion to the Premiership was supposed to preface a bright new era for London Welsh, who spent the summer busily snapping up new signings on an almost daily basis. In the space of one beautifully sunny Oxfordshire afternoon virtually all that pre-season optimism drained ominously away, to be replaced by a slowly creeping sense of autumnal dread.Promotion to the Premiership was supposed to preface a bright new era for London Welsh, who spent the summer busily snapping up new signings on an almost daily basis. In the space of one beautifully sunny Oxfordshire afternoon virtually all that pre-season optimism drained ominously away, to be replaced by a slowly creeping sense of autumnal dread.
When their head coach, Justin Burnell, spoke last week about the “fear factor” of competing against the top teams he did not necessarily have Exeter in mind. The Chiefs played well enough in patches, offloading enthusiastically and moving the ball with freedom, but in terms of ruthlessness they are not yet Northampton or Saracens at full tilt.When their head coach, Justin Burnell, spoke last week about the “fear factor” of competing against the top teams he did not necessarily have Exeter in mind. The Chiefs played well enough in patches, offloading enthusiastically and moving the ball with freedom, but in terms of ruthlessness they are not yet Northampton or Saracens at full tilt.
By the end of a desperately one-sided seven-try defeat, in front of a painfully sparse crowd of 2,776, the glazed expressions on Exiles faces suggested they realised as much.By the end of a desperately one-sided seven-try defeat, in front of a painfully sparse crowd of 2,776, the glazed expressions on Exiles faces suggested they realised as much.
With a fraction more help from the officials, the visitors could have had at least two more tries and should probably have topped 70 points regardless. This weekend Welsh must travel to Bath where if they do not significantly raise their level up front they can expect another 50-point drubbing at the very least. With a fraction more help from the officials, the visitors could have had at least two more tries and should probably have topped 70 points regardless. This weekend Welsh must travel to Bath where, if they do not significantly raise their level up front, they can expect another 50-point drubbing at the very least.
“You can either go home now and hide or get your chest out, put a smile on your face and rock back up on Monday morning,” suggested Burnell, attempting to put a brave front on a truly horrendous start. “People will look at the scoreline and take us a bit for granted. Perhaps that’s not such a bad thing.”“You can either go home now and hide or get your chest out, put a smile on your face and rock back up on Monday morning,” suggested Burnell, attempting to put a brave front on a truly horrendous start. “People will look at the scoreline and take us a bit for granted. Perhaps that’s not such a bad thing.”
The estimable Burnell, however, has been around long enough to know umpteen missed tackles and turnovers spell massive trouble at this level. Piri Weepu, a World Cup-winning All Black, looked well short of optimum fitness and, apart from the ever-willing Peter Browne there was a worrying lack of forward oomph after an initial flurry. “When people are making individual errors it’s nothing to do with how many signings you make,” sighed Burnell. “When you come into a new team you’re got to make your tackles, haven’t you?” The estimable Burnell, however, has been around long enough to know umpteen missed tackles and turnovers spell massive trouble at this level. Piri Weepu, a World Cup-winning All Black, looked well short of optimum fitness and, apart from the ever-willing Peter Browne there was a worrying lack of forward oomph after an initial flurry. “When people are making individual errors it’s nothing to do with how many signings you make,” sighed Burnell. “When you come into a new team you’ve got to make your tackles, haven’t you?”
The lack of cohesion in Welsh ranks, however, merely emphasised the theme of the opening weekend: new is not necessarily better. As Gloucester discovered at Northampton on Friday night, simply recruiting a fresh batch of meat is not a guaranteed route to happiness.The lack of cohesion in Welsh ranks, however, merely emphasised the theme of the opening weekend: new is not necessarily better. As Gloucester discovered at Northampton on Friday night, simply recruiting a fresh batch of meat is not a guaranteed route to happiness.
Welsh played outstandingly well in the first leg of their Championship play-off against Bristol to secure promotion but mutual comfort and understanding does not materialise overnight. If they take too long to get up to speed it will be too late; other potential bottom-six sides will scent survival already.Welsh played outstandingly well in the first leg of their Championship play-off against Bristol to secure promotion but mutual comfort and understanding does not materialise overnight. If they take too long to get up to speed it will be too late; other potential bottom-six sides will scent survival already.
The attendance will also concentrate minds. It was a lovely day, the September sun even bathing the ring road in a golden haze, but the good folk of Oxford clearly preferred to stick their deck chairs and punts. Two years ago, for their first home Premiership game against Leicester, the crowd was a much healthier 6,850. If there was a buzz about top-flight rugby returning to the city, it was not easy to discern. The most vociferous element in the crowd were the Chiefs contingent, cheerfully teaching the Tomahawk Chop to the assembled male-voice choir. The low attendance will also concentrate minds. It was a lovely day, the September sun even bathing the ring road in a golden haze, but the good folk of Oxford clearly preferred to stick to their deckchairs and punts. Two years ago, for their first home Premiership game against Leicester, the crowd was a much healthier 6,850. If there was a buzz about top-flight rugby returning to the city, it was not easy to discern. The most vociferous element in the crowd were the Chiefs contingent, cheerfully teaching the Tomahawk Chop to the assembled male-voice choir.
They will have plenty more to shout about this season if Rob Baxter’s team build on this encouraging performance, with Thomas Waldrom, Dave Ewers, Henry Slade and their new full-back, Chrysander Botha, all prominent.They will have plenty more to shout about this season if Rob Baxter’s team build on this encouraging performance, with Thomas Waldrom, Dave Ewers, Henry Slade and their new full-back, Chrysander Botha, all prominent.
