Exeter Chiefs

2023 - 1 - 14

Post cover — Image courtesy of "SA Rugby"

Bulls overpower Exeter Chiefs at Loftus Versfeld (SA Rugby)

The Vodacom Bulls delivered a classy display against the Exeter Chiefs to score six tries to four for a valuable 39-28 bonus-point victory in their Heineken ...

Exeter Chiefs 28 (14) – Tries: Josh Hodge, Solomone Kata, Jannes Kirsten, Jack Innard. This handed the hosts a 15-7 lead. Penalty Goal: Smith (1).

Champions Cup: Five takeaways from Bulls v Exeter as the South ... (planetrugby.com)

The Bulls avenged their 44-14 defeat at Sandy Park by securing a 39-28 bonus point victory over Exeter Chiefs on Saturday in the Champions Cup.

Meanwhile, Baxter won’t need to dig too deep to understand why Exeter was on the wrong end of the result this week. There was a significant improvement in this area of his game, particularly in this clash, as Exeter were shut down on several occasions by the Bulls’ line speed. Their pack certainly looks to be one that could front up with the best the Arendse has taken his form from the Springbok jersey back into the Bulls’ jumper, producing on both sides of the ball. When they do select their first team, they look far more like the side that toppled Leinster last season to reach the United Rugby Championship final. His versatility makes him a huge asset in the replacements. While he did have the odd error or two, especially when kicking penalties into touch, overall, it was a solid outing from the Bulls playmaker. It took him just two minutes to stop an attack dead in its tracks with a terrific turnover, setting the tone at the breakdown. But the Bulls’ mentor may have finally found his best backline, and it was the same one named to face the Ospreys last week. Chris Smith was named to start that match but was ruled out through illness. Gerhard Steenekamp and Mornay Smith were comfortable victors in the front-row battle despite taking on Test internationals Scott Sio and Harry Williams. Henry Slade was on top of his game in the opening half of the match as he looked to impress the new England coach staff ahead of the Six Nations.

Bulls produce heady mix of pace and power to claim bonus-point ... (Independent Online)

The Bulls ran in six tries as they secured a bonus-point win over Exeter Chiefs in their Champions Cup clash at Loftus in Tshwane on Saturday evening.

Penalty: Smith (1). Soon after Raynal went off with his hamstring problem, hooker Johan Grobbelaar showed great patience to stay bound to a maul and go all the way, and the Bulls were 32-14 ahead in the 52nd minute. Captain Ruan Nortje was keen to lay down a marker early on by opting for a lineout instead of three points from a penalty, and the move paid off as No 8 Elrigh Louw charged over from a trademark tap-kick play in the 15th minute.

Bull Bulls v Exeter Chiefs LIVE: Play-by-play updates from the ... (Devon Live)

All the build-up, team news, live play-by-play match updates, reaction, analysis, stats and highlights from Loftus Versfeld Stadium.

No worries. No Hogg? Henry Slade is playing that playmaker role to perfection, and he's clearly got his kicking boots on too. During the break, the attendance at Loftus Versfeld is announced as 8,693. A rather odd development, as it appears the altitude is not only affecting the players. Try - Bulls Try - Exeter TRY - Bulls Penalty - Bulls TRY - Exeter Chiefs RED CARD - Exeter Chiefs FULL TIME - Bulls 39 Exeter Chiefs 28

Bulls get revenge against Chiefs to keep Champions Cup round of ... (TimesLIVE)

Bulls got sweet revenge by beating Exeter Chiefs by 39-28 during their action packed Heineken Champions Cup clash at Loftus on Saturday night in the absence ...

he visitors drew level when Josh Hodge exploited poor defence by the Bulls with a 30-metre run to score a try that was easily converted by Joe Simmonds. The Bulls started the second half on a good note when Wandisile Simelane produced a moment of magic to score their bonus-point try and he was followed closely by Grobbelaar with a fifth try. The Bulls increased their lead with a penalty by Smith and a fabulous try that was started by a brilliant turnover by Bismarck du Plessis and led to Kurt-Lee Arendse releasing David Kriel to score an unconverted try.

Bulls 39 Chiefs 28 (Exeter Chiefs)

Vodacom Bulls 39. Exeter Chiefs 28. Mark Stevens at Loftus Versfeld. Dafydd Jenkins struck late in the day to ensure Exeter's first-ever expedition into ...

They huffed and puffed in their pursuit of that reward, but it was the Bulls who pounced, Simelane picking off a pass just inside his own half to race clear of the cover. Again, Skinner converted from the touchline to ensure the visitors headed home on a high note. Behind a fast-moving pack of forwards, Zak Burger shipped the ball out to Grobbelaar, who under pressure was able to flick the ball over his head in the direction of Simelane. Taking to the field at the world-renowned Loftus Versfeld, it was the Chiefs who set the tone on a hot and humid night. It would, however, prove a false dawn as the Bulls quickly got back into their attacking stride, wrapping up the bonus point inside three minutes of the restart. Exeter’s response to going behind, however, was emphatic as within four minutes they had drawn level when from a line-out midway inside the Bulls half, the Chiefs back division fashioned a lovely opening, feeding Slade whose sublime pass sent Hodge on the charge.

Simelane stars as composed Bulls tame 14-man Exeter and injured ... (News24)

The Bulls took a major leap towards qualifying for the Champions Cup knockouts with a fine 39-28 victory over a 14-man Exeter on Saturday night.

Up to defend a kick forward to Arendse - Charabas was playing advantage - his initial contact was to the Bok star's shoulder but then shifted to the beck as Arendse changed his running angle. Simelane showed his well-honed soccer skills with a fine chip off a Johan Grobbelaar pass that was lucky not to be called forward and regathered to open up a more substantial advantage. Instead, they knuckled down and launched a brilliant reply when Bismarck du Plessis - on as a temporary replacement for Johan Grobbelaar - made a superb steal in midfield and combined with Zak Burger to launch a swift counter that featured a lightning run from the prone Kurt-Lee Arendse and an incisive inside pass from Wandisile Simelane to David Kriel.