The Gallagher Premiership rolled on for it’s second round this past weekend, and after compelling performances from all our West Country sides in their opening fixtures, the pressure was on to keep their foot on the gas.
With Gloucester out of action for their bye week, Exeter Chiefs defeated the spirited but uncertain Worcester Warriors 36-21 at Sixways, while Bristol Bears also remained undefeated in a strong defensive showing at the Coventry Building Society Arena with a 23-8 victory over Wasps.
Bath meanwhile were not so fortunate, as they were comfortably beaten 37-20 by table toppers Sale Sharks at The Rec in a performance that concerningly emulated many of their showings from last season.
With round 2 now in the rear view mirror for our southwest sides, rugby reporter Nathan Russell selects his West Country team of the week.
15. Joe Simmonds (Exeter)
Performed with much promise out of position at 15 last week, but made it his own at Sixways.
Opened the game with a classic overlap score as Exeter overwhelmed the Worcester defence, and wreaked havoc with more heart-stopping breaks while adding a lot as a second 10 option in the backline, with his lightning-fast hands putting Olly Woodburn over in the corner
The main factor for Rob Baxter is that he made no major errors on Sunday, meaning the full-back position can remain more consistent in spite of the absences of Stuart Hogg and Josh Hodge. It's good to see this classy player back at it after some disappointing showings last season.
14. Jack Nowell (Exeter)
Made an absolutely filthy out-the-back offload for Richard Capstick’s second score that went under the radar.
Being the usual attacking menace he is, the England international was unlucky to not get on the scoreboard, beating a team-leading three defenders on the day, and gaining 53 metres with a busy and seemingly endless 16 carries.
13. Piers O’Conor (Bristol)
The only player to retain his place in the West Country team of the week, the Bristol stalwart made an improvement on a solid shift last week with a well-rounded performance.
Contributed to the defensive effort firmly when called upon, and reliably provided quick service to receivers outside him as the Bristol backline continues to flex it’s muscles.
12. Sam Bedlow (Bristol)
Great defensive shift from the centre, who led the backline in a quality defensive performance as he tallied up 12 tackles against a creative Wasps attack.
No missed tackles adds some real class to his performance as he continues to grow into a solid, reliable player for Bears.
11. Olly Woodburn (Exeter)
It feels harsh to deny Bath of any spots in the team of the week after a great performance from Will Muir, but Olly Woodburn would have been an even bigger omission.
Offensive chaos was head coach Ali Hepher’s order of the day, and the winger obliged.
After being denied a five-pointer, Woodburn responded with an overlap score in the corner that headlined his performance, but a game leading 90 metres, alongside four clean breaks and three beaten defenders made for a wonderfully executed showing.
10. Callum Sheedy (Bristol)
I was doubtful that the Wales international deserved to retain his 10 jersey after being outplayed by replacement and debutant AJ MacGinty last time out, but he well and truly proved me wrong.
Positioned himself perfectly while Wasps were on the back foot for his side’s opening try, and composed his backline wisely, making a bold claim for the competitive starting fly-half slot. Eighteen of Bristol’s 23 points, as well as 100 per cent from the kicking tee demonstrates how Bears could have struggled had Sheedy not been on the pitch.
Many underplay the impact of kickers, but ultimately someone has to have the balls to slot it between the posts, and Sheedy did that perfectly on Saturday, even adding a drop goal to his total.
9. Harry Randall (Bristol)
Appears to have had the England No9 shirt ripped off his back in broad daylight, but with performances like this the scrum-half is undeniable.
Provided quick ball all afternoon for the back line, enabling Sheedy’s score by keeping up with Rich Lane’s break, and his danger around the fringes remains a force to be reckoned with.
This is perhaps the most important season of Randall’s career thus far if he hopes to feature in Eddie Jones’ world cup squad this year; more of this and he’ll manage it.
1. Alec Hepburn (Exeter)
Set a new record with a frankly absurd 25 carries – the most by any prop in the Premiership since Opta began recording data in 2008, beating his own previous record of 23.
It’s great to see the big men affectively transition into attacking focal points as first receivers, and Hepburn (along with Ellis Genge) have certainly demonstrated that props have developed into far more versatile players in recent years, going from short range hole punchers to effective handlers.
An astounding 64 minutes, bravo.
2. Will Capon (Bristol)
Last week’s match-winner followed up his heroics with a strong showing at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
A great set-piece performance from the hooker, who hit his targets and ensured the Bristol lineout was one to be reckoned with. 14 tackles isn’t a bad total either. He's staking his claim for more minutes in Harry Thacker’s absence.
3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol)
Pips Patrick Schickerling to the spot with a better rounded effort from England’s first-choice tighthead.
Quite honestly obliterated the Wasps scrum, which was ultimately what broke the camel’s back with the host’s making handling errors with seemingly every single given opportunity.
David Flatman is an authority on scrummaging technique, and he seemed impressed.
4. Jonny Gray (Exeter)
It was tricky to choose between either of the Exeter locks, with Jack Dunne playing well on Sunday, but Jonny Gray just edges it.
The Scotland international is a defensive warrior, with no misses on his way to 11 tackles. The figure is made even more impressive when you consider Ollie Lawrence’s antics; bumping players off left, right and centre all game.
A stalwart, I don’t think there’s any club side in the world that wouldn’t start Gray given the opportunity.
5. Chris Vui (Bristol)
Another defensive titan for Bristol, with 21 Wasps floored by the Samoa international. A gritty performance from a gritty player, leaving everything on the pitch for his side.
Forming a formidable engine-room pairing with club talisman Joe Joyce, and making the game look as easy as taking candy from a baby.
6. Sam Jeffries (Bristol)
An ironman performance from my West Country player of the week. The back rower led the way for Bristol in both defence and attack, putting in the greatest performance of his career.
Topped the tackling charts with a Herculean 23, gained a forward-leading 21 metres with the ball in hand and even secured a couple of turnovers in a performance with no visible gap.
To see the England hopeful injure his hamstring with just a minute to go on the clock was, as Pat Lam put it, heart-breaking; here’s hoping he’s back on the field with showings like these sooner rather than later.
7. Jake Heenan (Bristol)
Top job from the New Zealander who has taken up the burden of captaincy in Steven Luatua’s absence terrifically.
14 tackles with no misses is a mighty total for the day, and after a couple of solid showings Heenan is becoming a key figure for Bristol.
8. Richard Capstick (Exeter)
I must admit it’s very difficult to deny Magnus Bradbury for the second week running (which no doubt keeps him awake at night), but Richard Capstick was irrefutable this week.
Powering past adversaries in the right corner for a brace of stellar tries grabbed the headlines, but a phenomenal collection of carries as well as reaching double figures (14) in tackles to lead Exeter’s defensive effort earned the 22-year-old a BT Sport man of the match award at Sixways, and (more importantly) a slot in my team of the week.
