Tied House Criminal Cup - Exeter Vs Racing

[Spiffy]

Teams up:

Exeter: Hogg; Nowell, Slade, Whitten, O'Flaherty; J Simmonds (capt), Maunder; Hepburn, Cowan-Dickie, Williams, Gray, Hill, Ewers, Vermeulen, S Simmonds.

Replacements: Yeandle, Moon, Francis, Skinner, Kirsten, Hidalgo-Clyne, Steenson, Devoto.

Racing 92: Zebo; Dupichot, Vakatawa, Chavancy (capt), Imhoff; Russell, Iribaren; Ben Arous, Chat, Colombe, Le Roux, Bird, Lauret, Sanconnie, Claassen

Replacements: Baubigny, Kolingar, Oz, Ryan, Palu, Machenaud, Klemenczak, Beale.

Racing by a country kilometre!!

If you're talking comparing player for player, then I agree Racing have higher quality individual players. Exeter as a unit are a very different proposition though.

Interesting that Whitten's preferred to Devoto at 12. Wouldn't've been my pick.

Puja

Indeed, although that’s normally the way Baxter seems to go.

Devoto can’t make a serious claim for an England spot when he can’t consistently see off the challenge from the solid, but very unspectacular Ian Whitten.

Unspectacular is the Exeter way. Devoto himself is hardly spectacular anyway. Baxter obviously trusts Whitten to do the job, at least in the early stages of the game. Interesting that the old fella had the gas for an outside break last time out. He is still an effective midfielder with a good all-round game and bags of experience. Rarely has an off day and is probably underrated. Devoto will have ample opportunity to show his stuff from the bench (depending on the second half scoreline.)

[Digby]

I didn't know it was Owens, not sure who that favours. I'd lean towards saying the French side normally but Exeter are very cheaty

[Digby]

'tis possible that was sliced

[padprop]

Have BT chosen these awful foghorns for the audio or have french fans snuck in? Either way, awful.

[Mikey Brown]

Wow.

[Digby]

Comedy gold from Racing so far. Did they have a pre match brandy or five?

[Mikey Brown]

Comedy gold from Racing so far. Did they have a pre match brandy or five?

10 minutes in and we've had Russell volley a pass and whatever you call that nonsense that just happened on the touchline.

[Mikey Brown]

Oh. Was THAT the comedy gold?

Hill is such a unit now.

[16th man]

Iriberan appears to be going full Bergamasco.

[Mr Mwenda]

Well it looks they were generous enough to settle any exeter nerves.

[Digby]

It was more brandy than that. Too early for some subs?

[Mikey Brown]

Well it looks they were generous enough to settle any exeter nerves.

Yep. This looks really incredible over as a contest already. It would take something incredibly French to turn this.

Ewers again.

[Mr Mwenda]

Do you thing Racing said to themselves that the key to winning the game was to let exeter pick and go 5m out?

[Digby]

Now comedy gold from Exeter, not sure how many defenders ran out of the line in those phases. Not clear Exeter know how they want to defend the width and power Racing have

[Mikey Brown]

Do you thing Racing said to themselves that the key to winning the game was to let exeter pick and go 5m out?

You think this is all down to a dodgy translation?

Ah. More like it from Racing.

[Digby]

Yellow? Nige says penalty only

[Digby]

Didn't throw a hand at the ball but made sure the ball was getting nudged

[Peej]

Back in the olden times Racing used to drink champagne before kick off and played in pink bow ties.

Is Cowan-Dickie really using his arms in these chop tackles?

[16th man]

If LCD could hit his jumpers this would be even more of a beating.

[Peej]

Iribaren is having a shocker, but Racing already look knackered.

Vakatawa and Zebo finding space and yards though

[paddy no 11]

Iribaren throwing in the worst individual performance in 25 years of finals

[Oakboy]

If LCD could hit his jumpers this would be even more of a beating.

Quite. 3 lineouts lost.

[16th man]

Really do wonder how Exeter get away with sealing off at so many rucks.

[Mr Mwenda]

Iriberan appears to be going full Bergamasco.

Does he normally play 9?

[Mr Mwenda]

Really do wonder how Exeter get away with sealing off at so many rucks.

I don't understand rucks at all at the mo. Someone is tackled, holds the ball in 5 seconds while 2-3 fly over him and then he places it back.