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Report: Jason’s 202* Holds England to the sword to give West Indies 1-0 lead

West Indies 289 (Hetmyer 81*, Anderson 5-46) and 415 for 6 dec (Holder 202*, Dowrich 116*) beat England 77 (Roach 5-17) and 246 (Burns 84, Chase 8-60) by 381 runs

Selection blunder leaves toothless England to hard yards in the field. Local boys: Jason Holder, Kemar Roach, Shane Dowrich and Roston Chase shine as the West Indies subjected England to yet another heavy away defeat in the first test match at the Kensington Oval, Barbados. England fans will have flashbacks to March 2018 in New Zealand as the flimsy English batting line up collapse to 77 all out in their first innings.

The main talking point of the first day was England’s decision not to pick Stuart Broad, who has been their front line seamer along with James Anderson for the past 10 years. Therefore, Sam Curran was Anderson’s new ball partner with Adil Rashid, Moeen Ali and Ben Stokes making up the five-prong attack in Bridgetown. Yet, Curran’s short stature and lack of real pace meant he failed to extract anything to trouble the Windies’ openers from a slow pitch which was promised to quicken up as the test went on. John Campbell, the debutant from Jamaica, was dismissive towards Curran, carving anything short or over-pitched to the boundary. He fell LBW, indulging in a sweep, to Moeen to give England their first wicket of 2019.

England’s second highest all-time wicket taker, Stuart Broad OBE, a surprise test exclusion

England would have been pleased with their efforts on day 1 after the final session saw them take five wickets with the second new ball. Along the way, Anderson took his 567th test wicket, meaning he and Broad had taken 1000 between them. But there was something missing in this stat… Broad was absent.

The England hierarchy’s obsession with a varied bowling attack was made to look futile as West Indies’ group of four tall, right-arm seamers had no problem knocking over the English batsmen in their first innings on day 2. Luckily for Broad, he had been given the day off and relieved of his 12th man duties. He would have been working over-time if he had been in charge of racing drinks out to the not-out batsman as England’s trusty middle-order could not propel them from a familiar situation of 35-2. England were all out for 77, losing all 10 wickets in the space of 21 overs.

It may have just been one of those days all too familiar to cricketers up and down the country; a period of play where everything seemed to go in favour of the opposition. Kemar Roach was in scintillating form, swinging it away from the left handers and finding extra bounce to the right handers. Although you could say the English batsmen did not give their wicket away, Keaton Jennings was again caught in the slips, driving down the wrong line off Jason Holder.

Rory Burns was exposed playing the ball too late as the ball, from Roach, rolled off the face of his bat and back onto the stumps. Jonny Bairstow was bowled after the ball had clipped his elbow, evidence that Roach was finding something extra out of the pitch. Holder got one to jag back fiercely to trap Root in front of all three stumps, LBW. Similar story for Stokes who was struck on the back leg to give Roach his third. Moeen Ali came and went before you could say “Nice Gary”, caught at fine leg for a golden duck. Roach completed his 5 wicket haul with a beauty that reared up and found the edge of Jos Buttler’s bat. Fresh Alzarri Joseph picked up Foakes and Rashid’s wickets and the powerful Shannon Gabriel bullied Curran out with a barrage of well angled short balls.

“The collapse not only put the English batsmen under scrutiny but also highlighted the error in not picking someone with Broad’s record, in conditions famously known for helping tall seam bowlers.”

For the second day in a row, England excelled in the evening session. Moeen picking up three wickets with West Indies closing on 127-6. The lead was 339, giving England a glimmer of hope. They had have gone into Day 3 needing just one wicket to expose the fragile Windies tail. However, skipper Holder and Shane Dowrich made England toil in the field. Their contrasting styles complimenting each other in a record 295-run partnership. Dowrich nurtured his way to a classy 116* whereas the 6’7” Holder struck the most sixes in a test match by a West Indian versus England, eight in total. Again this highlighted the deficit in England’s bowling attack as only two men, both from Pakistan, Wasim Akram and Imtiaz Ahmed, had scored more in an innings batting at number 8 than Holder.

There were joyous scenes as one of cricket’s good guys reached multiple landmarks on his home ground. After pulling Jennings over mid-wicket for four, the Barbadian giant wheeled away arms aloft, soaking in the standing ovation from the locals and thousands of sunburnt Brits. Making his 202* from just 229 balls, the West Indian captain immediately declared. Some may not have been surprised by his performance though. Holder was the only player in the match named in the ICC Test Team of the Year, reward for his excellent performances and mature captaincy in 2018. He would then move to the top of the test all-rounder rankings, becoming the first West Indian to do so since Garfield Sobers.

England needed a record breaking 628 to win, Windies needed 10 wickets with just over two days to play. Openers Burns and Jennings survived until stumps on Day 3 at 56-0. However, Jennings, again, was struggling with his drives and was caught at second slip on the morning of Day 4; flashing to a wide one from Joseph. Burns went on to make his highest Test score of 84 before falling to part-time off-spinner Chase on the cusp of Lunch. After the break, the West Indies were immaculate with their bowling and fielding. Apart from a minor blip from Gabriel, who was shown to have bowled a massive no-ball after having Root caught for 1.

England then capitulated to the offies of Roston Chase who picked up staggering figures of 8-60, especially as he hadn’t managed to find much turn from the pitch. The victory was sealed with some clever bowling and sharp work when stand-in wicket keeper Shai Hope had young Curran stumped. England humiliated by 381 runs.

“Not the start England wanted to a massive 2019 which includes back-to-back World Cup and Ashes series at home in the summer.”

The ‘varied bowling attack’ policy may have worked in England’s rise to becoming a superpower in the white-ball formats, in which batsmen have to take risks. However, in test cricket, it is the bowler’s job to build pressure in order to take wickets as batsmen look to protect their wicket. It was clear captain Root had no confidence in Rashid to build pressure who would have expected to be a major role in the second innings. But only bowled 9 overs going for 61. Mainly due to the numerous loose deliveries. Moreover, the right handed West Indies batsmen played Moeen with ease, leaving Root, realistically, with Anderson and Stokes as his only two, trusted options.

Somerset’s Jack Leach, along with Broad, would have been disappointed to miss out. He would have provided control to back up Anderson’s good work with the new ball at the start of the innings. It was an odd decision to leave him out, especially after he had made hay in the Sri Lanka tour which took place in November last year. He took 18 wickets in total at an average of 21 and economy of 2.69 runs per over.

England will have to look to bring in Broad and another bowling option; either Chris Woakes (who is handy with the bat too), Jack Leach or Mark Wood who adds a bit of extra pace which has been sorely missed by England in recent times. Rashid and maybe even Moeen may have to make way. The selection committee could also be tempted to shuffle the batting order, bring in Joe Denly for Ben Foakes and give Bairstow the gloves or at the top of the order, for Jennings who has shown weakness on seaming pitches.

It was not the start England wanted to a massive 2019 which includes back-to-back World Cup and Ashes series at home in the summer. Fortunately, they have two matches left in the three-match series to make things click and be the first English side to win the Caribbean since 2004.

Masters 2018 Review

After the dust has settled on the pine straw of Augusta we look back on the tournament as one to remember. Patrick Reed’s spectacular performance to claim his first major should not be overlooked but there are plenty who exceeded expectations who will all be looking to carry their form through to the remaining majors this year.

Reed did the hard work on Friday and Saturday allowing him to establish a three-shot lead going into Sunday. McIlory’s hopes were ended after his putter betrayed him on the final round and finished six shots back after a final round 74. Reed remained calm to shoot a one-under 71 which was enough to claim the green jacket after fending off charges from Fowler and Spieth on a characteristically dramatic back nine at Augusta.

