How to watch Premiership final in UK Kick-off time: 6pm (BST) on Saturday 24 October Venue: Twickenham, London TV channel: BT Sport 1 and BT Sport Ultimate from 5. 15pm Live stream: On the BT Sport website and app Covid-19 rules 11 Wasps players outWasps steamrolled Bristol Bears 47-24 in the semi-final a fortnight ago, but their preparations for Saturday’s showdown have been severely hit by coronavirus, so much so that the Bears were almost drafted in as finalists by default. There were seven Covid-19 cases reported within the Wasps camp last week – four players, three staff – and a further four positive tests last weekend put the club’s hopes of appearing in the final in jeopardy. Only on Wednesday were Wasps cleared to play after no more positive tests were recorded, but the club went 12 days without training and have 11 players unable to feature.
Exeter Chiefs 26-27 Wasps: WATCH highlights of Sandy Park thrillerWasps claimed a thrilling stoppage-time victory over Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park. With two minutes remaining, Lee Blackett's side trailed by 11 points. But a try by Alfie Barbeary and a Jimmy Gopperth touchline conversion set up a grandstand finish and, after 30-plus phases, Paolo Odogwu dived over in the right corner to seal a one-point victory SIX minutes into stoppage time. See the blow below to re-live the game. See the LIVE blog below for updates on Exeter Chiefs v Wasps... 21:46Bobby BridgeWATCH: Highlights of Exeter Chiefs 26-27 WaspsHere you go, watch highlights by clicking HERE. 21:31KEY EVENTWhat the boss had to sayWe spoke to Lee Blackett after the final whistle.
“It’s not ideal preparation but you could argue we’ll be fresh, ” said head coach Lee Blackett. “We’ve had two weeks rest, and we trained really, really well yesterday. “We’ve got 33 players to pick from and 11 unavailable. It’s gut-wrenching for those who will miss out but the health and safety of players and families is more important. ” Double delight for Exeter? Though Blackett was trying to look at the positives of having almost two weeks without training, he knows his side head into Saturday’s final as the heavy underdogs.
Exeter are flying high following on from their thrilling 31-27 victory over Racing 92 in last Saturday’s Champions Cup final, capping off a remarkable decade for the club 10 years on from their promotion from the Championship. The rollercoaster final will offer Wasps fans hope that Exeter’s wall is not an impenetrable one, but the latter’s ruthless 36-5 semi-final over Bath the week prior proves they are intent on becoming the new dynasty in English rugby, and determined to brush off the disappointment of three final defeats to Saracens in the past four years while adding to their 2017 title. Recent meetingsBefore their 47-24 win over Bristol, Wasps enjoyed a 46-5 win over Exeter, although not much can be drawn from that match given Baxter’s side was second-string with Europe in mind.
First-half tries from Jack Nowell and Phil Dollman helped Exeter lead that final 14-10 at half-time, but after Jimmy Gopperth inspired a Wasps comeback to sneak 20-17 in front, it was Gareth Steenson who converted a last-minute penalty before another one in extra time sealed the victory. Neutrals will be willing on more of the same this time around, although it could take a Herculean effort from Wasps to make this one a contest.
We would've been comfortably in the game, could've even been ahead if we take our 5m opportunities, on the whole I thought Exeter probably took theirs and we weren't and we get two opportunities right at the end to go and win it and, fair play, brilliant attitude and credit to the fitness team as well, we saw I think last week we went 21 phases to score a try, this week the amount of phases we had to go through and periods down there to come away with points, so there's some positive signs going forward. But we're absolutely delighted with the result, I think there's a lot to improve though performance-wise. Lee Blackett 16:58Bobby BridgeAmazingPlease excuse the radio silence, I've just spoken to Lee Blackett and Paolo Odogwu.
'Gobsmacked' was a word that stood out from Blackett! Content to follow. 16:31Bobby BridgeUnrealI've just spoken to one of the Wasps analysts. He reckons there were at least 35 phases that built up to that final score. Wasps were 11 points down with two minutes to go. Yet they won. Unbelievable. Unreal. Incredible. Season defining. 16:26KEY EVENTWASPS WIN!!!!! Charlie Atkinson whips the pass of his life, over two players and into Paolo Odogwu's hands for the winger to score his second in the right corner. Wow. What a try. Gopperth's conversion hits the post. Final score: Exeter Chiefs 26-27 Wasps 16:24KEY EVENTTRY WASPS!!!!!!! ODOGWUUUUUUUUUUUU16:23Bobby BridgeUnder postsWasps are 2m out, under the posts.
16:23Bobby BridgeMaul The maul is grounded. Play goes on. Spink and Fifita carry. 16:22Bobby BridgePenalty Wasps penalty, 15m out, to the left of the posts. They trail by four. Gopperth to the corner. 16:20Bobby BridgePowerBarbeary, Hislop, Waps are 7m out. They trail by 4. 0:00 on the clock16:20Bobby BridgeDangerWasps are 15m out, Aktinson stepping bravely. 16:19Bobby BridgeChargeBarbeary powers up to 30m.
Exeter 26 - 27 Wasps - Match Report & Highlights - Sky Sports
READ MORE: Wasps boss Lee Blackett's admission after Exeter Chiefs late drama: 'Gobsmacked'Wasps Head Coach Lee Blackett 18:19KEY EVENTWasps player ratingsWe have rated the Wasps players from today's sensational game. You can read them in the link below! Wasps player ratings from thrilling late win over Exeter Chiefs17:24Bobby BridgeSecond win in 15 attempts at Sandy ParkWe're delighted about that but, I'm probably hiding my emotion, probably gobsmacked a bit, it just didn't feel like we were going to get the win it felt like a really frustrating day and I was going to have to answer some really difficult questions after the fame on why we turned up the way we did but thankfully we got the last couple of scores and have come away with a massive 5 points when you look at the league tableLee Blackett 17:13Bobby BridgeDelighted Blackett The game changes doesn't it with about four and a half, five minutes to go they get a disallowed try and that was the moment. I thought Exeter were the far better team for 75 minutes and I thought great character, the impact off the bench as well I think made a massive difference, I just think physically we were second best for large parts of that game but fair play, especially the guys who came on just added loads of energy and the big disappointment probably is how many times we got five metres out and didn't convert, and that was the difference.
Premiership final analysisby Hugh GodwinSo here we are with the Twickenham final at last, 18 weeks late, and undoubtedly skewed by the positive Covid-19 tests at Wasps that have removed the No. 8 Brad Shields, props Kieran Brookes and Simon McIntyre, and the brilliant utility forward Alfie Barbeary, due to contact tracing. The already injured New Zealand centre Malakai Fekitoa is also missing from the team who finished second to Exeter in the league by just three points after a storming run of 12 wins in 13 matches. The loss of Shields is a major one; the Kiwi-turned-England-international was giving great balance alongside Jack Willis and Thomas Young, the demon flankers.
(watch online>>>>) Exeter VS Wasps live free 3 February 2023
Wasps vs Exeter Chiefs Rugby H2H Stats Record & Results