Yahoo Sports Exeter Chiefs crowned champions of England after extra time in the most nailbiting match in Premiership history
Appropriately it was left to Gareth Steenson, one of just three survivors from the Exeter Chiefs squad that defied the odds to win promotion from the Championship seven years ago, to kick the decisive points that turned their Premiership dream into a glorious reality at Twickenham.
It was just two minutes from the end of the second period of extra time that the Exeter captain held his nerve to land the winning penalty, having already snatched victory from Wasps’ grasp just 90 seconds from the end of normal time.
Steenson is one of the most accurate place-kickers in the game, but in that moment the Ulsterman’s thoughts turned to his late father John, who passed away in 2007.
It was his father’s death that had prompted Steenson to leave Cornish Pirates that year to join Exeter so he could be close to the airport to fly back to Northern Ireland to be with his family.
“If I am honest, I said a prayer to my old man upstairs and he helped me with my last kick I think,” said the 33 year-old.
“To be standing here from where we were seven years ago and now after last year’s disappointment here we are. It’s absolutely amazing. I actually can’t take it in.
“I was just hoping that we’d get a chance. We were on the line and hoping that we’d get the try so it wouldn’t come down to me kicking a goal. I was just thinking back to when I was a kid and trying to kick it in a straight line.
“We didn’t have a great start to the year and it’s unbelievable. We said at Christmas we really had to buck up our ideas.”
It was just the second time in the history of the competition that the final has required extra time and in the process Steenson inflicted the most agonising heartbreak on Wasps, who must have felt their were on course for their first title since 2008 after a purple patch of 17 points either side of the interval dramatically altered the momentum of this utterly-compelling contest.
Wasps had finished top of the regular season for the first time in their history, playing a dazzling brand of rugby along the way.
Yet few would deny Exeter were worthy of their triumph, crowned champions of England for the first time. They had to win it the hard way, first recovering from losing four of their first seven Premiership games before overcoming European champions Saracens in the semi-finals last weekend.
Moments before Steenson’s third and final penalty, Exeter thought they had scored a try after pounding the Wasps defence through 34 phases, but after referee JP Doyle had consulted the television match official, he ruled that Sam Simmonds had been held up over the line.
Exeter, though, had held the edge in the scrum all afternoon and with Wasps forced to reshuffle their front row because of injuries, the second engagement finished in a penalty when Matt Mullan was penalised for collapsing.
At the final whistle the Wasps players fell to the ground with the equal weight of exhaustion and disappointment, but up in the stands Tony Rowe, the owner of Exeter, whose investment and management acumen, in partnership with the coaching guile of Rob Baxter, set Exeter on this remarkable journey to the summit of the English game, was smothered with emotionally-charged bear hugs.
The disappointment of last year’s final defeat against Saracens replaced with unbridled joy.
“We had a seven-year plan and we're right on time,” said Rowe. “We're the best in England and now we want to be the best in Europe. I'll be driving back to Devon with a bottle of champagne in the back tonight.”
Young, in contrast, was left to cope with the feeling of seeing a victory slip away with fewer than 90 seconds on the clock.
“I am trying not to be too disappointed because I think we have had a fantastic season,” said Young. “I think we showed some real quality today but also showed we are a real work in progress. On occasions we make things hard for ourselves but certainly the spirit and commitment was there today. But this hurts. There was not much I could say to the players.”
It is easy to see why Young struggled for words. It was a contest that looked like it had been won many times over only for Wasps to find themselves on the wrong side of the line.
Baxter had demanded a strong start from his side, following their timid offering against Saracens last season, and his players this time did not let him down.
Even with errors littering the play, it was Exeter that appeared to win all the key collisions, enabling them to build a momentum that would yield two tries by Jack Nowell and Phil Dollman, the 32 year-old who was this week called into the Wales squad for the first time.
Wasps had flashes of brilliance, but without any substance and made too many mistakes - a miss-timed pass by Danny Cipriani to Christian Wade, leading to an interception by Steenson, typified Wasps’ nervousness and lack of precision.
