GLOUC
No.Name
15Jason Woodward, FB
T
14Ollie Thorley, W
13Andy Symons, C
12Mark Atkinson, C
11Henry Purdy, W
10Billy Burns, FH
3
9Willi Heinz, SH
1John Afoa, P
2Richard Hibbard, H
3Fraser Balmain, P
4Tom Savage, L
5Jeremy Thrush, L
T
2
6Lewis Ludlow, FL
7Jacob Rowan, FL
8Ben Morgan, N8
T
Replacements
16Motu Matu'u, R
17Josh Hohneck, R
18Gareth Denman, R
19Ed Slater, R
20Ruan Ackermann, R
21Ben Vellacott, R
22Billy Twelvetrees, R
23Matt Scott, R

*Players currently on the pitch are shown in bold

Game Info

Venue: Kingsholm
7:45 PM, September 1, 2017
All CommentaryKey Events

Match Commentary

81'+228-21 End of second half
81'+228-21 Conversion - Billy Twelvetrees , Gloucester Rugby
81'+126-21 Try - Jason Woodward , Gloucester Rugby
80'Twelvetrees adds the extras to put the gloss on victory

That try not only confirms a bonus point win for Gloucester, but also ends Exeter's 17-match unbeaten run. Wow, what a start for Johan Ackermann. What a start to the Premiership season!
80'TRY! They don't need a drop. The Gloucester forwards spill the ball backwards, but Twelvetrees picks up, finds a gap and offloads to Woodward who finishes in the corner.
80'Gloucester are up to the Exeter 22 and edging into drop goal range...
79'Twelvetrees spots a gap but his offload to Vellacott is not the greatest and the scrum-half's pass in turn is almost intercepted by Sam Skinner.
78'He's missed it. Slade pulls his effort wide of the far upright and the game is still alive.
77'Penalty to the Chiefs! Exeter turn the screw and Josh Hohneck is penalised. Slade now has the chance to win it...
76'Knock on from Vellacott as Gloucester try to go through the phases in their own half. Scrum Exeter, that could prove a costly mistake.
75'Woodburn and Thorley collide in the air as they challenge for Ben Vellacott's up and under. It's Exeter who come up with the ball.
74'A big defensive lineout for Gloucester, which they secure.
73'Simmonds finds Whitten and Exeter are up to the Gloucester 22, and suddenly have all the momentum.
73'Substitute on - Ben Vellacott , Gloucester Rugby
73'Player substituted - Willi Heinz , Gloucester Rugby
72'Substitute on - Matt Scott , Gloucester Rugby
72'Player substituted - Billy Burns , Gloucester Rugby
71'TRY! Ruan Ackermann puts in a big carry to take Gloucester out from under their own posts, but Heinz is caught as he tries to clear and Woodburn steals the ball from Thorley before racing away to score in the left touchline.
71'21-21 Conversion - Henry Slade , Exeter Chiefs
71'21-19 Try - Olly Woodburn , Exeter Chiefs
70'Gloucester have got through an incredible amount of work defensively tonight.
70'The Chiefs are less than five metres out now. Nowell is in the thick of things, but Carley blows his whistle to award Gloucester the scrum with Exeter's momentum lost.
69'Exeter work their way up towards the Gloucester 22. Whitten finds half a gap before the ball is spread wide to Simmonds on the right flank.
67'Gloucester do well to disrupt the Chiefs lineout and Exeter are forced backwards. Their defensive speed is good and they are able to force the turnover before Burns boots clear.
66'Penalty to Exeter. Gloucester get caught in possession in their own half, and now Slade boots the ball into touch for an attacking lineout for the Chiefs.
65'A good carry from Simmonds, puts Exeter on the front foot. But as Gloucester think they've stolen the ball, the whistle goes following a thundering hit from Motu Matu'u. Steenson goes off for a HIA -- under new rules he cannot return for at least 10 minutes.
65'Substitute on - Lachie Turner , Exeter Chiefs
65'Player substituted - Gareth Steenson , Exeter Chiefs
64'Player substituted - Ben Morgan , Gloucester Rugby
64'Substitute on - Ruan Ackermann , Gloucester Rugby
63'Atkinson is forced to hobble off for the hosts, while Ruan Ackermann is waiting to make his debut.

Kvesic's night is over as he is replaced for Exeter.
63'Substitute on - Elvis Taione , Exeter Chiefs
63'Player substituted - Jack Yeandle , Exeter Chiefs
63'Substitute on - Julian Salvi , Exeter Chiefs
63'Player substituted - Matt Kvesic , Exeter Chiefs
63'Substitute on - Billy Twelvetrees , Gloucester Rugby
63'Player substituted - Mark Atkinson , Gloucester Rugby
62'Scrum Gloucester. Exeter find themselves five metres out but with the try line begging, it is the Chiefs who knock on.
61'Jack Nowell now sets off on a run into Gloucester territory. Advantage Chiefs as they build into the hosts' 22.

