A seven-try display saw Gloucester dismantle Exeter Chiefs to secure a statement win in round one of the Gallagher PREM.
Gloucester scored twice in the opening 20 minutes. The first came through Ben Loader in the fifth minute after a clever Ben Redshaw cross-field kick set him up for an easy score.
The second came through Seb Atkinson after a beautiful dink from Caolan Englefield caught the Chiefs napping. Charlie Atkinson added one of the conversions.
Exeter got one back in the 14th minute after the TMO confirmed Josh Iosefa-Scott had grounded the ball over the try line from close range. Henry Slade added the extras.
Loader grabbed his second of the match from another cross-field kick in the 23rd minute. A powerful maul dragged several Exeter players towards it before Charlie Atkinson exploited the space with a kick towards an open Loader, who shook off the tackle of Olly Woodburn.
Chiefs hit back just before half-time when Ethan Roots ran half the pitch down the touchline before touching down in the corner.
However, Gloucester quickly answered with a try of their own on the half-time whistle. A driving maul proved too powerful for Exeter once again, with captain Dewi Lake touching down on his debut.
HALF-TIME: Exeter Chiefs 12–26 Gloucester Rugby
Gloucester opened the second-half scoring with another driving maul try just five minutes after the restart. It was Lake's second of the match on his debut.
Both teams traded tries around the hour mark.
Gloucester struck first thanks to some individual wizardry from Will Joseph before Stephen Varney got one back for Exeter against his old side, breaking from halfway.
Gloucester were reduced to 14 when Freddie Thomas was sent to the sin-bin in the 71st minute for repeated defensive infringements.
Exeter quickly made use of the extra man, securing their bonus-point try in the 75th minute through replacement hooker Louie Gulley on his PREM debut.
Junior Denny then grabbed Gloucester's seventh try of the match in the final minute on his Gallagher PREM debut.
Exeter Chiefs
Tries: 4 – Iosefa-Scott 14’, Roots 38’, Varney 62’, Gulley 75’Conversions: 2 – Slade 14’, 62’Penalties: 0Yellow cards: 0Red cards: 0
Starting XV: Ben Hammersley; Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Henry Slade, Will Butt, Olly Woodburn; Harvey Skinner, Stephen Varney; Ethan Burger, Jack Yeandle, Josh Iosefa-Scott, Dafydd Jenkins (captain), Harry Wilson, Ethan Roots, Kane James, Greg Fisilau.
Replacements: Louie Gulley, Will Goodrick-Clarke, Jimmy Roots, Oscar Beckerleg, Finn Worley Brady, Jake Murray, Will Haydon-Wood, Zach Wimbush.
Gloucester Rugby
Tries: 7 – Loader 5’, 23’, S. Atkinson 19’, Lake 40’, 45’, Joseph 60’, Denny 80’Conversions: 5 – C. Atkinson 20’, 23’, 40’, 60’, Barton 80’Penalties: 0Yellow cards: 1 – Thomas 71’Red cards: 0
Starting XV: Ben Redshaw; Will Joseph, Phil Cokanasiga, Seb Atkinson, Ben Loader; Charlie Atkinson, Caolan Englefield; Val Rapava-Ruskin, Dewi Lake (captain), Afo Fasogbon, Jean Kleyn, Arthur Clark, Freddie Thomas, Jac Morgan, Will Trenholm.
Replacements: Jack Innard, Dian Bleuler, Ciaran Knight, Jack Clement, Lewis Ludlow, Dan Robson, Junior Denny, George Barton.
Gloucester player ratings
1. Val Rapava-Ruskin – 4/10
He was kept quiet today and, when he did have the ball, it seemed like a mistake was coming. A couple of really sloppy errors from big Val this afternoon.
2. Dewi Lake (captain) – 8/10
A brace on debut to wrap up the bonus point for his side and an excellent showing around the lineout.
He gave Gloucester an extra edge from the set-piece that they’ve really lacked over the past few seasons, which just elevated his side's game.
3. Afo Fasogbon – 5/10
Gave away a couple of sloppy penalties in and around the breakdown but was solid with ball in hand and in the scrum.
4. Jean Kleyn – 7/10
This man can HIT!
Time after time, Kleyn put in a dominant hit, much to Sandy Park’s dismay. The Springbok made his presence known around the park as he won the contact, whether that was carrying, jackalling or tackling.
It didn’t matter — Kleyn was going to win the contact.
He did turn over the ball a couple of times, however, once with a pass bouncing off his back and once with a breakdown penalty.
5. Arthur Clark – 7/10
A well-oiled machine at the lineout, calling the play and executing it excellently.
It’s a big step up for the young man this season and he doesn’t seem fazed by the responsibility at all.
I’d like to see a bit more ball in hand from him, but that’s just being picky.
