Late loss for Exeter Chiefs on Cheika’s big day

The storyline from the opening weekend of the Gallagher Premiership never favoured Exeter Chiefs, as the new big-name coach in English rugby slinked away from Sandy Park with a narrow 14-17 victory.

Former Australia and Argentina supremo Michael Cheika resides in the pantheon of elite rugby coaches and his new side, Leicester Tigers, responded to his first game at the helm with a dramatic late victory.

Tension and rustiness were the winners from a tight first half, Leicester finally working the scoreboard with a Jamie Shillcock drop-goal in the closing seconds to give the visitors a three-point lead at the interval.

The Chiefs returned with a renewed purpose and finally got the Park bouncing when Greg Fisilau picked up on a trademark wing-break from Immanuel Feyi-Waboso to cross the whitewash. Things got even better for the home side before the hour, Tom Carins diving over from close range after a tap penalty caught the Tigers napping. Both tries converted by Josh Hodge.

Cheika, however, has seen it all in the game of rugby, and his troops responded with Hanro Liebenberg mauling over the line.

The fightback was briefly interrupted by a red card issued to Solomone Kate for a head-on-head collision but the 14 Tigers found enough momentum for Tommy Reffell to score a winning try in the corner.

Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter told BBC Sport: "It's hugely disappointing to lose the game in the way we did.

"It just seemed like it was a scenario where we were inviting Leicester to get back into the game the way they did, and in the end that's exactly what we did - we invited them back into the game to score their two tries.

"I've got to hold my hand up and say 'fair play' to Leicester, they stuck in there.”