Tony Finau offered one of the most enthralling narratives of the week. Finishing joint tenth in his first Master’s would have been above the 28-year-old’s expectations. But after the dramatic events of Wednesday, which saw Finau dislocate his ankle following a hole-in-one during the par-3 competition, his achievement is even more remarkable.

“Cameron Smith is a future contender”

Australian Cameron Smith, in his second Masters appearance, also performed well above pre-tournament predictions finishing in a tie for fifth after a stunning final round. At just 24 Smith looks set to build on this performance and may well be in contention for the green jacket in the future.

Someone who went under the radar for the weekend was the ever-consistent Henrik Stenson. Stenson managed to finish every day 2 under par or better over the weekend which saw him quietly towards a 9 under finish in tied 5th place. The former number one and Olympic Silver medallist will be hoping to build on this impressive, yet understated display come this time next year.

Looking forward to the remaining majors this year it is hard to look beyond Spieth and McIlory who both looked back to their best at Augusta. If Spieth can reproduce his fourth-round magic he will be unstoppable. Justin Rose is a favourite for the U.S. Open due to his record on the worlds toughest courses and his current form having achieved multiple top-ten’s in 2018.

“Rose Favourite for US Open”

A major championship looks just around the corner for Ricky Fowler having competed so valiantly in the final round at Augusta and boasting nine top-ten finishes in majors up to this point. The PGA Championship looks his most likely route to a major crown.

Slightly more outside bets for a major title this year come in the form of Tommy Fleetwood and John Rahm. Both performed excellently at Augusta and Rahm’s meteoric rise to the top of the professional game shows little sign of slowing, maybe he can claim his first major at Carnoustie in July.

This year’s Masters allowed for established stars to prove why they are at the top of sport but has also illuminated some newer names which sets up for a fascinating rest of 2018.

Report: Exeter City versus West Ham U-21’s

West Ham started with the ball at Saint James’ Park, with play kicking off fast and visitors wasting no time in probing the home team’s defences. City in red and white were quick on their feet, battering away an early onset of offensive plays made by the blue-clad guests. An early chance for West Ham was denied by Archie Collins, who blocked a shot from Anthony Scully from just in the area, and a bombardment of shots Barrett and then Bernado Rosa were defended away in a similar manner.

However, it didn’t take long for the Grecians to respond, getting it up and out of there half and into the oppositions. An early corner taken by Lee Martin led to some excitement, though there was a failure to convert from the reds this time. Chiedozie Ogbene helped maintain the pace, with a shot from outside the box falling safely into the arms of Nathan Trott.

The momentum of the game was brought to a temporary standstill fifteen minutes in when Saint James Park experienced a slight technical difficulty with the floodlights. A large portion of the field lights went down, plunging the pitch into a murky gloom. Referee Brett Huxtable halted play, and the players drifted off the pitch as the matter was resolved. The floodlights were up and running again in a matter of minutes, the original failure attributed to a city-wide power cut, though a further fifteen minutes was given to allow for any further glitches to be dealt with. By this time both teams were on the field again for a second bout of warming up, spirits not dampened by the power cut, unprecedented at Saint James.

With 27 minutes of added time on the clock, play recommenced. Neither team seemed over-affected by the abrupt break in the game, with West Ham slowing down play considerably from the back, making good use of Trott in goals. City wasted no time in pressing the opposition this time round though, and a cross in to Jonathan Forte ends in results as he volleyed it expertly into the goal, well out of Trott’s reach.

Elated by Forte’s goal, City threatened the visitors several more times, with Pierce Sweeney and Martin pushing hard down the right wing. Martin was nearly greeted with success when he took a long shot from the right, with Trott tipping it over the bar. Another near miss from the City side followed just after when Dara O’shea got ahead to the corner Martin’s shot secured, only to follow that shot in overshooting the bar too.

The Grecians weren’t to be denied much longer though, and Forte slotted in a second goal off a cross from Martin. The striker picked up the ball mid-air, taking it on the head and directing it into the back of the net. Now two up the hosts fell back a bit, allowing West Ham some possession at the back, Captain Reece Oxford and Ajibola Alese controlling play from there. The visiting side had opportunity just before half-time to close the gap between the two teams, but a shot from Sean Adarkwa was safely scooped up by City keeper James Hamon, who saw his first real action of the game.

West Ham then attempted some desperate long balls over the defender’s heads, but the line held and no real threat was posed as the City defence parried away each ball as they came. The last bit of excitement in the first half was when Oxford went down with a hand injury, but was back up moments later. The half-time whistle went and both teams filed off to the locker rooms.

The second half began with Exeter in possession, though minutes in City keeper Hamon gave the home fans a scare when he tried to follow a dud ball out of play, only to have Adarkwa take it off him. The defence then managed to recovered the situation, denying Adarkwa the chance at goal.

Jimmy Oates went down right after, and limped off to clapping from the stands as Jack Sparkes replaced him on the field, possibly an odd choice given Sparkes’ position up-field while Oates is a grounded left back player. Yet this interesting choice from manager Matt Taylor appeared to pay off throughout the rest of the match despite its peculiarity.

The home team, having decided to ease up on the attack after halftime, was then plagued by several ambitious West  Ham attacks, notably a free kick given when Alfie Lewis went down during a determined dribble. The shot from just outside the box was a worthy effort from Scully, but again Hamon made the save.

West Ham continued to make desperate attempts at goal, but City held them off each time, with Longelo denied by a controversial tackle inside the D, with appeals for a penalty waved away by the referee. The scoreboard almost read 3-0 as Matt Jay hits the crossbar off a header, and then almost 2-1 as fresh substitute Sebastian Neybyla had a crack on goal, tipped clear of the bar by Hamon. Trott was tested once more in goal when Abrahams lets one rip from in the area, and sharp reflexes and quick footwork on Trott’s part keep West Ham in the game.

With the clock running down, play got more and more scruffy and fouls mounted up towards the end. The visiting Captain, Reece Oxford, was handed a Yellow after a tackle, and more fouls followed. As the last three minutes of extra time wound down, Exeter City finished confidently, and were able to walk off the pitch with heads high after the final whistle was blown, Forte’s brace making up the entirety of the scoreboard.

 

Written by Josh Devaraj.

Rugby’s Overseas Selection Debate: Should Brad Shields Be Includeded?

Brad Shields’ inclusion in England’s touring squad to South Africa has reignited the ever-raging debate of overseas international selection. Advocates of selecting foreign born players or allowing players who qualify under residency rules argue that it allows high quality players to play test rugby where perhaps such opportunities would not be available to them. The big difficulty with this debate is that there is no clear solution offered by those that disagree with these selection policies and I personally do not see one that would work any better than the system that is currently in place. In the case of Brad Shields his selection has been criticised as he is yet to play for an English club but equally England’s woes in the back-row help justify his inclusion in the squad. However, after a couple of strong performances Jones’ decision has been somewhat vindicated. Debate about similar selections will not doubt continue but it is important to note that almost every nation has exploited these rules to their advantage at some point. Ireland have brought in South African born CJ Stander into their side and New Zealand have countless south sea islanders playing in their ranks. This is not an isolated issue and needs to be treated as such.

