Gloucester claimed their fourth win out of five Premiership games on Friday as they showed their class to beat Exeter Chiefs 38-22 at Kingsholm.
A six-try showing saw Louis Rees-Zammit, Santiago Carreras, Santiago Socino, Charlie Chapman, Ruan Ackermann and Lewis Ludlow all claim scores.
Adam Hastings converted four of those tries but it was Rees-Zammit who was the story as he warmed up nicely for Wales’ Autumn Nations Series games.
For Exeter Chiefs this is their third defeat as Jack Maunder, Ruben van Heerden and Josh Hodge scored their tries, Harvey Skinner kicking seven points.
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Gloucester showed four changes following last week’s narrow win against London Irish, including call-ups for prop Harry Elrington, lock Cam Jordan and number eight Ben Morgan.
Australia international prop Scott Sio made his full Exeter debut, while flanker Lewis Pearson also started, but England training camp commitments ruled out Jack Nowell, Henry Slade, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Sam Simmonds.
Skinner kicked Exeter into a second-minute lead, but his error just three minutes later led to an opening Gloucester try.
The fly-half’s kick on halfway was charged down by Socino, Chapman booted the ball on and Rees-Zammit gathered before finishing brilliantly.
Hastings’ conversion made it 7-3, and Exeter were under sustained early pressure as the home side strived to continue their strong recent form.
England head coach Eddie Jones looked on as the scoring continued at a rapid pace, with Chiefs responding through a trademark driven lineout that Maunder finished off and Skinner converted.
Exeter were soon stretched again as Rees-Zammit surged clear in pursuit of his own kick, but he was denied just inches short of the line following brilliant defensive work by Chiefs wing Olly Woodburn.
But it was only a temporary reprieve as possession was quickly moved wide to allow Carreras an unopposed run-in.
Gloucester needed to consolidate their position after going back in front, yet they were undone within three minutes after Exeter’s forwards piled on pressure and Van Heerden crossed from close range.
Skinner’s conversion opened up a five-point advantage, yet the game’s rollercoaster nature continued as the lead changed hands for a fifth time in 34 minutes when Socino rounded off a driving maul and Hastings converted.
It gave Gloucester a 19-17 interval advantage following an intense opening 40 minutes that delivered five tries.
Gloucester extended their lead just two minutes into the second period after Carreras made a blistering outside break, before finding Chapman through an exquisite inside pass, with Hastings converting.
Exeter, their cause not helped by Skinner’s first-half departure through injury, struggled to cope with Gloucester’s intensity in the third quarter.
The man of the moment! 🤩
Player of the Match Louis Rees-Zammit reacts after his exceptional display against Exeter 🥇#GallagherPrem pic.twitter.com/9fJnuWebQa
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) October 28, 2022
And Gloucester were rewarded with a fifth try, Ackermann the beneficiary this time of more magnificent work by the home pack.
Gloucester substitute Albert Tuisue was yellow-carded 16 minutes from time as Hodge’s try gave Exeter a glimmer of hope, but Chiefs centre Ian Whitten also saw yellow following head on head contact with Gloucester’s Chris Harris.
Gloucester comfortably closed out the contest, with Ludlow adding try number six, and a sold-out Kingsholm roared its approval as their resurgence under Skivington continued.
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