Match Thread

[MarleyWasp]

Managed to get the link working via Microsoft Edge on my PC and casting to the TV. The Android VK app also works well but there's no option to cast to the TV.

[Bloke in North Dorset]

12-8. Coach killer at the kick off

[Neils]

Bit wavery.

[NellyWellyWaspy]

Scrum is playing like a cohesive unit thus far.

[hopwood]

I love our team.
But we haven’t been cohesive yet.
We look disjointed.
Fekitoa is so intent on impacts and yards, that he lacks the subtlety of Spink at centre.
Watson has dancing feet, but doesn’t join up with the rest of the team.
We’re playing as individuals rather than a cohesive unit.

Exeter are a really good side, so we have to be at our best…or this game won’t become a win.
Also think we’re suffering slightly from not having a home crowd, as alluded to by John Mitchell earlier in the week.

We need to step it up…and harmonise.

[hopwood]

Holes appearing in our defensive shape too.

[hopwood]

Barberry also not been able to make the yards he usually does.

But his legs might be like jelly after a brutal week of England training.
He’s only just come back from long term injury.

[NellyWellyWaspy]

Our defense is seriously lacking, leaving big holes.

[Westy68]

What the hell are we doing. Did we really think just turning up would do it.

I'm sorry but this is not acceptable the way we are playing

[Bloke in North Dorset]

Chiefs' 2nd and 3rd string players looking hungry.

Our defence probably the worst its been for some time, I can't decide if their just a bit slow or Chiefs have worked them out. Probably a bit of both.

We're not breaking the gain line like we did last week.

Plenty of work for the coaches at half time.

All in all a very ordinary 1st half performance.

[Rossm]

21-8 HT.

We've gone right off the boil.

[NellyWellyWaspy]

To me it looks like we are lacking on field leadership, and lacking team cohesiveness - have we changed our captain recently? I am used to seeing an animated Shields pushing everyone on, but Big Joe isn't so obviously doing that.

I am not sure we have a plan, but on occasions our players are looking at each other rather than getting on with it.

[Heathen]

I feared that game management might be our downfall.

Still, there are another 40 mins to redeem the situation.

[Westy68]

This is reminding me of Dai Youngs tenure, not able to get the team going or game plan when we should clearly be favorites.

This is nearly our first choice team playing against, at best, Exeter's 3rd team.

Did we train as a team this week.

If we can't beat Exeter today then I'm sorry we are in for a very disappointing season

[Shugs]

This was never going to be a gimme. Injuries mean others step up and try to secure their place. And they still have massively experienced Prem operators in the field. One area we always seem weak at is opposition restarts. It’s done us again today and was a pivotal moment. Just got to get the first points second half or it’s an improbable way to any points.