“SHields Selection CRITICISED”

Shields’ selection has come in for criticism by some including ex-England international Lewis Moody who claims that Shields is yet to prove himself in England. Shields’ potential loyalty to England has also been questioned since he has been handed a spot in the England squad simply by signing for an English club. Moody’s claims however come across as somewhat naïve as they seem to suggest that Shields has been selected purely on reputation. If Eddie Jones sees Shields as a serous contender for world cup selection he had to include him in a squad this summer or at the latest in the Autumn. Shields is 28 years old, has played almost a decade of Super Rugby and it is hard to believe that Jones and the rest of coaching staff have not watched enough of him in order to arrive at their decision to put him in the squad. It is then fair to say that Shields has proved himself in the eyes of the England coaches and I struggle to believe that a couple of months in a Wasps shirt will do much harm or help his case for selection.

“Shields Has Proven Himself for WASPS”

Given England’s current issues in the back row in terms of injury and their struggles at the breakdown during the six nations a fresh face and a change up in selection may well be a good thing for this squad even if this has not translated directly to results on the field. In a hypothetical world where England had had a successful six nations and Robshaw and co were winning stacks of turnovers it is hard to imagine Jones making such a call. However, this is not the case, England are reeling from five successive defeats after his weekend’s loss at Ellis Park, and a fresh face in the squad may well have the effect of motivating the rest of England’s forwards to drive their performances upwards. Also giving the current unavailability in the England back row it is very easy for Jones to drop Shields come the Autumn should he not perform up to standard.

“A Fresh Face may REJUVENATE the Squad”

On the whole England’s decision to include Shields in the England squad is a positive one. As a nation we are struggling at the breakdown and we need to change something and even if it is designed to get a reaction out of the current crop of players. The debate surrounding selections of this type is unlikely end any time soon but until a viable alternative system is proposed then any meaningful debate surrounding these selections seems moot.

LIVE: Aviva Premiership Final 2018: Exeter Chiefs v Saracens

16:59: That’s all from us at Twickenham. A heartbreaking end to the season for the Chiefs, but Saracens squeezed them out of the game with a mix of brute force and controlled kicking. We’ll be back at Sandy Park next year with coverage of the Chiefs.

16:56: Mako Vunipola picks up the man of the match award as they set up the podium for the trophy presentation. Don Armand looks subdued as he chats to reporters – there’s a distinct sense they didn’t quite leave it all out there today: no controversial refereeing decision, or chalked-off try, to complain about here – Saracens were the better side.

FULL TIME: And that’s it. It’s all over. Saracens are Aviva Premiership Champions…

79 mins: Spencer pulls the conversion to the left.

78 mins: TRY SARACENS! Icing on the cake for the Allianz side. Exeter switch off down the blind-side, the ball comes to Alex Goode who runs a late angle into the line, and his pass sends Nathan Earle diving over the whitewash unopposed in the corner.

77 mins: The fans are starting to trickle out here. Disappointing end to the season for Exeter – they will feel they haven’t shown their full potential here today, but that is exactly what Saracens do to teams. They grind them down defensively and pounce with ruthless efficiency in attack.

75 mins: Saracens so nearly have their third try, but Sam Skinner intercepts a crucial pass – but he can’t hold onto it. Saracens making more changes – they must think they’re home now. Scrum 8m from Exeter’s line to the left of the posts.

73 mins: Sarries have forced Exeter back into their 22 with their tactical kicking. They field Townsend’s box-kick and are holding onto the ball. Nothing flashy now – they’re 7 minutes away from glory.

70 mins: Penalty Saracens. Ben Spencer converts in front of the sticks – Exeter trail 10-22.

70 mins: Close! They’re over the line, but Barnes pulls it back for double movement. They have the advantage though – sensibly, Barritt points to the posts.

69 mins: Sarries turning to screw here. Bounce of the ball favouring them too. They’re 5m out – another score would be decisive, you feel.

67 mins: Saracens player down in the backfield – it’s Brad Barritt. He’s been in the wars today.

66 mins: Conservative kick to the 22, and then Exeter spill it at the tail. They get the ball back, but it’s a Saracens penalty for Holmes not releasing. Golden period for Chiefs – Sarries now trying to run the clock down and take as long they can. Farrell is off – Bosch is on; Waldrom comes on for Sam Simmonds.

65 mins: Chance straight away. Exeter break from their 22, Turner stamps his way out of a half-tackle, and only a Slade fumble prevents a glorious opportunity. They’ll come back for the penalty – perhaps a blessing if they can get the rumble going!

63 mins: TRY EXETER! And it’s Gareth Steenson! The old head sends Twickenham into raptures – a neat dummy and go from the scrum, and the Irishman carries a defender over the line. His conversion is good – 19-10. Game on for Exeter!

61 mins: NO TRY! Scrum 5 to Chiefs…

61 mins: Initial punch by Sam Simmonds takes them 2m short. Huge overlap on the left – but Simmonds ignores it and carries it to the line again. Exeter rumble ver – the crowd think they’ve scored. TMO is called for…

60 mins: This time it’s short! Huge carrying from Exeter, but Saracens hold firm – Chiefs need the try if they’re t get back in this.

59 mins: SIN BIN: Schalk Brits. It looks like it’s going over…Barnes has his arm out…but Sarries pull it down! Brits is walking off – he’s been sent to the bin. Exeter go back to the corner…

58 mins: Close down the left! Woodburn draws the last man, finds Turner on his shoulder who is pulled down by the cover defence, and the Australian turns it back inside. It doesn’t come to anything – Exeter take it back for a penalty just inside the 10m line – but that’s the first time they’ve really had Saracens on the back foot. Promising. Steenson puts them 5m out…

57 mins: Chiefs stringing the phases together nicely now. Nowell is to the fore, Skinner shows his ability in the loose. Gaps, and overlaps, are appearing – it’s about finishing one of them off.

54 mins: Monstrous counter-ruck by Itoje. Jonny Hill tries to secure the ball – but he’s in from the side. Pressure: released.

53 mins: Turning point? Perhaps, as the scrum wheels and Mako Vunipola is pinged. Exeter play a neat short ball at the resulting lineout. They’re going to have to throw everything they’ve got at Sarries now.

 

52 mins: Keystone cops moment in the midfield. First Whitten, then Armond, and then Farrell display some butter fingers. Itoje is down – worrying signs for England fans. Sarries bring on Schalk Brits – an absolute hero at the Allianz Arena – and Juan Figallo for Jamie George and Koch respectively. Itoje is back on his feet.

50 mins: Bit of a breather here as a Barritt is down. Sam Skinner comes on to replace Mitch Lees. Marcelo Bosch is on as a H.I.A. for the Sarries captain.

49 mins: Baxter rings the changes…

47 mins: TRY SARACENS! And they are! Chris Wyles has his second. Good work by the forwards around the fringes, tying in Exeter defenders, allows space on the left – and there’s acres of it. Lozowski finds Goode and the full-back puts Wyles in the clear – an easy finish for his second of the game. Farrell has clearly changed his boot at half-time – nails the conversion from tight to the touchline. 19-3.

46 mins: Barritt’s away on an inside offload and Sarries are into the Exeter 22. The Sarries fans are vocal for the first time today. They sense their rumbling side is in…

45 mins: Ball spills loose from poor Sarries handling in midfield, Joe Simmonds picks up and kicks, and Woodburn hares after it, but Saracens mop up and Farrell is able to plug the corner left absent by Woodburn. Ruthless – Exeter half-chance becomes a defensive operation.

16:03: Alas, it comes to nothing. A good string of phases into the double figures, but Nowell can’t catch the ball by his fingertips and it’s a Sarries lineout on their own 10m line – and now a penalty for (very minimal) contact in the air.

