Wasps 20-23 Exeter: Chiefs win thriller after extra time

Match Stats: Wasps 20-23 Exeter

Wasps

Tries:  Gopperth (40), Daly (44)
Conversions: Gopperth (40, 45)
Penalties: Gopperth (18, 54) 

Exeter

Tries:  Nowell (14), Dollman (28)
Conversions: Steenson (7, 28)
Penalties: Steenson (64, 80, 97) 

Match report

Exeter captain Gareth Steenson kicked a penalty three minutes from the end of extra time to see the Chiefs crowned Aviva Premiership champions.

A thrilling Twickenham final saw Steenson's dramatic strike edge out Wasps 23-20, and meant Exeter were crowned champions of England for the first time in their 146-year history.

Exeter were a fourth division club when rugby union went professional 22 years ago, and they only arrived in the Premiership in 2010, which underlines the staggering scale of their achievement.

The game finished 20-20 after 80 minutes. Exeter led by 11 points approaching half time, but Wasps' pursuit of the Premiership title for a first time since 2008 was driven relentlessly by centre Jimmy Gopperth, who scored a try and kicked two penalties and two conversions.

New Zealand-bound British and Irish Lions squad member Elliot Daly also added a try, and Exeter had to dig deep after losing in the final to Saracens 12 months ago.

First-half tries by Daly's Lions colleague Jack Nowell and full-back Phil Dollman - plus two Steenson conversions - built a 14-3 advantage, yet Gopperth's touchdown just before half time appeared to tilt the balance psychologically.

But Exeter dominated the additional 20 minutes in terms of territory, and three Steenson penalties - his winner arriving in the 97th minute - sent the Chiefs fans among a 79,000 crowd wild.

The Chiefs become England's eighth different Premiership champions after Newcastle, Leicester, Wasps, Sale Sharks, Saracens, Harlequins and Northampton, and no-one could deny them their moment of glory in the Twickenham sunshine.

A minute's silence was observed before kick-off in memory of the Manchester Arena bombing victims, while flags flew at half-mast on a sunny, breezy day in south-west London.

Much of the final's build-up had been about the potential dominance of the Exeter pack, and those comments appeared justified as Chiefs gained two penalties inside the opening four minutes to pile pressure on Wasps.

And even when Wasps pilfered possession, they appeared nervous and edgy, which was underlined when fly-half Danny Cipriani kicked possession directly into touch and cost his team a possible attacking avenue.

Exeter were not to be denied for long, though, and they forged ahead when flanker Kai Horstmann won quality lineout possession, hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie burst clear in midfield and then Nowell finished brilliantly from 20 metres.

It was a try of stunning simplicity delivered at the highest pace, and Steenson's conversion opened up a seven-point lead before a Gopperth penalty after 17 minutes got Wasps moving on the scoreboard.

Wasps lost number eight Nathan Hughes and prop Phil Swainston for head injury assessments - Hughes returned nine minutes after going off - yet Exeter continued to enjoy control, and they struck again 12 minutes before half-time.

Former Bath centre Ollie Devoto made the crucial break, crashing deep into Wasps territory, before Dollman cut a superb attacking angle and Wasps could not keep him out, with Steenson's conversion making it 14-3.

But Wasps, totally against the run of play, struck on the stroke of half time by claming a try as brilliantly delivered as it was unexpected.

Wasps had been under so much pressure, yet they suddenly found a way through Exeter's defence when Cipriani found hooker Tommy Taylor before scrum-half Dan Robson broke and Gopperth touched down behind the posts before converting his own try.

And it meant that Wasps trooped off just four points adrift, giving themselves a foothold in the final and delivering Exeter with a sharp reminder of their ability.

If Exeter were rocked by the score, it continued into the second half as Wasps went ahead for a first time when Hughes broke five tackles inside his own half, before wing Christian Wade was freed in space, and his kick and chase saw possession bounce kindly for Daly to finish off.

Gopperth's conversion went over via the post, then Exeter saw Dollman limp off, and the final had taken a major unexpected turn with more than 30 minutes still remaining.

Gopperth and Steenson then exchanged penalties, and despite late Exeter pressure, it went to an extra 20 minutes, during which Exeter prevailed.

Match reaction

Exeter coach Rob Baxter, turning his attention to conquering Europe: "We've let ourselves down in Europe in the last couple of years, and we have to address that.

"Europe should be a marker for us, and I don't mind the chairman saying that.

"I'm not going to shy away from saying we're the best team in the Premiership. Everyone's got massive respect for Saracens but if you take the league alone, ourselves and Wasps topped the competition.

