Leicester are optimistic that Michael Cheika will lead them back to success, and their fortunes are already showing signs of improvement. With time running out and the visitors reduced to 14 men after the dismissal of Solomone Kata, it appeared that Exeter had secured a hard-fought victory. However, a last-minute driving maul from the Tigers sealed the win for Wales flanker Tommy Reffell.
The former Wallaby head coach was thrilled with his team's resilience, especially considering they were trailing 14-3 with just 17 minutes remaining. While the Tigers are far from perfect, their lineout and maul strategies kept them in the game, and Exeter paid dearly for not finishing off their opponents when they had the chance.
As the final moments approached, it seemed certain that second-half tries from Greg Fisilau and Tom Cairns would maintain Exeter's perfect home record on the opening weekend of the Premiership campaign. Instead, they carelessly lost possession in their opponents' half, leaving themselves vulnerable to a decisive counterattack.
Rob Baxter, Exeter's director of rugby, expressed his frustration, calling the result 'hugely disappointing' and 'a slap in the face,' criticizing his team's 'very odd' game management at crucial moments. Cheika, on the other hand, was much more positive, emphasizing the importance of playing the long game and the role of defense in preventing losses.
Cheika also honored flanker Olly Cracknell, whose father passed away earlier in the week, and hopes his team's resilience can be sustained. Nicky Smith and Ollie Chessum also delivered strong performances, despite Chessum being floored by a late clash of heads.
Exeter, however, lacked precision and clinical execution, with some tactical decisions falling short of ideal. They also faced a series of early setbacks, including injuries to Ben Hammersley, Ethan Roots, and Niall Armstrong.
Despite these challenges, Exeter had several opportunities to secure the win, but their profligacy continued. A scoreless first half seemed inevitable until Jamie Shillcock's last-minute drop-goal gave Tigers an unexpected lead. Exeter responded with tries from Fisilau and Cairns, but the real drama unfolded in the final moments, with Reffell and Cheika emerging victorious.
Baxter was left to address his team, expressing his disappointment and questioning their maturity in the final 20 minutes. He acknowledged that they had invited Leicester back into the game, a scenario that should have been avoided.
