New era awaits Exeter Chiefs

The penultimate game in a gloomy season for Exeter Chiefs became something of a side-show in the emotional farewell to rugby for Harlequins number nine Danny Care.

Calling time on a career that has spanned two decades and included 101 England caps, Care rightly reaped the applause of the home crowd, although the Chiefs came close to spoiling the party with one of their better performances in a gruelling campaign.

The Quins sprung to life with a try from Cadan Murley inside the opening three minutes and the lead was extended by Will Porter midway through the first period. Exeter, to their immense credit, rallied to reduce the arrears with a score from Rus Tuima after a strong break by Josh Hodge.

A lineout maul then created room for Tommy Wyatt to dot down and the Chiefs were well in the game at 14-12. Things got better when Stu Townsend edged Exeter in front but a magical individual try from British Lion Marcus Smith wrestled back the lead for Quins.

A Henry Slade penalty restored the narrow Exeter advantage but Smith had the last word, notching a routine penalty to give Harlequins a 24-22 triumph and a fitting end to Care’s illustrious career.

As for the Chiefs, they will finish ninth in the Gallagher Premiership, irrespective of the result in final game at home to Sale, but the bigger story is about the change of coaching direction at Sandy Park.

The club-record 79-17 defeat at Gloucester last month marked the end of Ali Hepher and Rob Hunter as coaches for the Chiefs, who have appointed England U20 attack coach Dave Walder as a new recruit behind the scenes.

"I'm really excited to have the opportunity to come down to the Chiefs to work with a really talented group of players as well as a young, dynamic coaching group," Walder told the club website.

"I can't wait to get started; I'm looking forward to working with this squad. It's obviously been a really tough year for them results-wise, but the green shoots of growth are there, so I'm excited to work with the group moving forward."