"But as great as today is it can't be the defining thing about Exeter.

"If it's a downward spiral from here I'll be massively disappointed and I'll have failed.

"We need to put a group of players who will say 'I'm going to do something to make sure we stay as Premiership champions'.

"The emotional stuff after the whistle, it's hard to describe. It just happened.

"My wife and family are here, they take the brunt of what you go through day by day.

"We did need to have a stiff word with ourselves after our start to the season.

"It's easy to have a stiff word, but you need people who decide to do something about it.

"We've had a group of players prepared to listen that what we were doing wasn't good enough."

Match-winner Gareth Steenson, revealing he reflected on the death of his father (during his stint with Cornish Pirates) before taking his match-winning kick: "I said a prayer to my old man upstairs before the last kick, and it worked.

"When we first got promoted (10 years ago), I probably couldn't have expected anything like this.

"We were patting ourselves on the back in pre-season. We rolled into the season.

"We did sit down after the Clermont game and said this season could peter out; we had a few harsh words.

"I was in a different place at Cornish Pirates, I'd just lost my father.

"Exeter's vision, you could see it, and that's why I joined.

"It was a place that was going to go forward."

Wasps boss Dai Young on rejecting the notion of moving to uncontested scrums after injuries to props Phil Swainston and Marty Moore: "We did consider that but that's bending the rules the wrong way to be honest with you.

"This defeat shows we're still a work in progress.

"It hurts and there's not much to say to make it feel better.

"But fair play to Exeter, congratulations to a great club and a great team."

Player ratings

Wasps

WILLIE LE ROUX: The South Africa full-back had few chances to shine in attack. 6/10

CHRISTIAN WADE: The Premiership's top try-scorer this season could not seriously threaten Exeter's defence. 6

ELLIOT DALY: Scored a superb try and enjoyed an outstanding second-half. Now heads to New Zealand with the Lions. 8

JIMMY GOPPERTH: Magnificent in defeat, scoring a try and kicking 10 points. Exeter struggled to contain him. 9

JOSH BASSETT: Could make little impact and had a quiet game. 6

DANNY CIPRIANI: Improved after a poor first half, but not his day. 6

DAN ROBSON: Snapped and sniped at the heels of Wasps' scrum, but Exeter contained him well. 6

MATT MULLAN: Had a tough afternoon opposite Exeter's powerful scrum. 5

TOMMY TAYLOR: Up against it in the tight, but his work in the loose exchanges was outstanding. 7

PHIL SWAINSTON: Horribly overpowered by Exeter's scrum. An afternoon to forget. 4

JOE LAUNCHBURY: Wasps' captain never flinched in the heat of battle. Led from the front. 8

MATT SYMONS: Worked hard, but it was not Wasps' day in the forward exchanges. 6

JAMES HASKELL: Not his greatest game, and matters for the England flanker now switch to the Lions tour. 6

THOMAS YOUNG: Worked hard and never stopped running, but too often on the back foot. 6

NATHAN HUGHES: A typically robust and aggressive contribution. Exeter struggled to contain him at times. 8

Exeter

PHIL DOLLMAN: Wales squad member scored a try, but then suffered an injury that could threaten his summer tour plans. 7/10

JACK NOWELL: The British and Irish Lion scored a try and threatened Wasps' defence throughout. 8

IAN WHITTEN: Ran hard and defended strongly throughout a stamina-sapping contest. 7

OLLIE DEVOTO: Enjoyed a fine game, causing problems for the Wasps defence with his physical approach. 8

OLLY WOODBURN: Exeter's player of the season did not disappoint in any area. 7

GARETH STEENSON: The Chiefs captain struck gold in extra time with his match-winning strike. Calm throughout. 9

STUART TOWNSEND: A bright Exeter prospect who excelled in the sunshine. 7

BEN MOON: Part of an Exeter scrum that dominated the contest. 7

LUKE COWAN-DICKIE: Brilliant in the tight and a handful in the loose. Outstanding. 8

HARRY WILLIAMS: An outstanding prop with a future that looks likely to extend all the way to Test level. 7

DAVE DENNIS: The gritty Australian never stopped scrapping for Exeter's cause. 7

GEOFF PARLING: The England international will head to a new career in Japan after two memorable years at Exeter. 7

KAI HORSTMANN: Worked tirelessly throughout the game. Rock solid. 7

DON ARMAND: One of Exeter's best players this season. He once again delivered the goods. 8

THOMAS WALDROM: Ran strongly in trademark fashion, Wasps struggled to hold him at times. 7