Slade produces a brilliant take from Steenson to keep the move alive on the left wing...
60'Another turnover from Slater. The home fans are enjoying his debut.
59'Exeter are deep in Gloucester territory but the hosts put in a huge defensive shift and Ed Slater's first act in a Cherry and White shirt is to force a turnover.
59'Player substituted - Fraser Balmain , Gloucester Rugby
59'Substitute on - Gareth Denman , Gloucester Rugby
59'Substitute on - Motu Matu'u , Gloucester Rugby
59'Player substituted - Richard Hibbard , Gloucester Rugby
59'Substitute on - Josh Hohneck , Gloucester Rugby
59'Player substituted - John Afoa , Gloucester Rugby
59'Substitute on - Sam Skinner , Exeter Chiefs
59'Player substituted - Ollie Atkins , Exeter Chiefs
59'Substitute on - Jack Maunder , Exeter Chiefs
59'Player substituted - Nic White , Exeter Chiefs
57'Substitute on - Ed Slater , Gloucester Rugby
57'Player substituted - Jeremy Thrush , Gloucester Rugby
57'Substitute on - Carl Rimmer , Exeter Chiefs
57'Player substituted - Ben Moon , Exeter Chiefs
57'21-14 Conversion - Billy Burns , Gloucester Rugby
56'TRY! It's close, very, very close. But Carley and Davey agree that the ball goes forward from Atkinson's knee, misses Thrush's arm and is then diverted into Morgan's path by Tomas Francis. Gloucester lead for the first time in the match.
56'TRY? Gloucester are over the line but did the ball go forward from Atkinson? we're going to check.
56'19-14 Try - Ben Morgan , Gloucester Rugby
55'Woodward takes Gloucester into the Exeter half, before he is tackled by Slade.
55'Player substituted - Max Bodilly , Exeter Chiefs
55'Substitute on - Jack Nowell , Exeter Chiefs
53'Thrush offloads to Purdy on the left wing, but he is unable to find the pass that would have led to a score and Don Armand is able to secure the turnover.

Exeter have survived Steenson's sin-binning without conceding. That could be huge.
53'Substitute on - Tomas Francis , Exeter Chiefs
53'Player substituted - Harry Williams , Exeter Chiefs
50'A lovely kick from Atkinson finds Ollie Thorley on the right wing, but Max Bodilly pulls out a brilliant cover tackle to save the try.
49'The 14 men of Exeter have the ball and are building through the phases on halfway, but Tom Savage steals possession for the hosts.
46'Lovely inside ball from Morgan to Hibbard off of a Gloucester lineout but the hooker spills the ball forward. If he had kept hold of that the try line was begging.
45'Another lineout drive from Gloucester takes them deep into the Exeter 22. Heinz and Burns spread the play wide but Purdy is unable to get in at the left corner as Dollman comes across.
43'Gloucester set the drive from the lineout, but Hibbard loses the ball and White can boot clear.

Dollman loses the ball for Exeter, though, and as Heinz kicks ahead, Simmonds is the man who gets back to cut out the danger.
42'Burns kicks to the corner. Can the hosts make the most of their man advantage?
42'The Gloucester attack peters out but we're going upstairs to check a challenge from Steenson on Woodward.

The Exeter fly-half gets their late and doesn't get out of the way of the Gloucester fullback, and is therefore going to the bin.
42'Yellow card - Gareth Steenson , Exeter Chiefs
41'We're back underway at Gloucester, and the hosts are on the attack.
41'14-14 End of first half
40'Slade kicks ahead and the ball goes into touch via a Gloucester hand to bring an end to the first half at Kingsholm. The hosts have had to defend for much of it, but they are level in what has been an absorbing encounter.
40'TRY Gloucester! Referee Matthew Carley and TMO Sean Davey are happy that Thrush legally picked up the ball and placed it over the line, and the hosts are level.
40'TRY? Gloucester are hammering away at the Exeter line, and Thrush attempts to touch down at the base of the ruck. Is that a second movement? We're going upstairs...
40'14-14 Start of second half
40'14-14 Conversion - Billy Burns , Gloucester Rugby
40'12-14 Try - Jeremy Thrush , Gloucester Rugby
39'Thrush takes it this time and Hibbard stays bound until Heinz spins a pass to Symons.
38'Richard Hibbard finds Lewis Ludlow, and Gloucester set the drive. Hibbard spins around the side and with the penalty coming Burns kicks towards Purdy on the left wing. It comes to nothing and Burns kicks to the corner again.
37'Penalty to Gloucester! Harry Williams, with his face bloodied, is penalised at scrum time. Burns kicks to the corner...
35'A lovely kick ahead from Burns falls straight into Henry Purdy's grasp. But as the hosts build through the phases they are unable to keep hold of possession.
33'The cheer turns to a groan as Burns misses his kick. That should really have gone over.
32'Another cheer as Kvesic is penalised at the breakdown. That's the first penalty Exeter have given away tonight -- we're in the 32nd minute!
31'Burns chips ahead for Gloucester, and is able to gather his kick as a roar rings around Kingsholm.
30'7-14 Conversion - Gareth Steenson , Exeter Chiefs
29'TRY! Anything you can do... Simmonds spots a gap from 10 metres out and scampers over for his second try under the posts.
29'7-12 Try - Sam Simmonds , Exeter Chiefs
26'Billy Burns adds the extras and Gloucester are level. I said they'd be happy before, they'll be delighted now.

