Exeter come from behind to beat Wasps as Luke Cowan-Dickie limps off

Sam Simmonds of Exeter Chiefs celebrates their victory with team mate Dave Ewers during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Wasps and Exeter Chiefs at The Coventry Building Society Arena on October 16, 2021 in Coventry, England. - GETTY IMAGES
Sam Simmonds of Exeter Chiefs celebrates their victory with team mate Dave Ewers during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Wasps and Exeter Chiefs at The Coventry Building Society Arena on October 16, 2021 in Coventry, England. - GETTY IMAGES
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Wasps 23 Exeter 27

Exeter were far sharper in the second half here after a lull before the interval, coming from behind at half-time for their third win of the season - but it came at a cost, with Luke Cowan-Dickie limping off early in the second half to give the watching England assistant coach Richard Cockerill cause for concern.

Cowan-Dickie featured in all three Tests for the British and Irish Lions in the summer and also started England's last two matches of the 2021 Six Nations, making any potential absence having appeared to injure his ankle a worry ahead of England naming their squad for the autumn Tests on Monday.

"It's never good to see Luke coming off because he's tough as they come," said Exeter head coach Ali Hepher.

Cockerill would have been more enthused by the performances of Sam Simmonds, named player of the match, while Henry Slade and Jonny Hill also scored in a bonus-point win for Exeter.

"Our fight has returned," added Hepher. "The pleasing thing today was we showed plenty of that. We're looking upwards now."

The result capped off a strange week for Exeter given Saturday's opponents had publicly denounced Exeter supporters wearing headdresses at the CBS Arena. If many away fans pitched up wearing one regardless they were difficult to find, aside from one notably pink-themed number in the west stand.

"They are very much on the wrong side of history. It just needs to change," one former Exeter club official told Telegraph Sport outside the stadium before kick-off. "It is becoming more and more outdated and they need to seriously consider changing it."

As for the actual action, Slade's try was a well-worked team move with Wasps down to 14 men, his third of the season. Dan Frost on his first start was a bright spot for Wasps, but with the hooker receiving treatment Exeter struck off first phase, Marcus Watson made the mistake of giving Facundo Cordero too much time and space down the left touchline - Watson is not often beaten in a sprint, but the Argentine wing smoked him down the outside, giving Exeter a nine-point lead.

Facundo Cordero of Exeter Chiefs breaks clear to score their second try during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Wasps and Exeter Chiefs at The Coventry Building Society Arena on October 16, 2021 in Coventry, England. - GETTY IMAGES
Facundo Cordero of Exeter Chiefs breaks clear to score their second try during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Wasps and Exeter Chiefs at The Coventry Building Society Arena on October 16, 2021 in Coventry, England. - GETTY IMAGES

Wasps hit back however through their maul, Frost deservedly dotting down, while another maul try through Thomas Young before the break gave Wasps a 20-15 half-time advantage.

After a spell featuring a succession of penalties against Wasps, a yellow card for Frost and a scrap that spilled into the stands - sparked by one of the army of water carriers keeping the ball away from Exeter - Wasps somehow had kept the visitors out and extended their lead through Jimmy Gopperth.

Perhaps Cordero's speed, so impressive in the first half, would provide the answer. This time the he couldn't beat Watson in a foot race to the ball as it rolled over Wasps' try line. But the resulting five-metre scrum made for a salivating platform to attack from, with Simmonds not needing a second invitation as he barrelled over.

Hill's diving finish in the corner, finishing an attack started by a Slade 50-22 kick, then put Exeter back ahead and secured the try bonus-point.

Wasps still had one last sniff at a victory but the lineout faltered, and Exeter's scrum delivered, earning a penalty to seal the win.

"I am pretty gutted," said Wasps head coach Lee Blackett. "Sometimes the amount of effort you put in, you don't get the reward it deserves."

Match details

Scoring sequence: 3-0 Gopperth pen, 3-3 Slade pen, 6-3 Gopperth pen, 6-8 Slade try, 6-13 Cordero try, 6-15 Slade con, 11-15 Frost try, 13-15 Gopperth con, 18-15 Young try, 20-15 Gopperth con, 23-15 Gopperth pen, 23-20 S Simmonds try, 23-22 Slade con, 23-27 Hill try

Wasps: M Watson (A Crossdale 69); Z Kibirige, M le Bourgeois (W Simonds 67), J Gopperth, J Bassett; J Umaga, D Robson (F Hougaard 61); R Hislop (B Harris 63), D Frost (P Harrison 65), J Toomaga-Allen (P Scholtz 63), V Fifita, E Stooke (T Cardall 77), B Shields, T Young ( N Carr 60), T Willis

Exeter: S Hogg (T O'Flaherty 62); J Nowell (J Simmonds 69), H Slade, T Hendrickson, F Cordero; H Skinner, J Maunder (S Hidalgo-Clyne 60); A Hepburn (B Keast 60, A Hepburn 71), L Cowan-Dickie (J Yeandle 52), H Williams (S Nixon 60), R McCauley (W Witty 45), J Hill, D Ewers, R Capstick (D Armand 60), S Simmonds

Referee: W Barnes