16:02: Better from Exeter – more vigour in the carry and some tasty running lines to check the Sarries defence. They’re up to the Saracens 10m line…

16:00: Teams are back out. Chiefs have 40 minutes to turn this around and retain the Aviva Premiership trophy…

15:58: Some more stats…

Scrums: Exe 3/3; Saracens 5/5
Lineouts: Exe 4/6; Saracens 1/2
Rucks: Exe 67/68; Saracens 63/63
Mauls: Exe 2/2; Saracens 0
Defenders beaten: Exe 13; Saracens 8
Penalties conceded: Exe 3; Saracens 4
Offloads: Exe 4; Saracens 6

15:55: If Exeter are to get back into this, they need the ball. They’ve had half of it, but it’s clearly not enough – they need to starve their opponents and string together the phases in the hope a gap will open.

It hasn’t looked like Saracens will yield, but as players begin to tire, you’d expect gaps to open up for the Simmonds brothers, Slade, and Nowell to exploit. If the arm wrestle continues, you can expect Saracens’ ruthlessness to see them home to the trophy.

15:54: Some half-time stats for you…and it’s surprisingly even in some regards. 50:50 in terms of possession, with 55% of that taking part in Exeter’s half. Same number of carries for both sides – 77 with 2 clean breaks apiece, but Sarries have made 222 metres to Exe’s 139.

Tackles are similarly even – 92 for Exeter, 88 for Saracens, with a success rate of 91% and 85% respectively (8 and 13 missed).

15:49: Chiefs dominated the opening ten minutes, with one penalty scored and one missed. Saracens, in typical fashion, stormed back into the game with a brutish score – and haven’t looked back since.

HALF TIME: Exeter Chiefs 3 – 12 Saracens

40 mins: Penalty Saracens. Farrell from out wide on the left…and he’s pulled it to the left!

39 mins: Armand is back on for Waldrom – could use some leadership from the captain. Another scrum goes down, Saracens nudge ever-so-slightly forwards, and Barnes awards them the advantage. Turning the screw…

37 mins: We’re having a bit of a breather here. Don Armand is n the exercise bike – not sure if he’s coming back on. An incredible statistic for you – Exeter had 100% of the possession after 9 minutes. Saracens have since reduced that to 48%. Crucially, the numbers that matter are on the scoreborard – Sarries still lead 12-3.

37 mins: Half a chance in midfield as another Koch knock-on finds its way to Dave Ewers, but the big second-row can’t keep his composure to find a teammate and the chance goes begging.

35 mins: Lineout goes astray, Farrell dinks it behind Nowell and Wyles is sure to score…isn’t he? No! The little Cornishman hares back to knock the ball out of the American’s arms and save a certain try. Exeter hanging on!

34 mins: Huge pressure from Saracens! Two charged down kicks in a matter of seconds. First Farrell on Turner, then Itoje on White. Exeter fortunate to have a 5m lineout rather than concede the try.

33 mins: Saracens stringing the phases together and breaking the gainline every time. An inside ball from Farrell careers off Vincent Koch – the prop doesn’t look too happy with the unsympathetic pass. Exeter have the scrum on their 22.

31 mins: Don Armand has taken a blow to his head – off he goes for a H.I.A. Waldrom is on – crowd is happy. Final appearance for the Chiefs, they could use a trademark run from the big man to get back in the game.

30 mins: Lachie Turner puts a speculative chip in on the back foot and, incredibly, the bounce favours Exeter. Cries from the crowd to move it wide, and a huge hit on Hepburn by his opposite number, but Saracens hold firm. Huge contact from both attack and defence. Cowan-Dickie, perhaps feeling that hit, knocks on out wide to bring the move to an end. Bodies strewn across the pitch for both teams.

26 mins: Saracens run it and Lozowski is nearly clear off an inside ball. It’ll come back for Chiefs dropping a scrum, though. Farrell thinks about the posts, but instead puts Saracens 10m out with a kick to touch.

24 mins: Chiefs get a reprieve as Kruis is pinged for offside at a lineout. No mistake with the touch finder – but Cowan-Dickie can’t keep his throw straight. Exeter need the mettle of champions here.

22 mins: Sarries taking control now. Winning the aerial battles, getting over the gainline, plugging the corners with their kicks. Chiefs under pressure.

20 mins: TRY SARACENS! Like London buses, Sarries have another! It looked fairly innocuous in the middle of the the park, but the backs overloaded the left wing and Chris Wyles was the grateful recipient of Maitland’s deft draw-and-pass. Farrell’s conversion drifts wide to the right – they lead 12-3. Testing times for the Chiefs.

17 mins: Chiefs go back to basics and keep the ball in hand. Solid possession by the men in black, but Jackson Wray gets in over the ball to win a penalty at the breakdown on his own 22.

14 mins: TRY SARACENS! First decent possession for Saracens – and they’re away! A break by Alex Goode sees him hack the ball on, Farrell cross-field kicks to Wyles and Billy Vunipola takes it up to the line…and when it comes back to him he’s able to crash over! Like that, Saracens lead – 7-3 with Farrell’s conversion. Ruthless!

12 mins: And Slade misses touch! Big game nerves are showing…

11 mins: Sarries get their hands on the ball for the first time in the game – and it’s quickly put to the boot. No messing here from either side. Saracens, however, concede another penalty – this time for pulling Jonny Hill down at a lineout.

9 mins: Another penalty to Exeter at the breakdown. Simmonds is having another shot from the 10m line – the angle makes it about 43 metres. Tricky…and it shows. It’s scuffed short and wide.

5 mins: Penalty Exeter. Great possession from Chiefs despite resolute Sarries defence. Some neat handling by Hepburn and Lees puts Hill half clear, and Saracens infringe in front of the sticks. Joe Simmonds nails the kick from the 22, and we’ve got points on the board – 3-0 to Chiefs.

2 mins: Great box-kicking from Nic White forcing a knock-on from Sean Maitland as we have our first scrum of the game. Tester…

1 min: And we’re off!

14:55: The trophy gets carried out by Jonny Wilkinson and Lawrence Dallaglio in name of the Doddie Weir Trust. Puts things into perspective…and here come the teams, led out by Don Armand of the Chiefs and Brad Barritt for Saracens.

14:50: Wayne Barnes’ name is announced over the tannoy to a chorus of boos from both sets of fans – perhaps the last time they’ll be in unison until the final whistle.

14:48: The teams head back into the sheds. We’re 10 minutes away here…

14:44: Stadium is filling up nicely. The Chiefs fans have somewhat further to travel than their North London counterparts – great effort from the Devon army as the first Tomahawk Chop rings around the ground.

14:31: We’re just under half and hour away from kick-off. Both teams going through their paces. There’s a stiff, swirling wind inside the stadium that takes the edge off the searing sun. Perfect weather for some positive rugby – let’s hope we get it!

14:08: You can follow the action here, or over on the Exeposé Sport twitter account – @exeposeport.

14:02: Exeter Chiefs finished the domestic season 8 points clear of second-placed Saracens. A solid 36-5 demolition of Newcastle at Sandy Park last week saw the Chiefs into the final. For Saracens, a similarly impressive 57-33 triumph over Wasps booked their place in today’s showpiece event.

13:50: As if you needed a reminder…

13:45: The game today is a repeat of the 2016 final – the first time Exeter Chiefs made their way to Twickenham in the Premiership. Exeter will be looking to avoid a repeat of the 28-20 defeat they suffered at the hands of Owen Farrell et al. that day.

