Exeter 20-22 Saracens: Eddie Jones is left guessing on boot camp casualties

This was a scrap that left English rugby with more casualties than the Conservative government. 

A ding-dong in the West Country that could strip Eddie Jones of two of his leaders for the start of the autumn internationals. It was a game where Henry Slade almost kicked Exeter to a late victory but their lead lasted long enough to do Westminster proud.

Owen Farrell was knocked out in the second half after colliding with Joe Simmonds’s knee. He struggled to return to his feet and now faces at least 12 days out, making him a doubt for England’s opening Test against Argentina on November 6.

Three medics immediately came to the No10’s assistance before he returned from the medical room to watch Alex Goode kick the winning points for Saracens in the final play.

Owen Farrell lays injured during the match between Exeter Chiefs and Saracens

‘Owen’s with the doctors now,’ confirmed Saracens coach Mark McCall, an hour after the final whistle. 

‘Obviously he went off for an HIA and normal procedure is a 12-day stand down. Hopefully it will allow him enough time to play in the first Test. I guess [whether he travels to Jersey on Sunday] will depend if he is feeling OK, I am sure Eddie would be keen to get him there.’

Hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie also failed to go the distance. Exeter coach Ali Hepher admitted his skipper could not play on but was unable to offer any further updates on the extent of the injury.

Cowan-Dickie cut a frustrated figure when he withdrew at half-time, after his team failed to convert their early pressure.

Farrell was sin-binned after five minutes for a trip on Jack Nowell but Saracens won key turnovers on their own try line. They were galvanised by their defensive stand and, after an early penalty from Slade, took the lead when Theo McFarland finished off a slick attacking play.

Next up, Mako Vunipola was sin-binned for collapsing a maul. Exeter were awarded a penalty try but again failed to build on their numerical advantage. They gave away a penalty at the ruck, allowing Elliot Daly to level the score at 10-all with a long-range kick before half time.

Hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie also failed to last the full match due to an injury 

When Exeter No 10 Harvey Skinner was sin-binned early in the second half, Saracens began to march towards their sixth straight victory this season. Farrell kicked two more penalties before walking off groggily and Daly extended the lead by landing the longest kick of the season.

But late twists are commonplace in this league and Exeter began to creep back. Jacques Vermuelen scored a try after 13 bruising phases. Days after being snubbed by England, Slade added the conversion before confidently stepping up to snatch the lead with a penalty in the 76th minute.

‘Henry had no doubts stepping up,’ said Hepher. ‘It’s a difficult call when you’ve got three or four guys who can kick fantastically well. He’s been an 80 per cent kicker his whole career but we’ve had Gareth Steenson and Joe Simmonds.

‘I had all the confidence in the world that he’d knock that kick over. He’s already made some good strides in training to get back to his best. We were in the fight until the end. These games come down to tight margins and we’ve just got to get more clinical.’

Slade was on track for the man-of-the-match award but Saracens struck back to win it right at the death. With two seconds left on the clock, their replacement front-row dug in and Patrick Schickerling was penalised at the scrum.

And veteran Goode nervelessly stepped up, blanking out the boos to win the game with his first kick of the season.

‘Whether we deserved to win I am not sure but we showed some great fighting qualities,’ said McCall, whose unbeaten side hold a five-point lead over Sale at the Premiership summit.

‘We were down to 14 men twice and I liked how we went about that. It tells you a lot about Alex Goode that he was prepared to take the responsibility on his shoulders.’