Wasps 13 Exeter Chiefs 7

You have to go back some three years to note the last time Exeter Chiefs lost three Aviva Premiership fixtures on the bounce. However, Rob Baxter’s side have that statistic looming over their heads after they were undone 13-7 by play-off rivals Wasps at the Ricoh Arena.

Marcus Watson’s first half try - converted by Danny Cipriani - and two second half penalties from Jimmy Gopperth proved enough to down the defending champions in an attritional contest which was more for the purist than that of the masterpiece many had predicted pre-match.

The Chiefs, much improved from that of the previous week when they were picked off by Worcester Warriors on home soil, countered with a converted second half try from England international Luke Cowan-Dickie.

Sadly, it was not enough to save the day as the Devonians surrendered their position at the summit of the table for the first time since October.

Having suffered back-to-back defeats against Newcastle Falcons and Worcester, the Chiefs were hoping their trip to the Midlands would provide them with the perfect setting to get their Premiership campaign back on track.

Ahead of kick-off, Baxter’s side were boosted by the return of props Alec Hepburn and Tomas Francis from international duty, while Julian Salvi was brought into a re-jigged back-row. Behind, Will Chudley came in at scrum-half and Ollie Devoto was afforded his first league start since November in the visiting midfield.

Wasps, meanwhile, also had key names back in their ranks, including the prolific Jimmy Gopperth at inside centre, plus winger Marcus Watson and experienced prop Marty Moore, who took on the tight-head role in place of Jake Cooper-Wooley, who dropped to the bench.

For the full match report go to https://www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/news/wasps-13-chiefs-7