13:40: This is how the two sides line-up today…

Exeter: Lachie Turner; Jack Nowell, Henry Slade, Sam Hill, Olly Woodburn; Joe Simmonds, Nic White; Alec Hepburn, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Tomas Francis, Mitch Lees, Jonny Hill, Dave Ewers, Don Armand (c), Sam  Simmonds.

Replacements: Jack Yeandle, Ben Moon, Greg Holmes, Sam Skinner, Thomas Waldrom, Stuart Townsend, Gareth Steenson, Olly Whitten.

Saracens: Alex Goode; Sean Maitland, Alex Lozowski, Brad Barritt (c), Chris Wyles; Owen Farrell, Richard Wigglesworth; Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, Vincent Koch, Maro Itoje, George Kruis, Nick Isiekwe, Jackson Wray, Billy Vunipola.

Replacements: Schalk Brits, Richard Barrington, Juan Figallo, Will Skelton, Michael Rhodes, Ben Spencer, Marcelo Bosch, Nathan Earle.

13:30: Good afternoon everybody! It’s a glorious afternoon in South West London as Exeter Chiefs are set to take on Saracens in the Aviva Premiership Final. Wil Jones and Josh Brown will be providing you by-the-minute updates and analysis.

Exeter City U’23 battling against the odds

As the ball sailed over the heads of the Sunderland defenders, there seemed little danger. The nearest man was Jack Rodwell; the very Rodwell who has won 3 England caps, commanded over £20 million in transfer fees and earns a reported £60,000 a week. Surely such an accomplished defender would have no problems dealing with this situation? Then Ryan Loft, with just 9 first-team appearances for Stevenage to his name, hurtled out of nowhere, not only beating Rodwell to the ball but leaving him flat on his face in the mud.

It’s hard to think of a better metaphor for Exeter U-23s and the incredible success that they’ve achieved against the odds, leaving far richer and far more experienced opponents with their faces soiled by falling face-first into a quagmire of embarrassment at the hands of a League Two development side. In the Premier League Cup, our U-23s were drawn in a group against Brighton, Hull and Sunderland. I thought that little old Exeter must be there just to make up the numbers – Brighton are currently in the Premier League, and Hull and Sunderland were there last season.

No doubt all have budgets and facilities to put our modest club in the shade, so I headed to our first match against Brighton to support our lads with little hope or expectation. Indeed, following their promotion last summer, Brighton signed a number of players with significant first-team experience abroad, who have gone into their U-23 squad, such as Ales Mateju and Soufyan Ahannach, who has since gone on loan to Sparta Rotterdam.

“i knew i’d seen something a bit special”

The gulf in class was apparent as Brighton set about playing a possession style of football rarely seen at St James’ Park, or outside the Premier League for that matter. It felt like our job was merely to keep the score down. However, the score was not kept down – yet this wasn’t our problem! We walked off the pitch 4-1 winners; heroic defending kept Brighton at bay for the first hour, then as they tired late on, we obliterated them. Walking home that night, I knew I’d seen something a bit special.

Next up were Hull, who escaped with a 1-1 draw. Had Loft’s last minute shot found the back of the net rather than the post, the scoreline still wouldn’t have flattered us. This failure to get the win we deserved looked costly when the Sunderland team sheet was posted. In addition to the aforementioned Rodwell, it featured the Welsh international Jonny Williams, Northern Irish international Paddy McNair, Brendan Galloway and Lynden Gooch, all with Premier League experience – McNair’s with Manchester United!

We’d had our fun in the first 2 games, but surely now footballing gravity was going to assert itself? Particularly as, the day after a first-team game, our ranks were depleted with U-18s starting in their stead. Yet Rodwell’s embarrassment was matched by his team – we won 2-0, and frankly it could have been more. We sit proudly top of the group, and guaranteed qualification to the last 16 with a match still to play.

So how has this happened? I’m sure the imperfect state of the St James’ Park pitch has played a part, but there’s a much more significant reason – our team is very, very good. Jordan Storey has started the last 2 first-team games, and has all the physical attributes to be a commanding centre-back. Alex Hartridge is less physical, but his reading of the game is so good that perhaps he might go on to be even better, particularly as he is two years younger. In midfield, the tall Alex Byrne is always quietly excellent at the parts of the game that seldom make it onto highlight reels, and looks tailor-made for the physical battle that is the centre of the pitch in League Two. Then the star of the team, now Ethan Ampadu has gone to Chelsea, is 17-year-old Jack Sparkes, whose left foot is of such quality it’s hard to imagine it will be long before he follows Ampadu out of League Two.

“loft could well cement a first-team place”

Up front, Loft’s loan from Tottenham is well worth making permanent. With his strength, pace and eye for goal, he is perhaps the ideal lower-league target man. Then there’s Matt Jay, a little terrier of a striker, whose 2 goals saw off Brighton, and whose hold up play and control are exceptional for someone of his diminutive stature. Then there’s the U-18s who played their part against Sunderland, who might be a bit further off first-team action, but who there’s no doubt have significant potential.

All the names listed above are easily capable of first-team football, and everyone at the club, particularly Paul Tisdale and the U-23 manager Matt Taylor, deserve huge credit. I really hope that they are brave enough to take the final step, and trim the squad so that these lads get a real chance at first-team football next season. This is potentially a golden generation too good to go to waste. Whether or not we get promotion in the next few weeks, Exeter’s future is looking very bright. And I would urge anyone reading this to see for yourselves when we play our last 16 match – these lads have earned support, and you might just get to see Goliath fall flat on his face.

Heartbreak for netball 1s at varsity

Exeter 1s suffered a blow in their bid to gain promotion to the Premier South, losing 46-48 to Gloucester 1s in a frenetic and breathless varsity fixture on Wednesday 7 February.

The visitors came into the game trailing to first placed Exeter, but are now in prime position to punch their way to the top, cutting the gap to three points with a game in hand. Vociferous support greeted the opening whistle, yet the home side did not reflect the buoyant enthusiasm emanating from the Green Legion. Gloucester got the better of the home team in the opening exchanges and raced into a 3-0 lead, subduing the atmosphere. The visitors compounded their early success with clinical attacks and astute defending, leading 5-1 with just five minutes played.

The 1s line up before the game

After an underwhelming start, Exeter grew into the game, harnessing the energy of the faithful contingent. Three points in as many minutes reduced the deficit to one, but Gloucester responded with purpose, taking it to 6-4. This would be the narrative of the first quarter – the away side diligently converting territory into points yet Exeter refusing to succumb, keeping the score-line a tight affair.

Amy Omokobia tries to block a shot

Stoicism and resilience kept the greens in contention and when their chance came, they took it. At 9-7, Exeter capitalised on advantageous possession, leap-frogging their opponents to take the lead, the score standing 10-9. GK Amy Omakobia’s vital interception with the score deadlocked at 11-11 was the standout moment of the quarter – her perfectly timed block planted the seed for a stunning counter-attack that germinated into a composed finish. The Western 1A leaders maintained their lead into the first break, the scores standing at 13-12.

STOICISM AND RESILIENCE KEPT EXETER IN CONTENTION

The fervent crowd duly congratulated Exeter’s first-quarter performance, with renditions of ‘oh Exeter is wonderful’ reverberating around a packed-out court. Such a frenzied opening was always going to likely to give way to a less frenetic second-quarter. As the game started to settle, both teams looked to profit from the others’ errors, but it was a quality still standard of play. Maddie Heywood, playing Centre, conducted herself with a poise and competitive spirt that perturbed her opposite number in what became a feisty contest between the two players.