6. Freddie Thomas – 6/10
He has slotted into the flanker position well and provides an extra lineout option, which was utilised well today.
He also provided some slick offloads and handling, which you don’t often see from a player of his size.
7. Jac Morgan – 7/10
His impact has been instant.
His calibre of play is just so high. He seems to cover every blade of grass and his tank never empties.
He is arguably the best signing this season and it’s clear to see why.
8. Will Trenholm – 7/10
He has carried his good form from last season into the start of this campaign and is hitting hard and true.
His background in sevens has allowed him to be agile around the park, while his ability to shift from a standard ball-carrying number eight to a handsy centre is a cracking asset for Gloucester.
9. Caolan Englefield – 7/10
A solid outing from the scrum-half.
He switched tempo excellently and every time he went quickly, he caught the Chiefs by surprise.
He might not be Tomos Williams, but it is clear he has learnt a substantial amount from him.
10. Charlie Atkinson – 9/10
He took an early knock and it looked like his play might falter. It did the opposite.
Precise, quick and sensational. That’s how Atkinson should be described.
He takes the ball right to the face of the opposition and shifts it at the last second, creating an abundance of space.
He kicked well and constantly gave Gloucester good field position. Great performance.
11. Ben Loader – 8/10
Two really well-worked tries in the opening 23 minutes for the winger.
He shook off his opposite man multiple times and was dominant throughout.
Defensively excellent as well, he stepped up at just the right time to close down the space Exeter had to play with.
A quality performance and hopefully he can keep this up for the season.
12. Seb Atkinson – 7/10
He took his try well and carried hard and true, just like we saw from him last season. It just didn’t feel like the complete package today.
I don’t feel like there was a drop in performance, but more that others around him stepped up, so he didn’t have to bear the brunt of it all himself.
He did, however, produce a crucial turnover on the five-metre line to prevent Exeter from scoring.
13. Phil Cokanasiga – 6/10
A six feels harsh, but he just did not get as much of the ball as he would’ve liked.
He did complement Atkinson well as a centre partner, though, and drew players away to allow his partner to smash through the defensive line.
14. Will Joseph – 7/10
What a try.
Some of the most impressive running with ball in hand you’ll see. Weaving in and out, he made Feyi-Waboso look silly — and that isn’t easy.
That try alone bumps his rating up.
Apart from that moment of magic, he was solid and dependable throughout.
15. Ben Redshaw – 8/10
Redshaw was excellent.
He took the kicking game to Exeter and put them on the back foot throughout.
He linked up really well with Charlie Atkinson in the backfield and exploited space excellently.
He was also the architect of the first try of the afternoon with some really well-thought-out play.
Replacements – 6/10
Did their job well and settled into the game with ease, but didn’t stand out like some of the starters did.
Three breakout players for this season
Ben Redshaw – Gloucester and England
Redshaw has started the season in fine form. His performances in the first two rounds of the PREM Cup have been excellent.
He is a dynamic full-back who plays more like a second distributor next to Charlie Atkinson rather than an extra winger.
Defensively, he has looked better already than he did last season. We saw him get outplayed as the last man a couple of times last year and he would get stepped on the wing quite easily, but that has already changed.
Against Sale in round two of the PREM Cup, he repeatedly stalled the Sale attack with dominant hits and won the high ball often too.
He seems to have overtaken George Barton in the Gloucester pecking order and, if he carries this form into the league, a Six Nations call-up may not be too far off, especially with full-back arguably being England’s weakest position.
He was excellent again today and is a superstar in the making. Gloucester will be hoping to keep him for the long run.
Greg Fisilau – Exeter and England
Fisilau is another player who is just on the cusp of the England set-up, like Redshaw. However, he has been in and around the camps before.
He has three England A caps and was called up to this year’s Six Nations squad.
He is a powerful runner, much like his father, former Tongan international Kenni Fisilau, and he attacks the breakdown well.
He is also extremely agile for a back-rower and seems to blend into more of a centre-style role around the park.
He is only 23, so has years ahead of him, but he is already a big name. With the Willis brothers being in France, his ticket to international rugby may be now.
Phil Cokanasiga – Gloucester and England
The younger of the Cokanasiga brothers signed for Gloucester this off-season after a two-year stint with Ospreys in Wales.
Some may say he has always been in his brother’s shadow, but I think this season will see him burst onto the scene.
A pacey outside centre/winger, he possesses an extremely high rugby IQ which allows him to read the play much faster than those around him.
He’s got quick feet and is very attack-minded, but unlike most who have a similar style of play, he doesn’t lack defensive instinct either.
A hard-hitting ball carrier and an even harder hitter, Cokanasiga will complement Gloucester star boy Seb Atkinson perfectly.
This is a really underrated centre partnership for the Cherry and Whites and one which may surprise some fans and teams around the league this season.
