Saracens prove too strong for Chiefs

Saracens regained pole position in the race for the Aviva Premiership end of season play-offs by sinking visiting Exeter Chiefs with a five-try salvo at Allianz Park.

The defending champions – swelled by the return of their England contingent following recent Grand Slam heroics – hit top gear to swot aside the attentions of Rob Baxter’s side, who for the first time this season ended a league game without any reward.

Fly-half Owen Farrell led the way for the home side, helping himself to a 14-point haul, whilst also on the mark were Red Rose colleagues Alex Goode and Billy Vunipola, as well as Jackson Wray and Chris Wyles who ensured them of maximum reward.

The Chiefs countered with two tries from Thomas Waldrom – who moved back to the top of the try-scoring charts – and further kicks from Gareth Steenson and Will Hooley, but it was scant reward on a tough day at the office for Devon’s finest.

Having leapfrogged the Londoners following last week’s home win over Northampton Saints, Baxter made five changes to his starting line-up for the trip to the defending champions.

Four of them came up front where there were starts for Alec Hepburn, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Damian Welch and Julian Salvi, while behind Phil Dollman was back at full-back having missed out last time due to a calf strain.

Saracens, meanwhile, were buoyed by a glut of international returnees in what many would perceive as a near first-choice XV selected by Mark McCall.

With the elements in their favour first up, the Chiefs were looking for a bright start to this top of the table tussle.

Early inroads certainly tested the home defence, but Saracens were happy to soak up what Exeter threw at them, before looking to reply in kind with a tried and trusted pick-and-go game from deep inside their own half.

The opening skirmishes were certainly attritional as both sides looked to gain the early initiative, but it was the visitors who were afforded the first chance of points on six minutes when England lock George Kruis was pulled up for not rolling away at a ruck.

Fly-half Steenson, who last week plundered 15 points against the Saints to stretch his lead at the top of the scoring charts, stepped forward with the resultant kick.

However, the normally deadly Irishman saw his long-range effort catch on the wind and sail just wide of the mark.

Saracens made the most of the let-off and as the first half minutes ticked by, so they started to impose a powerful running game on the Devonians.

Using the heavy artillery in the form of both the Vunipola brothers, Maro Itoje and Kruis, it allowed them to press their rivals back at an alarming rate.

By the inch they worked their way down the synthetic turf, before it was fed back to Goode who, on the burst, was able to slip and slide his way off a couple of Exeter tackles to touch down by the posts for the opening try, which Farrell converted with ease from in front of the posts.

Ten minutes later and Farrell was afforded another shot at the Exeter posts, this after Thomas Waldrom had propelled himself off his feet as he looked to slow the home side’s attack down. Thankfully, his indiscretion went unpunished as the England sharp-shooter fired wide of the left post.

Undeterred, Sarries threatened again – this time down the left flank – creating an opening for winger Chris Wyles to charge for the line. However, just as the American looked set to dot down in the corner, sterling work from Henry Slade in defence saw him bundle his rival into touch at the key moment.

The Chiefs were certainly living dangerously as the champions continued to pile forward in numbers, but they could do little to thwart the home side from adding a second score just past the half-hour mark.

More robust attacking work saw them punch their way deep into the Exeter 22, the fruits of which carved the opening for imposing No.8 Billy Vunipola to smash his way over in the corner.

Up against it, Baxter’s side needed to summon a rapid response before the break, particularly given they had been given first use of the howling wind.

Steenson atoned for his earlier miss when he hit the mark with his second attempt, given after Richard Wigglesworth had strayed offside.

Then, with the final action of the half, the Exeter playmaker doubled his tally, plundering a superb effort from halfway after referee Matt Carley deemed Sarries had dropped a scrum.

Half time: Saracens 12 Exeter Chiefs 6.