Exeter Chiefs player ratings from Bristol Bears defeat - 'A phenomenon'

Exeter Chiefs were beaten 40-35 by Bristol Bears at Sandy Park on Saturday in Round Four of the 2024/24 Gallagher Premiership

Exeter Chiefs threw away a 20-point lead with 15 minutes left to play at Sandy Park to go down 40-35 to Bristol Bears on Saturday.

The Bears looked dead and buried as Chiefs wingers Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Paul Brown-Bampoe scored two tries apiece to put second-from-bottom Exeter 32-12 up with 15 minutes remaining and on the verge of their first win of the season.

But a hugely costly yellow card for replacement hooker Dan Frost four minutes later, for stopping a tap penalty being taken quickly, saw Bristol score 28 points while he was off the pitch, running in four converted tries, with winger Gabriel Ibitoye getting three of them and Gabriel Oghre the other after Kieran Marmion and Joe Batley had crossed in the first half. AJ MacGinty added 10 points with the boot, converting five of the six tries scored by the Bears. Chiefs full-back Josh Hodge notched 15 points from three successful penalties and three of his four conversion attempts.

READ MORE: Bristol Bears player ratings from Exeter Chiefs win - 'In a rich vein of form'

South West rugby writer John Evely takes a closer look at the individual performances from the Exeter Chiefs players…

15. Josh Hodge - 5

The full-back only really had one chance to show his blistering speed as it was a day when the wingers shone, but he played a key role in kicking 15 points. However, his performance was soured by a terrible decision in the 77th minute to leave the blindside unguarded and go in for a hopeless counter ruck that allowed Harry Randall to escape and feed Ibitoye for his third try of the match to steal the win.

14. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso - 9

The winger was simply sensational in attack as he used his rare ability to make something out of nothing to good effect, coming off his wing regularly to pop up as a ‘scrum-half’ and it was from such a ploy that he exploded through a gap in the Bristol defence for his first try, stepping beyond Jake Woolmore at the edge of ruck and then handing off Benhard Janse van Rensburg and Steven Luatua before jetting in under the posts to touch down just before half time. His second try was a display of athleticism and sharpness as he intercepted a wide pass from MacGinty, knocking the ball up into the air and regathering it before beating Rich Lane for pace to score under the posts with a trademark dive. He really is a phenomenon.

13. Olly Woodburn - 7

The winger-cum-centre continues to shine in the 13 shirt with his footwork and speed forcing the defence to commit to him before be ships the ball to those around him. Only a great try-saving tackle stopped him scoring in the first half after he reacted quickest to a misplaced pass from Benhard Janse van Rensburg. Finished the game as captain, although considering Chiefs were in the process of hitting self-destruct that might go down as a mark against him.

12. Joe Hawkins - 7

The Welshman had his best game of the season as he chose when to pass and when to run well to bamboozle the Bristol defence at times. The centre ran some really clever lines.

11. Paul Brown-Bampoe - 8

The 22-year-old came of age as a Premiership player as he scored his first league try and then quickly added his second. The former Durham University man’s first try was all about his power and pace as he took a wide miss-pass from Skinner and backed himself to get outside Bears full-back Rich Lane, using his muscular frame to shrug off the tackle and get over the line. Brown-Bampoe’s second-half score was an archetypal winger’s try, scorching Bristol on the outside with a display of top-end speed that must put him up there with the fastest players in the Premiership. Much improved from his disappointing display against Saints.

10. Harvey Skinner - 6

The fly-half will not be looking forward to the defensive review session on Monday as he got spectacularly shown up by Ibitoye for his second try as the Bears winger stepped in and out on him to beat the Chiefs man inside the proverbial phone box. Mind you, former Premiership player Tom May on comms called the step 'undefendable.' However, as a playmaker, he had a strong outing, with Exeter’s defence looking far more deceptive. Skinner gunned a long miss-pass to Brown-Bampoe to create Chief’s first try of the game, allowing the winger to utilise his burning pace and power, and then almost set up again with a pin-point cross-field kick but the former Durham man knocked on under pressure from Ibitoye.

9. Sam Maunder - 6

The scrum-half had a relatively error-free display as he allowed Exeter to go through multiple phases to try and stress the Bristol defence.

1. Scott Sio - 7

The Wallaby almost scored a great try as he burst through the Bristol defence, but got stopped just short of the line by a great, low chop tackle from the considerably smaller Rich Lane. He remained a prominent figure in the loose, again going through a half gap thanks to some silky hands from Tusi Tuima.

2. Jack Yeandle - 6

The hooker did all his basics well with the lineout running smoothly and led the team calmly while he was on the pitch. Chiefs fell apart after he was replaced.

3. Marcus Street - 7

The tighthead held up well in the scrum with Exeter edging the setpiece battle and offered himself regularly as a runner in the congested areas of the field.

4. Rusi Tuima - 7

The big lock once again showed the handling dexterity of a magician at times to slip players through gaps and sucked in Bristol defender’s who were worried about him as a running threat. Held up over the try line by Benhard Janse van Rensburg.

5. Franco Molina - 8

The giant Argentina international lock shone on his Exeter Chiefs debut and was immediately adopted as one of their own by the Sandy Park faithful as he got a standing ovation leaving the field. Some brilliant quick hands set Brown-Bampoe away for his second try of the match. A very useful signing.

6. Jacques Vermeulen - 8

Making his first start of the season in the Premiership after suffering a badly bruised knee in the club’s final pre-season game of summer, he provided the route one option for Exeter as a ball carrier and with good success.

7. Richard Capstick - 6

The flanker worked hard to secure ball for Chiefs who built pressure by going through multiple phases.

8. Ross Vintcent - 9

The number eight was an absolute livewire all game as be buzzed around the field as a ball carrier, showing perhaps underrated strength as well to get several offloads away to keep the attack alive and stress the Bears’ defence. The Italian international’s gym work is clearly paying off as he ripped the ball off Ellis Genge in the second half to enrage the England star and crucially hand his side field position to kick to launch the attack that led to Brown-Bampoe’s second try.

Replacements:

16. Dan Frost - 2

The hooker’s decision to hold onto the ball after the referee had awarded Bristol a penalty and then kick it away - no doubt to try and stop Harry Randall taking a quick tap penalty - proved to be disastrous as he was yellow carded by Matthew Carley and the Bears mercilessly ripped 14-man Chiefs to shreds to turn a 20 point deficit into a one-point lead.

17. Will Goodrick-Clarke - 5

18. Josh Iosefa-Scott - 5

19. Jack Dunne - 5

20. Ethan Roots - 5

21. Tom Cairns - 5

22. Ben Hammersley - 5

23. Greg Fisilau - 5