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Ruthless Chiefs maintain 100 per cent record at Bath
By Peter Thompson
Exeter Chiefs produced a rip-roaring second-half display to keep their 100 per cent record intact and go top of the Premiership table with a 39-24 bonus-point win at Bath on Friday.
The Chiefs arrived at the Rec with five wins out of five, but they were in danger of slipping to a first defeat until taking charge with three tries in the space of nine minutes.
Bath led 10-0 after 22 minutes, Rhys Priestland getting on the end of a chip over the top by Semesa Rokoduguni to touch down and Freddie Burns - switched to full-back - adding the extras having opened the scoring with a penalty.
Gareth Steenson got last season's runners-up on the board with a penalty and the Chiefs were 15-13 up at half-time following tries from Stu Townsend and Don Armand either side of another Burns three-pointer.
Burns was twice on target from the tee to give Bath a slender advantage despite Rokoduguni being sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on, though Steenson also made no mistake with a second penalty of the contest.
Exeter showed they can cope without long-term absentees Sam Simmonds and Jonny Hill, though, as Dave Ewers, Ian Whitten and Jack Nowell crossed to put them in command.
Chris Cook dotted down from a well worked set-piece but the damage had already been done, Steenson claiming 14 points in another impressive outing from the Chiefs, who move above a Saracens side that face Harlequins on Saturday
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To be honest, that's excuses. SA players involved all over 12 months a year. That is not the way to excuse what's happening. There is no replacement for actual fitness, which the English need. In all their games, it was clear that they are not fit enough for 80 min playing. You have to put in the work to get fit. Numbers won't change that. They need the right conditioning and fitness coaches. They rely on a defensive system that requires ultimate fitness. Don't use strategies that counters your abilities. Stop seeking excuses. Also it's a mental thing. They have to break through that mental block. Plenty of rumours around that players and coaches aren't happy with Borthwick. That could just be rumour spreading too, however, where there is smoke, there is usually fire
Go to commentsWhy would he be?😅
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