At 14-3 down heading into the final minute of the first half, Exeter were in control but Wasps are too good a side not to react and their response, when it came, was breathtaking.
The first try involved a break-out involving Cipriani and Dan Robson before Jimmy Gopperth touched down. And the momentum continued to swing away from Baxter’s side when Elliot Daly scored from a chip and chase by Wade.
Gopperth continued to turn the screw with another penalty to extend Wasps’ lead to six points. Their own fairytale ending, having faced down liquidation five years ago, was on course.
Yet, ultimately, Exeter had more left in the tank and were able to up their intensity in the final moments of full-time and, critically, the second half of extra time. And Steenson’s trusty right boot did the rest.
Scoring sequence 5-0, Nowell try, 7-0, Steenson con; 7-3 Gopperth pen; 12-3 Dollman try, 14-3 Steenson con; 14-8, Gopperth try, 14-10, Gopperth con; 14-15, Daly try 14-17, Goppeth con; 14-20, Gopperth pen; 17-20 Steenson pen; 20-20, Steenson pen. 23-20 Steenson pen.
Wasps collect their runners-up medals
Match reaction
Wasps captain Joe Launchbury...
"That was agony but it's what cup finals are all about. There ws no lack of effort or desire and we performed with character, but we came up short and we will learn from it.
"We felt the longer it went on in normal time we would win but we slipped up at the last."
Match reaction
Exeter fly-half Gareth Steenson...
"I have had the worst week of nerves, but now I can have a proper meal for the first time in two weeks.
"This is huge of the club and area. And for the people who have been following us for years and years. I never thought I would see days like this. It's going to be an interesting three or four days in Devon, that's for sure."
Match reaction
Man-of-the-match Don Armand...
"I was on the edge of tears there. We have practiced for that scenario and I'm lost for words, I can't believe it.
"Wasps have taken us the closest we have come but we believe in ourselves and credit to Wasps. 90 seconds was the difference between winning and losing that game.
"The competitive nature of this team means we never want to lose."
Greatest season ever
What a match, what a finish! Exeter have been crowned champions for the first time in their 146-year history. Rob Baxter is embracing his family in the stands. He could even be crying. An amazing, amazing, amazing day for Exeter. This has been, by far, the most compelling Aviva Premiership season we have ever had.
EXETER CROWNED CHAMPIONS OF ENGLAND
Final score Wasps 20 Exeter Chiefs 23
ET 98 min
Exeter will now try to ride the clock down, zig-zagging from each side. They cannot give away a penalty now, but two minutes is a long time to run the clock down under this pressure.
ET 97 min PENALTY - Steenson (Wasps 20 Exeter 23)
The Chiefs fly-half slots the ball home, but there are still two minutes to play.
ET 96 min
Yet another re-set. And now Mullan has gone down. If he goes off we will have uncontested scrums. He looks fine, though. Wasps have two subs left but aren't using them is case it goes to penalties. They want Gopperth, Cipriani and Daly on the pitch... and Chiefs have a penalty as Wasps are penalised for bringing down the scrum.
ET 95 min
The scrum has to be re-set three times as referee Doyle says it's unstable.
ET 94 min
The TMO says he hasn't seen the ball grounded so that's a scrum to Exeter. One shot, though, suggested it had been. Have Wasps just got away with a massive let-off?
ET 93 min
Nowell arcs round the Wasps defence to make good yards. Armand makes another coupe of metres, then Waldrom. Steenson is in the pocket but still the forwards take the ball on. They're a metre away! Exeter drive forward, they think they've over the line but the referee is having to go upstairs to the TMO. He asks "Try, yes or no?" Has McIntyre got his body under the ball? Replays look inconclusive. No shot shows the ball grounded. Or does it?
ET 91 min
It's Exeter dominating possession and players are noticeably taking more and more time to get back to their feet from the breakdowns. Nowell with a mini break raises the volume level of Twickenham still further before he is hauled down. What depths these players are digging to.