Captain Christina Shaw looks to find a team-mate

Gloucester sought to entice Exeter into a battle of physicality, but the home side stayed robust and allowed their skill on the ball to show. Clever interplay around between attackers Kat Arthur, Mia Broomhall and Hannah Blackman saw Exeter draw several infringements from their opponents – one particularly impressive goal mid-way through the quarter was indicative of the impressive way Exeter manipulated the limited space around the net.

EXETER EMBARKED ON A STIRRING COMEBACK

For all their slick movement, Exeter failed to extend the margin of their lead as a flurry of opportunities went amiss. Gloucester, too, were wasteful as the adrenalin of the fixture appeared to be taking its toll when it mattered. Still, there were some delicately taken finishes to round off sharp passing moves, and with the lead flittering between the two teams, the visitors went in to half-time with a narrow 21-22 advantage. The break was a needed breather to calm the fury of the first half from fans and players alike.

After the interval, it was the visitors who emerged with greater urgency, mirroring the opening minutes of the first quarter to make it 21-25. In the same fashion, Exeter embarked on a stirring comeback and scored five times without reply to lead 26-25. Clearly, the home side had the quality, but transforming this into points on the scoreboard was just a matter of consistency. When prompted the greens answered the call, but failure to maintain these instances of rallying plays ultimately proved decisive against quality opposition.

Gloucestershire find Maddie Heywood blocking the way

Aided by a proficient GS, the away side were ruthless in their response and carved out a 31-27 difference. Amidst their efficient attack, their Centre – still flustered by the harrying of Exeter’s Heywood – was cautioned as the niggling physicality between the two sides threatened to spill over. The warning appeared to be just what the visitor needed as her increased composure and incisiveness on the ball following the talking-to gave Gloucester the upper hand as the quarter drew to a close.

In an attempt to shore up the defence and prohibit Gloucester from undoing the good work of Exeter’s attack, Betsy Creak entered the fray at GK for Omakobia. The change brought instant success with Creak making a well-executed interception before setting up a counter-attack goal that brought rapturous applause from the watching crowd. The league leaders filtered off the court 33-35 down but it was an incredibly even contest that was proving impossible to predict a winner.

THE GOAL BROUGHT RAPTUROUS APPLAUSE FROM THE CROWD

If Exeter had hoped the home support and prestige of the varsity fixture would see them edge out Gloucester, the travelling side had plans to ruin them. The away team stormed into the final quarter with vibrancy, making another strong restart to chalk up a cushion on the scoreboard. With the support still roaring them on, Exeter found themselves trailing 40-46 and in need of an inspiring final few minutes to produce an increasingly unlikely victory as time slipped away.

Hannah Blackman receives close attention from the opposition

Inspiration did arrive as Exeter stormed back into the game and the side-line support started to believe a spectacular come-back was within reach. In a reshuffle of the attack, Creak moved up to the polar position of GS and netted with enviable competency and reliableness. Broomhall – the outstanding player on the court – continued to weave her magic at wing attack, causing the Gloucester defence a succession of problems that allowed the finishers to claw the 1s back into touching distance of the lead.

With Exeter’s defence heroically nullifying Gloucester’s attack, and the 1s’ offense putting Gloucester on the back foot, the score was precariously balanced at 45-48. As the clock ticked down to just one minute remaining, the home support sought to rally those clad in green and white to an improbable victory. Unfortunately for Exeter they couldn’t bridge the deficit. Though hope rippled between coaches, crowd, and players, Gloucester hung on to win 46-48 and bolster their push to usurp Exeter at the top of the Western 1A and threaten the home side’s chances of promotion to the Premier South.

Despite the defeat, EUNC captain India Crawley praised the 1s’ efforts in an enthralling fixture: “I thought it was the best game of netball I’ve ever seen here at University of Exeter. All of the girls played the best game I’ve ever seen them play having trained with them for at least three years.”

Gloucestershire show their delight at the victory

“The [varsity event] was absolutely brilliant,” Crawley said. “We had so much support for the girls – not just from the netball club and parents, but lots of students from different clubs. I think it’s really shown off the netball club at its very best.” Next up for Exeter is a trip to Chichester in the BUCS Trophy on 14 February, with 1s captain Christina Shaw “looking forward” to the fixture. “We’ll see how far we can get in the trophy,” she told Exeposé.

Demons downed by Blitz in Devon derby

THE Exeter Demons fell to a heartbreaking 6-14 loss at Coombe Dingle as a last-minute punt was blocked and returned for the decisive Plymouth touchdown. The match was initially supposed to be played at Duckes Meadow, but weather conditions dictated otherwise. Instead of the familiar Exeter fields, the game would be played at Coombe Dingle, the home ground of Bristol.

The Blitz kicked off proceedings, and after a decent return, Exeter started their first drive. The Demons made steady progress along the field, with the highlight undoubtedly being a spectacular fake punt on which Toby Ferrison managed to make it over the line to gain a first down. However, eventually the drive ran out of steam, and, without a kicker to take the field goal attempt, Exeter turned the ball over on downs at the Plymouth 25.

The early signs continued to be positive from there. The Blitz, in their own half, failed to make progress – going three and out, and punting the ball back to Exeter, in modest position in their own half. However, that’s where the errors started to creep in, and the tide of the game began to turn. On the next Demons drive, an erroneous snap that flew far over the quarterback’s head summarised the majority of the rest of the game. This time, unlike last, Exeter did not possess the same potency, and as they punted the ball away, the direction of the game changed.

Plymouth’s drive was far more clinical than their previous attempt, as they chipped away at the Exeter defense. Playing out the remainder of the quarter, they eventually made it to the Exeter 15 by the time the sides changed ends. With the first snap of the 2nd Quarter, Plymouth found the endzone through a crowd of players. Their two-point attempt was no good, but little did it matter, for the Blitz led by a scoreline of 6-0.

Plymouth kept the pressure going. Before halftime, twice did Exeter’s defense cling on. The interceptions – one on a short pass on their own 1-yard line, and one from a slightly more adventurous pass. Exeter’s offence struggled, however, until the final drive of the half. Making it from their own half as far as the opposition 20, the Demons began to look threatening. Unfortunately, the clock was against them, and they were unable to capitalise before the referees called everyone in for halftime.

The second half definitely swung further in the Demons’ favour. Despite a poor kick to resume play, Exeter succeeded in holding Plymouth in their offensive 15-yard line, with them turning over on downs. Exeter pushed back up the field, but despite their best efforts, they found themselves picked off on the 14-yard line, handing possession back to Plymouth to run out the quarter.

Still, it wasn’t long into the 4th Quarter before Exeter regained possession. Finally, they found their way onto the scoreboard, and took away Plymouth’s lead. A sneak play by quarterback George Pearson from 11 yards out saw the Demons put up 6, and gave them hope ahead of their 2-pt conversion attempt. Yet on the conversion, their lack of timeliness cost them, as a delay of game penalty saw them pushed back by 5 yards. With just one play to try to get it in from 8 yards out, the Demons put forth a feeble attempt, and couldn’t capitalise.

Shortly after the kickoff, Exeter found yet another stroke of luck, as they pounced upon a loose ball in the Plymouth backfield to give Exeter a chance to take all the spoils. They quickly pushed up the field, making it into the red zone before eventually becoming unstuck, not least due to an illegal formation penalty that pushed them back even further. Taking their final shot on a 4th & long attempt, Adrian Baeck just couldn’t pull the ball in to keep their hopes alive.

