Exeter’s loss in Gloucestershire on Sunday was one for the history books. The team suffered their heaviest defeat in the top division, as Gloucester put on an unstoppable performance, scoring 13 tries and leaving Exeter with little to show for their efforts. The final score would have been even more embarrassing had Gloucester not missed several conversions. From the start, it was clear Exeter’s previous largest margin of defeat—43 points—was going to be surpassed.
The crowd at Kingsholm didn’t hold back their laughter, adding to Exeter’s humiliation. Club chairman Tony Rowe was visibly upset after the match and could be seen addressing the team in the away dressing room. Exeter’s head coach, Rob Hunter, who had been part of the coaching team behind Exeter’s European and domestic success five years ago, admitted that this was “his worst day as a coach.”
Hunter didn’t shy away from holding his team accountable: “It’s in no way acceptable for us to perform like that. Everyone’s expectations should be way higher than that. We gifted them momentum at almost every opportunity,” he said.
Although Gloucester’s playoff hopes were dented by a recent loss to Saracens, the team’s dominant performance on Sunday showcased their strength. With three games left—against Harlequins, Newcastle, and Northampton—Gloucester sits just one point behind fourth-place Bristol and two points ahead of sixth-place Saracens.
Several players shone in the victory, including Wales scrum-half Tomos Williams, and the lethal combination of Jack Singleton and Seb Atkinson, who scored five tries between them. England head coach Steve Borthwick would have also been paying attention to the performances of Seb Blake, Jack Clement, Lewis Ludlow, and Afolabi Fasogbon—all of whom contributed to Gloucester’s vibrant display.
For Exeter, nothing went right. Despite having a good training week, they were completely overrun in the first half. Gloucester’s attack, powered by some dazzling offloads and well-timed mauls, had Exeter on the back foot early on. By the 30-minute mark, Exeter trailed 36-0, with tries from Clement, Blake, Ludlow, Harris, Atkinson, and Anscombe.
Exeter managed to get on the scoreboard through Josh Hodge, but they were unable to cope with Gloucester’s slick handling and fast-paced play. A stunning 30-yard pass from Williams to Jake Morris, followed by a try from Santiago Carreras, highlighted Gloucester’s dominance.
The second half was much of the same, with further tries from Jamal Ford-Robinson, Christian Wade, and Singleton, who completed a hat-trick in just 12 minutes. Exeter’s defense, particularly in the second half, disintegrated, and even fresh legs off the bench couldn’t stem the tide.
Hunter acknowledged that the defeat would be difficult to move past, saying, “Good vibes are not enough. We definitely went a little bit missing.” With no match next week, Exeter will have some time to reflect on the brutal loss before returning to action.
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