ET HALF-TIME (Wasps 20 Exeter 20)
What a peach of a kick from Cipriani - it was Slade-esque - to put Wasps within six metres of the Exeter try line. But a comedy of errors from both teams - offloads, knock-ons... it's all going on and that's the end of the first period of extra time.
ET 87 min
Exeter's counter-ruck is making it difficult for Wasps to get any sort of quick ball. Nowell, surging down the left flank, tries to get the ball away to Campagnaro but Wade is positioned to cut out the pass.
ET 85 min
Exeter take the ball forward, going through phase after phase with Lees producing a lovely pop ball to Armand... and it's been turned over! Great play from Hughes who gets down to the ball first.
ET 83 min
McIntyre will play tighthead, Mullan loosehead. They have a penalty and Steenson kicks for touch rather than the posts. The line-out is clean and the attacking platform there.
ET 82 min
Moore is down again with that neck/shoulder injury. Because it's an injury, Mullan is coming on as replacement. The thing is, he's a loosehead not a tighthead.
ET 81 min
We have 10 minutes each way and if it's still level, a penalty competition. Hughes takes the ball into contact on the halfway line before Launchbury and Haskell make hard yards. McIntyre sets a platform, but they're not really going anywhere and Myall knocks on.
Wasps still have two subs to play - Leiua and Halai - while Exeter have emptied their bench.
One final push
For only the second time in Aviva Premiership history we have extra time. Nothing separated them in the Premiership table and it's still all square now.
FULL-TIME Wasps 20 Exeter 20
We have extra time! After 80 pulsating minutes, there is nothing to separate theses two teams. But there are a lot of very tired bodies out there.
79 min PENALTY - Steenson (Wasps 20 Exeter 20)
The scrum is ugly but Simpson passes back to Daly, who kicks upfield but it doesn't find touch and Exeter can once again build an attacking platform. The referee shouts "leave it" at the ruck, but Hughes doesn't and is penalised. That's a penalty to Exeter right in front of the posts and a guaranteed three points.
77 min
This has been the Chiefs hammering at Wasps' door, non-stop, for the last 10 minutes. But Campagnaro has lost the ball and that's a Wasps scrum inside their own 22 with barely three minutes to go.
75 min
Some of Wasps' front five are really blowing, especially Moore. If Exeter can match up Nowell with the prop the Chiefs could be away. Woodburn sprints down the right flank with Simpson chasing and... what a play by the Wasps scrum-half as he sticks an arm out and blocks a try-saving pass.
74 min
Waldrom offloads to Nowell who tries to offload to... nobody... Gopperth rips the ball away and Hughes claims. What a player Gopperth is!
72 min
Wasps win the scrum! Thompson snaffles the ball and Gopperth boots clear but it doesn't find touch and Woodburn runs the ball back.
71 min
Wasps manage to gain parity at the scum and Haskell races round to tackle Waldrom at the base, slowing play down. Exeter take the ball forward, they are camped on the Wasps line but cannot get the ball over it as Wasps attempt the choke tackle. Another scrum to Exeter.
70 min
The noise levels inside Twickenham are incredible. Both sets of fans cry "puuuuuuusssshhhhh" as both sets of forwards pack down five metres from the Wasps try line. We are now onto our third re-set.
69 min
Moore is down again receiving treatment on his neck. Exeter will not want the Wasps prop to come off. They want contested scrums because they want to take the scrum from this penalty.
68 min
Exeter are five metres from the Wasps' try line. They go route one. Armand pushes forward but is tackled by Haskell. Parling takes it on. Now the ball is spread wide to Nowell but Le Roux makes the tackle. He was offside, though, and the play is brought back. That was 34 phases of controlled play from the Chiefs.
65 min
Slade is acting as that extra option in midfield, very much as Brown does for England, and it's helping Exeter commit the Wasps defence and open up space out wide. Hughes puts the big hit on Steenson but the Chiefs fly-half is able to ride it. Exeter are making Wasps make tackle after tackle, fatiguing their opponents.