Instead, Plymouth took over in their own territory. The Blitz put forward a clinical offensive display, advancing the ball quickly and capitalising on indiscipline from the Exeter side. With everything on the line, the defensive side managed yet another interception, as Tom Seager pulled in an attempt to pop it over the top.

With just 44 seconds on the clock, it fell to the Exeter offense to cling on to a tie. Making little progress, it was quickly 4th down, and the punter was out to clear Exeter’s line.
With the ball snapped, Plymouth lived up to their name, with rushers chasing down the kick. It had been a close call on previous punts – in fact, one punt in the 1st Quarter had actually been tipped to go out of bounds. Unforuntately, this time they didn’t quite get away with simply a slight tip. The Blitz blocked the punt, which promptly sent the ball bouncing around and back into the endzone. A mass of Plymouth players were soon after it, and with just 15 seconds left on the clock, they claimed their winning points. The 2-pt conversion, to add injury to insult, was run successfully up the middle, leaving the scoreline at 6-14.

Exeter made a last-ditch attempt from the final kickoff, even making Plymouth re-kick after their initial attempt went out of bounds, but the challenge that the clock had set them was always going to be insurmountable. A Plymouth recovery from a dropped lateral only confirmed the result – a tragic heartbreak for Exeter, and a Devon Bowl triumph for Plymouth.

Louis Chai – Team Captain: Going into the game I felt we prepared very well, adding new plays to both our Defensive and Offensive playbook. From the get go we knew Plymouth had planned to lock down our tight end Adrian Beck, as he proved to be a threat to their defense last time we played. We worked out several other plays to counter this which worked well throughout the game, such as the running back counter and slot receiver stretches. As a team we felt the game was there to be won, but due to an unlucky punt we gave up a game-deciding touchdown with no time to spare. Both teams were evenly matched, it just seemed luck wasn’t on our side. Moving forward we are trying to iron-out all mental mistakes [for] our next game against Solent. The season is still very much in our hands.

Super Bowl 52: Can the Eagles upset the odds?

This Sunday sees the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eales go head-to-head in Super Bowl LII in what will be a fascinating encounter between one of the longest dynasties in North American sports and the new kids on the block. The two teams have had differing journeys to arrive in Minneapolis for the biggest game of the year.

The Patriots came into this season as the biggest favourites to win the Super Bowl since its creation. Many experts though their squad was so strong they predicted an incredible undefeated year, a feat which narrowly eluded them in 2007. However, the season did not pan out that way, as the Patriots started poorly losing two of their first four matches and many wondered if this would finally be the year the Brady-Belicheck dynasty would end.

“how those doubters have been proven wrong”

How those doubters have been proven wrong again, as the ageless Brady has produced one his finest seasons – in the year he turned forty. If he claims the ultimate prize again at an age when no other quarter back has even won a playoff game, it would be a truly remarkable achievement.

Rumours regarding Tom Brady and Bill Belichick falling out over the trade of Jimmy Garoppolo threatened to derail the Patriots playoff run. But it was business as usual. They brushed aside the Tennessee Titans in the Divisional Round and completed a composed come-from-behind win in the NFC Championship against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Tom Brady will be the key man for the Patriots this Sunday, starting in a record eighth Super Bowl. He’s proven his class on this stage many times before, winning the Super Bowl MVP four times. Belicheck and offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels, will entrust him to make adjustments at the line of scrimmage to expose the Eagles defence. If Tom Brady performs to the best of his abilities it will go a long way to seeing the New England Patriots winning a sixth Super Bowl.

Despite being the key man, the Patriots have other weapons than their heralded QB. Brandon Cooks will provide a vertical threat that they have lacked in previous seasons and tight end, Rob Gronkowski, at times can be impossible to cover. The rest of their receiving core is solid, even if Julian Edelmen will be missing through injury. James White and Dion Lewis also give the Patriots useful options from running back.

“offence must be balanced by defence”

None the less, if the Patriots are to win Super Bowl LII then they will need to perform on both sides of the ball. Their defence looked vulnerable at the start of the season after losing linebacker Dont’a Hightower to injury. Yet as the seasons progressed Belicheck has massively improved his young defence and managed to get the best out of the players he has. The defence is not as watertight as it has been in past seasons, only ranking tenth in the regular season, but it’s strong enough to apply pressure on Nick Foles and rattle him in his first ever Super Bowl.

Before the season started no one was predicting the Philadelphia Eagles to win the NFC East, let alone reach the Super Bowl, but they have surprised everyone having a fantastic season under quarterback Carson Wentz and rookie head coach Doug Pederson. Many thought the second year quarter back had been the league’s MVP until he tore his ACL in a week 14 win over the LA Rams.

The unlikely man: Foles has stepped up in the absence of Wentz. Credit: Matthew Straubmuller

The Eagles were doubted again when the injury to Carson Wentz forced the team to turn to their backup quarterback Foles. And this showed with the team considered underdogs in both the Divisional Round and the NFC Championship Game, despite being the number one seed and having home advantage.

Fans and experts alike did not believe that Foles could produce performances to the same standard that Wentz had delivered. He had failed to impress since a good run for the Eagles a few years ago. However, he proved a cool pair of hands in beating the Falcons and provided a masterclass at the quarterback position in dismantling the Vikings defence in a 38-7 rout.

“foles is essential to any chance of an EAGLES UPSET”

Foles must continue his great form into the Super Bowl as a good game from him will be vital if the Eagles are to have any chance this Sunday. However, it’s one thing for an inexperienced quarterback to have a stellar playoff run, it’s another coping with the pressure on this biggest stage facing quite possibly the greatest quarterback the sport has ever seen.

The Eagles haven’t reached the Super Bowl solely due to the performance of their quarterbacks. They have a well balanced offence with a good receiving core including Super Bowl winner Torrey Smith and one the most dynamic running back combinations in the league. LeGarrett Blount and Jay Ajayi have combined well, giving the Eagles the third best run offence in the NFL.

“THE LESS TIME BRADY SPENDS ON THE FIELD, THE BETTER”

It’s crucial that these two players have a big game to relieve some of the pressure on Foles. If the Eagles can establish the run they will increase their time of possession and keep Tom Brady off the field. The less time Brady spends with the ball in his hands the more chance Philadelphia has winning its first Super Bowl ever.

The Eagles will need their defence to be in top form to stop Brady and they do have the qualities needed to do just that. They have a very strong defensive line which was number one ranked against the run and they can rush the quarterback with just four players. This is essential against Brady as it means they can get pressure on him without sacrificing a man needed to cover receivers.

However, in the end I don’t think the Eagles will have quite enough to stop the Patriots juggernaut. Brady is in the form of his life as he continues to defy ‘father time’ and produce outstanding performances. That, combined with Foles’ lack of experience on the big stage should see the Patriots run out winners in what should be a closely fought game.

NFC Play-off Picture: Vikings to go all the way?

Who’s in, who’s out? Predictions as we gleefully enter squeaky bum time in the National Football League

While the AFC looks a two-horse race in the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers, the NFC is stacked deep with good teams so let’s take a look at the conference landscape division by division with my picks for who will make the grade:

 

NFC EAST:

The Best: Philadelphia Eagles

The Rest: Dallas Cowboys

The NFL is a cruel league. With 2 minutes remaining in the 3rd Quarter of the Week 14 matchup against the impressive LA Rams, Eagles Quarterback Carson Wentz had just thrown yet another touchdown to put his team in the lead, on their way to a division title and continuing his seemingly inevitable march towards the MVP trophy. Little did we know at the time that the breakout season Wentz was enjoying was to be ended by a torn ACL injury suffered one play earlier. This exciting Eagles team was reminiscent of the 2015 Carolina Panthers that came out of nowhere to dominate the league led by an exciting playmaker at QB in MVP Cam Newton.

