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Exeter halt Sarries' long unbeaten run to go top, Tigers stop the rot
By Peter Thompson
Exeter Chiefs ended Saracens' 22-match unbeaten run win a 31-13 bonus-point victory to replace the champions at the top of the Premiership and Leicester Tigers halted their eight-match losing streak.
Sarries had not been beaten since Leinster dumped them out of last season's Champions Cup at the quarter-final stage in April, but they finally came unstuck at Sandy Park on Saturday.
Mark McCall's side made a strong start in the first meeting between the top two since they beat Exeter in the 2017-18 Premiership final and were rewarded with two Owen Farrell penalties after losing captain Brad Barritt to concussion.
The Chiefs responded well and led 10-6 at the break, Luke Cowan-Dickie scoring the opening try after Sam Skinner charged down a Ben Spencer kick and Gareth Steenson slotting over a penalty after his conversion had sailed through the posts.
Harry Williams added a second try when Sarries were outmuscled in a scrum, then a penalty try and a Matt Kvesic score either side of a Spencer try put Exeter three points clear at the summit.
Leicester stopped the rot in their first game since Geordan Murphy was named head coach on a permanent basis, seeing off Harlequins 35-24 at Welford Road.
Jonah Holmes scored a first-half double, then Manu Tuilagi and Jonny May went over as the Tigers moved just a point behind Quins in sixth spot.
Robert du Preez scored 17 points with the boot in a 27-10 victory for Sale Sharks over Bristol Bears in Saturday's other match.
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Latest Comments
Come on, RugbyPass. You let a notorious homer grade his own beloved team?
Anyway. I rate Barrett, and I’m one of those who think no one else but him and Mo’unga should have ever dressed the ABs’ 10 jersey as long as both are still active, but he wasn’t a 9.5. Barrett is the best game controller of all contemporary ABs’ first fives. Kiwi fans are obsessed with ball running 10s and many don’t realize, that there are other boxes a “first five” needs to tick, than instinctive genius attacking rugby. The DMac lovers don’t seem to notice, that his poor tactical decisions costed ABs some games this year, granting tries to both Pumas and Springboks. As for BB, just review the miniseries against England earlier this year. In one of the games, Barrett came on the field, and literally turned the tables by putting immense pressure on the English through clever kicking. It’s not sexy, but it wins games and championships. Ask Handré Pollard, who started his international career as a ball running 10/12, and then turned himself into a game controller.
Anyway x2. 10 is a perfect performance, that couldn’t have been better. 10 is Dusautoir in the 2011 RWC finals. Barrett wasn’t next door to a performance, that couldn’t have been better as much as I rate him.
Go to commentsToo many boks held up in when touching down - Siya and Fassi should've scored
At least the line-out is getting better. A good tour but a soft finish in H2 in this game I think
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