[2018/19 Heineken Cup] Round 1: Pool 2 (13&14/10/2018)

[Reiser99]

Interestingly according to BTSport going into the game, Exeter's lineout was the second worse in the tournament this year with only Munster worse. However I imagine part of Exeter being so low is they have had more lineouts from penalties and so more chance to lose. However while it is a strength, teams know they will use it and will target it defensively as well. I'm all for using a strong weapon, but you need variation as well and if a couple of penalties had been kicked then the pressure would have been greater on Munster to keep in touch and so take more risks, as well as giving Exeter more chance to counter attack. On top if Exeter had kicked a few to have a 6 point lead or so then Munster would also have been more wary about giving away penalties in their half. Instead they could compete more, especially at the breakdown, because they knew they would have more opportunities to defend the lineout and maul which they had been doing pretty successfully.

 

[Scotty]

Exeter were excellent mostly, should have taken points with the line out being so **** breakdown was reffed pretty badly in my oppinion, From an Exeter perspective I can genuinly see why Baxter commented on his excitement for next years, Stuart Hog will be in their back line, I have a suspicion that might prove to be the plan B they are so far lacking from an attacking perspective, when their pack is physically matched, they might be slightly concerned about their scrum going backwards so frequently though.

Cordero or hogg, i think cordero is the better option with hogg away more but the one position we are lacking is FB, Nowells done well there but he is a winger, nowell woodburn/Cuthbert hogg is a strong back 3. Should make a difference next year tbh, as for the pack we need Ewers and SSimmonds back really.