“elite offense and defense”

With an elite offense and defense, this Eagles team was deep in quality across the board and looked destined for the Super Bowl. Now it’s over. Optimists are making a case there’s still a chance for the Eagles and backup QB Nick Foles to find a way to the Super Bowl with the stellar weapons remaining on offense and defense. Unfortunately, the more likely outcome is that their hopes ended with Wentz’s knee. Dallas have stuttered this season – America’s favourite team are looking at very slim odds to make a playoff appearance. The surprise success of last season, led by two rookies on offense, has been difficult to replicate. In his second season, QB Dak Prescott has looked nervy in games without his partner Ezequiel Elliot at running back as the team seems too reliant on a few stars and a predictable offense.

 Winner: Philadelphia Eagles. Already won the division, Foles looked good in his first game but surely playoff disappointment looms.

NFC NORTH:

The Best: Minnesota Vikings

The Rest: Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers

The Vikings have been one of the surprise packages of the season. QB Case Keenum has somehow turned into an MVP candidate after four below-average seasons in the league and a disastrous 2016 season with the LA Rams. After starting the season as a backup to the perennially-injured Sam Bradford, Keenum has taken his chance with shocking success after Bradford predictably went down in Week 2.

“elusive ability in the pocket”

His elusiveness and ability to avoid pressure in the pocket has been remarkable, made evident in giving up the joint-fewest sacks amongst starting QBs. A fruitful connection with wide receiver Adam Thielen has provided another surprising star and the Vikings look menacing with a defense ranked only second to Denver in yards allowed. There was real excitement in Green Bay with the anticipated return in Week 15 of Quarterback King, Aaron Rodgers, from injury. However, with 3 games left the Packers had to win out and failed at the first hurdle with Rodgers uncharacteristically throwing 3 interceptions against the Panthers. In Detroit playoff hopes are rising with an easy schedule in the run-in. QB Matt Stafford divides opinion and while he probably shouldn’t be the highest-paid player in the league, he has led the Lions offense to solid numbers under the radar

Rodger’s injury all but ended Packers’ hopes of a play-off spot

Winner: Minnesota Vikings. They’ve been a lock for the division since the Rodgers injury.

NFC SOUTH:

The Best: New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons

The Rest: N/A

The best division in football is stacked, with three teams separated by just one game at the time of writing. The two wild card spots in the conference may well be taken by the two teams that don’t win this division.

First the Saints – and what a difference a good draft can make as rookies Alvin Kamara at running back and Marshon Lattimore at cornerback already look like franchise stars for years to come. footballoutsiders.com has the Saints ranked as the number one rushing offense with a scary running back duo combining Kamara’s electrifying ability to make big plays with Mark Ingram’s hard-nosed style.

“newton is integral for the panthers”

While veteran QB Drew Brees may be showing some signs of age, supported by an elite running game the passing-yards king merely needs an average defense to lead the Saints to wins and they finally have just that after years of disaster on the defensive side. The Panthers are far more reliant on one player, polarising QB Cam Newton. How Newton goes so do the Panthers and an inconsistent season from the man of many celebrations has made his team difficult to evaluate. Cam can look like the player who ran away with the MVP two seasons ago in a game-changing run against the Vikings in Week 14, but too often he has looked a shell of that player this season.

Perhaps Carolina are saving Newton’s body and will unleash his deadly running ability in the playoffs as it is clear that having Cam be a pass-first QB is not utilising his best assets. Finally, the Atlanta Falcons have recovered from early wobbles and questions of a ‘Super Bowl hangover’ after their incredible collapse against New England in the final game of last season. The red-hot offense of 2016 initially struggled this season as their offensive coordinator left town for a Head Coaching job at the San Francisco 49ers. The Falcons are 0-5 when they fail to score 20 points and 8-0 when they score 20 or more points: offense is key. Luckily reigning MVP QB Matt Ryan and star wide receiver Julio Jones have been heating up at the right time, failing to post 20 or more points only once since a Week 7 loss to New England.

Winner: New Orleans Saints. I still have faith in the Falcons but with 2 of their remaining games against the Saints and Panthers, they may be the victims of the NFC South bloodbath.

NFC WEST:

The Best: LA Rams

The Rest: Seattle Seahawks

The Rams have shown what a difference a Head Coach can make. Last season the team did not make the best first impression to their new city of Los Angeles under HC Jeff Fisher as they went 4-12, failing to post a winning season just as the organization had in all of Fisher’s 5 seasons – critics now claim the success of both Jarred Goff and Case Keenum serve as an indictment on his coaching abilities, given both QBs were in his roster last year and both QB appeared hopeless.

“the rams can’t have imagined a better year”

Number 1 pick in the draft, rookie QB Goff was already being labelled a bust. Cut to 2017 and things are looking rosy for the Rams with 31-year-old HC Sean McVay leading the team to contender status and one that looks unrecognisable from last year. Ranked number 1 in team efficiency by footballoutsiders.com, the Rams can’t have imagined a better season despite losses in big games. Perhaps most importantly Jared Goff has been a revelation. Helped by a dramatic return to form from running back Todd Gurley, Goff is looking like a franchise quarterback for years to come and placing himself in the conversation with Carson Wentz and Dak Prescott as the new generation of stars at the position.

Meanwhile the ever-reliable Seahawks have not looked so reliable. The ‘Legion of Boom’ era may be over, the secondary defensive unit that famously crushed legendary QB Peyton Manning on their way to a blowout victory in the 2013 Super Bowl. Bruising strong safety Kam Chancellor and unit-leader free safety Earl Thomas look past their best. The third piece, elite cornerback Richard Sherman, limped off with a season-ending achilles injury in Week 10. With those three stars at the core, Seattle have boasted the most consistently elite defense in the league for years and should have won another Super Bowl in 2014. A bruising 42-7 defeat to the Rams in week 15 on home soil will have damage the pride of the Seahawks’ defense.

“the offensive line was exposed against the rams”

No longer elite on defense, now the Seahawks’ identity revolves around QB Russell Wilson on offense. Wilson’s ability to make magic happen when plays break down is un-rivalled in the league and often necessary with no protection from a woeful offensive line. Seattle actually look a better team when Wilson is fully unleashed at the end of games in which they’re behind. However the O-line weakness was exploited by the Rams in the Week 15 as they racked up 7 sacks, crushing Wilson’s MVP hopes and the Seahawks’ shot at the division.

 

Winner: LA Rams. Many questioned how good this team could be after looking so bad just last season, but many of those doubts were put to rest with a big win against the Seahawks in Week 15.

Wild Card Predictions:

 

Carolina Panthers. Cam is heating up at the right time and the defense is strong. If Carolina can head into the playoffs with confidence then they will prove a tough matchup for anyone.

Seattle Seahawks. Despite devastating injuries for the Seahawks, the Falcons may be the victim of the NFC South bloodbath as they face the Saints and Panthers in their last 2 games.

Early Super Bowl pick

New England Patriots Vs Minnesota Vikings

 

Winner: Minnesota Vikings. I’m all-in on Keenum. In a year with no clear favourite after Philadelphia lost Wentz, wins in big games and a strong defense have shown the Vikings could make a run at the Super Bowl. I think the winner of the championship game in the stronger NFC conference goes on to the take the title.