Waldrom already looks revitalised by his move from Leicester, his hard work in pre-season rewarded with his side’s first two tries. His directness and rugby nous are precisely what the Chiefs crave and he and Ewers, scorer of the visitors’ third try, have the makings of a formidable double act. Exeter’s desire to offload out of the tackle also caused repeated problems for Welsh, with Gareth Steenson’s neat ball to Waldrom for his opening score just one of several profitable examples.Waldrom already looks revitalised by his move from Leicester, his hard work in pre-season rewarded with his side’s first two tries. His directness and rugby nous are precisely what the Chiefs crave and he and Ewers, scorer of the visitors’ third try, have the makings of a formidable double act. Exeter’s desire to offload out of the tackle also caused repeated problems for Welsh, with Gareth Steenson’s neat ball to Waldrom for his opening score just one of several profitable examples.
The Exiles’ cause was further undermined by Olly Barkley’s failure to bring his kicking boots, two mis-hit penalty efforts contrasting starkly with a sweet long-range example from Slade. Playing at outside-centre, the young Englishman, who has put on five kilos over the summer, looked a smooth operator all afternoon and his distribution skills will always endear him to those outside him.The Exiles’ cause was further undermined by Olly Barkley’s failure to bring his kicking boots, two mis-hit penalty efforts contrasting starkly with a sweet long-range example from Slade. Playing at outside-centre, the young Englishman, who has put on five kilos over the summer, looked a smooth operator all afternoon and his distribution skills will always endear him to those outside him.
For the most part, though, Welsh were their own worst enemies. Sam Hill simply wrenched the ball off Tim Molenaar and sprinted away to seal a try bonus point, Ian Whitten cut back past three would-be tacklers and the debutant Jack Arnott cruised in untouched after collecting an up-and-under.For the most part, though, Welsh were their own worst enemies. Sam Hill simply wrenched the ball off Tim Molenaar and sprinted away to seal a try bonus point, Ian Whitten cut back past three would-be tacklers and the debutant Jack Arnott cruised in untouched after collecting an up-and-under.
It scarcely mattered when the television match official ruled out an apparently good try by the Exeter wing Matt Jess; almost immediately the ball fell to Botha, a Namibia international with more than a hint of Delon Armitage about him, who sidestepped past the cover for his side’s seventh.It scarcely mattered when the television match official ruled out an apparently good try by the Exeter wing Matt Jess; almost immediately the ball fell to Botha, a Namibia international with more than a hint of Delon Armitage about him, who sidestepped past the cover for his side’s seventh.
Exeter also still have a number of good players to return in the shape of the skipper Dean Mumm, England wing Jack Nowell, forwards Tom Johnson andLuke Cowan-Dickie, and centre Phil Dollman. Bubbling away beneath the first team is an increasingly well-stocked academy and their supporter base grows steadily. Generating that kind of conveyor belt, continuity and local passion beside the Oxford ring road continues to be as big a challenge for Welsh as staying up. Exeter also still have a number of good players to return in the shape of the skipper Dean Mumm, England wing Jack Nowell, forwards Tom Johnson andLuke Cowan-Dickie, and centrePhil Dollman. Bubbling away beneath the first team is an increasingly well-stocked academy and their supporter base grows steadily. Generating that kind of conveyor belt, continuity and local passion beside the Oxford ring road continues to be as big a challenge for Welsh as staying up.
London Welsh Jewell (Crane, 60); Stegmann, May, Molenaar,London Welsh Jewell (Crane, 60); Stegmann, May, Molenaar,
Scott; Barkley (Roberts, 63), Weepu (Lewis, 63); Reeves (Henn, 53), Britton (Vella, h-t), Vea (Gilding, 58), Schofield (Corker, 47), Down, Browne, Thorpe, McCaffrey (Stedman, 60). Scott; Barkley (Roberts, 63), Weepu (Lewis, 63); Reeves (Henn, 53), Britton (Vella, h-t), Vea (Gilding, 58), Schofield (Corker, 47), Down, Browne, Thorpe, McCaffrey (Stedman, 60). Sin-bin Henn 70.
Sin-bin Henn 70.
Exeter Chiefs Botha; Whitten, Slade, Hill (Arnott, 58), Jess;Exeter Chiefs Botha; Whitten, Slade, Hill (Arnott, 58), Jess;
Steenson (Sweeney, 63), Thomas (Chudley, 47); Rimmer (Moon, 52), Yeandle (Taione, 63), Francis (Low, 52), Lees (Arnand, 60), Caldwell, Ewers, White (Hortsmann, 60), Waldrom (White, 70).Steenson (Sweeney, 63), Thomas (Chudley, 47); Rimmer (Moon, 52), Yeandle (Taione, 63), Francis (Low, 52), Lees (Arnand, 60), Caldwell, Ewers, White (Hortsmann, 60), Waldrom (White, 70).
Tries Waldrom 2, Ewers, Hill, Whitten, Arnott, Botha. Cons Steenson 6, Slade. Pen Slade. Sin-bin White 80.Tries Waldrom 2, Ewers, Hill, Whitten, Arnott, Botha. Cons Steenson 6, Slade. Pen Slade. Sin-bin White 80.
Referee D Richards. Referee D Richards
Attendance 2, 776