63 min PENALTY - Steenson (Wasps 20 Exeter 17)
Exeter playing up the middle through the big men, Waldrom, Parling and Armand. Parling loses the ball in the tackle... but it's done illegally and Exeter have a penalty. Steenson slots it over and there are now just three points in this game.
60 min
Concern for Wasps prop Moore, who might have picked up a neck injury. If he comes off it'll be uncontested scrums as he has already replaced Swainston. Looks like he will be OK, though.
58 min
Gopperth is becoming increasingly influential, particularly with ball in hand and Simpson, on for Robson, darts around the base of a scrum to make good yards before offloading to the Kiwi centre who runs direct into contact.
57 min
Wasps penalised for not releasing - but once again Exeter fail to find touch as Le Roux fields and boots the ball back from whence it came. That's twice now that Exeter have wasted potentially-good field position.
55 min
This restart is crucial for Exeter and they make a stupid mistake as Woodburn tackles Gopperth in the air enabling Wasps to clear and relieve the pressure.
53 min PENALTY - Gopperth (Wasps 20 Exeter 14)
End-to-end rugby as Wasps attack from near their own try line. Cipriani sends a huge pass wide to Daly who feeds Gopperth and the Kiwi is away, handing off Waldrom, jinking and jiving and surging beyond the half-way line as Exeter drop off. And Wasps get the penalty!
49 min
Exeter changing their front row en massse as Moon, Williams and Cowan-Dickie come off.
48 min
Slade has an opportunity to kick for touch in exactly the same position as that incredible touchfinder he had against Saracens, but this time it goes the other side of the flag. Fine margins.
46 min
What a run by Le Roux! Robson feeds Ciprani who feeds Le Roux and the South African passes basketball-style in the tackle to Bassett but Wasps run out of room near the touchline.
45 min
Dollman is still limping and is substituted, as Slade runs on. Let's hope this isn't an injury that takes him out of the Wales squad for their summer tour.
43 min TRY - Daly (Wasps 17 Exeter 14)
Exeter look to take the hard route, making hard yard after hard yard, but the ball is turned over as Hughes tackles Steenson, wrestles the ball away and charges through Townsend - it takes five defenders to haul him down. The ball is spread wide to Wade and full-back Dollman is down injured further up the field. Wade kicks forward to chase, it bounces unkindly for the winger but right into the hands of Daly following up and he touches down. Gopperth converts.
40 min
Exeter get us underway in the second period and Wasps look to play their way out of their own 22 before Cipriani kicks forward and out at the half-way line.
HALF-TIME (Wasps 10 Exeter Chiefs 14)
What a game this is! Twickenham is bathed in sunshine and these two teams are serving up a treat, with some fantastic offloading and running rugby. Exeter deserve to be ahead, and have been the dominant team (just), but that Gopperth try at the end of the first half means Wasps have the momentum.
40 min TRY - Gopperth (Wasps 10 Exeter 14)
They left it to the brink of the half-time oranges but Wasps are back in this game as Ciprani plays a little popped inside ball to Taylor who sprints through the smallest of gaps, surges forward before passing to his right to Robson who stands up his man before passing left to Gopperth for a simple run-in. Gopperth converts.
38 min
Wasps spread the ball wide to the left for Bassett who is tackled high by Whitten around halfway and Cipriani boots to touch for the line-out... but it all goes wrong at the set-piece and Exeter claim the ball.
35 min
Poor from Daly as both teams play aerial ping-pong and it's the Wasps centre who makes the first mistake after booting out on the full.
34 min
Wave after wave of Wasps attack pounds the Exeter defensive line 10 metres out. But the ball is lost forward... and Townsend is away... he sprints up the field before hoofing forward into empty space for Nowell to chase after, but Cipriani is back to claim the ball and hold on until his team-mates can help him out.
31 min
So close for Wasps as, 10 metres out, Daly dinks the ball forward for Le Roux to run onto but he is bundled into touch near the corner flag.
30 min
Potential try-saving takcle by Armand on Hughes who picks and goes before Cowan-Dickie gets his body over the ball to slow the play down. Great play!