The move for the try started with an excellent offload from Mark Atkinson to Symons that completely cut open the Chiefs defence.
26'7-7 Conversion - Billy Burns , Gloucester Rugby
25'TRY! The TMO is happy and Gloucester are on the board.
25'TRY? Thrush touches down after multiple phases on the Exeter five metre line, but was he held up? We're going upstairs.
25'5-7 Try - Jeremy Thrush , Gloucester Rugby
24'Suddenly the hosts find themselves five metres from the Exeter line thanks to a lovely break from Andy Symons.
24'A brief pause in play as John Afoa receives treatment before a scrum. Gloucester will not be too unhappy with the scoreline so far, Exeter have had the lion's share of possession and it's been a big defensive effort from the hosts.
24'
22'A couple of big Fraser Balmain carries help Gloucester into the Exeter half, but Chiefs captain Jack Yeandle is there to secure the penalty.

Henry Slade misses touch for the second time in quick succession though.
20'It's Gloucester's turn to attack with ball in hand but as they build possession up towards the Chiefs 22, the referee's whistle goes for a penalty to Exeter.
18'Phil Dollman loses the ball in the tackle on the Gloucester 22 and suddenly the hosts are on the attack. Woodward chips the ball over the defence and collects on the right wing, but the trick doesn't work twice and the danger is gone.
16'Huge steal for Gloucester as Jeremy Thrush rises to take the ball. Heinz's clearance is deflected off an Exeter hand, and it'll be a Gloucester lineout.
15'The Chiefs are banging away on the 22 for over a minute before Whitten finds a way through and Olly Woodburn takes them on further. Heinz thinks he's stolen the ball from White but the referee's whistle blows. Chiefs kick to the corner.
13'Exeter kick to Woodward again, this time through Henry Slade, and his clearance gives Exeter a lineout just outside the Gloucester 22.
11'Exeter get stuck in midfield and Steenson decides to kick in behind Woodward.
10'Another sloppy kick from Gloucester, this time from Woodward, and a trademark spell of Exeter kicking ends with the Chiefs on the front foot.
8'Exeter build into the Gloucester 22 again but as Nic White scurries for possession he is pinned and the hosts secure the turnover. Scrum, Gloucester.
6'0-7 Conversion - Gareth Steenson , Exeter Chiefs
5'That was excellent and ruthless from Exeter. A brilliant conversion from Steenson puts them seven points in front.
4'TRY! Exeter punish a loose clearance kick as Ian Whitten takes advantage of the space afforded him, before Sam Simmonds applies the finish in the right corner.
4'0-5 Try - Sam Simmonds , Exeter Chiefs
2'Exeter enjoying their first spell of possession. They're into the Gloucester half but struggling to find a way through the Cherry and White defence.
1'Gareth Steenson kicks off and Exeter swarm over Gloucester in their own 22.
1'The Exeter, and then Gloucester, players make their way out onto the pitch to a massive roar. Kick off is just moments away.
1'England's forwards coach is in attendance at Kingsholm tonight. A good time for Kvesic to get a start.
1'Gloucester fans will be eager to see how Johan Ackermann sets up the team today. Jason Woodward is an exciting addition at fullback, while Willi Heinz captains the side for the first time.

British & Irish Lion Jack Nowell begins the season on the bench for Exeter. New signing Nic White starts at scrum-half for the Chiefs.
1'
1'
1'Hello and welcome to LIVE coverage of the opening game of the 2017-18 Aviva Premiership as Gloucester entertain Exeter.

The last game to be played at Kingsholm was a 34-20 win for the Chiefs. In the 118 days since that encounter, Exeter have been crowned champions and signed former Gloucester favourite Matt Kvesic.

An injury to Dave Dennis means that Kvesic starts on his returns to his old stomping ground to face a much-changed Cherry and Whites, who have head coach Johan Ackermann in the stands and his son Ruan on the bench.
1'0-0 Start of first half