27 min TRY - Dollman (Wasps 3 Exeter 14)
Exeter spread the ball wide, play a loop pass behind the dummy runner enabling Devoto to straighten and charge through the gap before taking the ball into contact, offloading out of the back of his hand to Dollman who uses his physicality to reach for the line. Again, Steenson converts.
26 min
Dominant Exeter scrum and Wasps are pinged as Moon and Williams force the men in black back, enabling Steenson to kick for touch and set up a promising line-out position.
Brilliant play from Taylor, though, as he brings down Devoto, releases, bounces back to his feet and gets his mitts on the ball. Referee blows his whistle and awards a scrum to Exeter but it should have been a penalty to Wasps.
24 min
Looks like Hughes has passed his HIA and is about to come back on.
23 min
Wasps are not being given any breathing space by Exeter's blitz defence but they are being given plenty of ball at the ruck with the Chiefs not competing.
21 min
Plenty of nerves out in the middle as the normally-assured Gopperth takes his eyes off the ball and knocks on, gifting a scrum to Exeter.
20 min
Mistake by Exeter scrum-half Townsend as he receives the ball from a scrum but then takes the ball back behind the 22 himself before box-kicking and hitting out on the full, meaning Wasps have a line-out back where the kick was taken and a great platform to attack.
17 min PENALTY - Gopperth (Wasps 3 Exeter 7)
Wasps cut the Exeter defence to ribbons as first Le Roux , then Gopperth, then Bassett, then Robson straighten on to pop-passes and only a brave hit by Steenson stems the tide. Hughes claims and uses his strength to keep the move going, but the referee pings and that's a penalty to Wasps that Gopperth converts in front of the posts.
Slightly concerning for Wasps, Hughes is being brought off and Thompson comes on.
13 min TRY - Nowell (Wasps 0 Exeter 7)
From the line-out, Exeter claim the ball, Young is dragged out of position by Cowan-Dickie and Nowell takes the ball at pace on a slanting run through a massive gap and has the pace to charge for the line to score. Steenson converts.
12 min
Dollman releases Wooodburn and space is opening up down the left wing as Wasps' defence backtracks. Woodburn fends off Wade but because of the wing's positioning is unable to pass to his left and is brought down well by Le Roux.
9 min
Daly ghosts through a gap up the middle and passes inside to the onrushing Gopperth before the centre is hauled down. Young and Wade and screaming for the ball but quick ball is not forthcoming and Exeter are able to clear. As we can expect, the Chiefs have had most of the ball but Wasps look more dangerous with it.
7 min
Woodburn looks to make hard yards up the middle and offloads to Steenson, but Hughes reads it and clatters into the Chiefs fly-half. Thumping tackle and the ball is turned over... Wasps can counter-attack as the ball is spread wide, but Cipriani decides to put ball to foot and kicks out on the full. Poor choice and Le Roux vents his frustration.
5 min
Again Parling claims from the line-out but Parling comes down awkwardly and Hughes is able to hold him up and Wasps this time earn the penalty. First feather in the cap goes to Wasps defence.
4 min
First scrum and first blood to Exeter as Wasps are pinged with Swainston going to the floor. The Chiefs kick for touch and, from the line-out, Parling claims and Exeter try to get the shove on. The ref pings for a penalty... and Exeter go for touch again.
2 min
Lovely play from Wasps as, on the cut-back play, Launchbury takes the ball into contact and offloads out of the back of his hand to Haskell, but the flanker is unable to claim shoulder high.
1 min
And we're off. Cipriani gets us underway and Armand claims to establish the Chiefs a platform. First test for Le Roux as the ball is punted high but the South African claims well.
First, a minute silence
Calm before the storm
Wasps pumping themselves up in the changing room...
Wasps v Exeter - talking points
KICKING GAME
In the last meeting of the teams, both Wasps' Jimmy Gopperth and Exeter's Gareth Steenson recorded 100 per cent conversion rates in a 35-35 draw. Player of the year Gopperth is the Premiership's top points scorer this season but Steenson has an impressive 158 points to his name and their accuracy could prove the difference between glory and heartbreak at Twickenham.. The Chiefs can also call on fly-half Henry Slade whose pinpoint 60-metre touch-finder set up the winning try in the semi-final against Saracens.
BATTLE OF THE BACKS
Wasps and Exeter both have a British and Irish Lions star in their back line for this heavyweight clash. Wasps' Elliot Daly and Exeter's Jack Nowell will want to avoid injury ahead of the tour of New Zealand but expect them to launch everything in their lockers in the pursuit of silverware. The most clinical finishers on each side have been Exeter's James Short and Wasps' Christian Wade, who respectively have plundered 14 and 19 tries across all competitions this season.
WORRY FOR WASPS AT LINE-OUTS
To win the final, Wasps may need to step up their performance in the line-out. In the semi-final victory against Leicester, they lost three of their own line-outs in the last 10 minutes, and a repeat of that against Exeter could be punished severely by a team who have racked up the most bonus-point wins throughout the season. Hooker Ashley Johnson will be ready to improve his accuracy while captain Joe Launchbury and recent Lions call-up James Haskell need to dominate in this key area.
WILL KURTLEY BEALE'S ABSENCE HURT WASPS?
The Australian full-back was ruled out of the final on the eve of the match, a major setback for Wasps. He returns to his native country this summer and misses the chance to leave one last great memory. The 28-year-old was forced off with a hamstring injury in the semi-final win over Leicester. South African Willie Le Roux is a handy deputy, but there is no doubt Beale could have lit up the final. Since his return from injury in December, Beale had stormed the Premiership. Exeter must be quietly delighted he misses out.
PLAYING THE LONG GAME
Exeter have played six times at Twickenham and have yet to come out with a win. They have never lifted the biggest prize in English rugby while Wasps are searching for their seventh league title. Exeter lost 28-20 to Saracens in last year's final, but overcame the same opposition in this year's dramatic semi-final. Apart from the Rugby Sevens Series title in 2016, Wasps have gone without a major trophy for nine years.
Danny the champion of the world
Danny Cipriani watched Wasps' 26-16 Premiership final triumph over Leicester Tigers from the stands nine years ago having broken his leg just 13 days earlier, in a semi-final win over Bath.
Fast forward to 2017 and the 29 year-old is itching to cement Wasps' return to the English game's summit.
"That was the first time I was allowed out of hospital. I knew we had a good game plan that day to go and win and it was fun to watch the boys go and do it. My ankle was throbbing throughout the whole 80 minutes and I was watching the whole game on pain-killers!
"It was great to win it because we'd had a pretty good year that year, so it was nice to just finish it off; round it off with a win.
"Watching my mate Dom Waldouck go and win; that was the best for me. Lol (Lawrence Dallaglio) and Josh (Lewsey) and that lot made sure I came on to the pitch and they were carrying me round the field.
"They brought the trophy to me and there was a picture of me and Dom with it. It was just a nice day really.
"Before that we had won the Heineken Cup (in 2007) so I just thought every year was going to be like that really. But it's been a long time since then."
Unstoppable force v immoveable object
When these two clubs last met in February, a thrilling tussle ended 35-35, underlining how tough the final is to predict.
Wasps are seeking their first league title since 2008, while Exeter have never won it in their 146-year history.
Exeter coach Rob Baxter...
"The big factor will be the quality that we play at, and that is all you can do as a coach.
"I am sure (Wasps rugby director) Dai Young will be doing the same and he will be telling his team it is about the qualities that they show and the things they do on the day that will be important.
"It will be a very good final, and when you look at the form of the two sides, they were level on points at the end of the season and it couldn't be tighter coming through the league stage.
"We are the two highest try-scorers and points-scorers in the league and we are both on good form, so if you talk about potentially good games, then it has everything.
"Wasps aren't there by chance. They have had a very good season and beaten some very good teams to get there and come through some emotional battles as well, and they will be well set for the final, so it is going to be a fantastic challenge for us, but that is what finals are about."
