Exeter v Saracens: Premiership rugby union final 2019 – live!
Live updates from Twickenham, kick-off 3pm (BST)Rob Baxter hits back over Exeter playing style Rob Kitson: Saracens juggernaut ready to goFeel free to email Barry or tweet @bglendenning 3.11pm BST 8 min: Exeter Chiefs 7-5 Saracens Dave Ewars and Alex Cuthbert are penalised for conspiring to not release the ball following a tackle and Saracens have a penalty. 3.08pm BST What a start to this final!!! Saracens elect to run the penalty and go over. Owen Farrell fails with his conversion. This game has started with quite the bang. 3.06pm BST 4 min: Exeter Chiefs 7-0 Saracens Following a consultation with the TMO, Wayne Barnes sends Henry Slade to the sin bin. He doesn’t award a penalty try because Jack Nowell was in a position to put in a covering tackle. 3.05pm BST 3 min: Exeter Chiefs 7-0 Saracens: Having conceded a try on the 27-second mark, Saracens attempt to get a foothold in the game. They advance up the pitch, with Owen Farrell on the overlap on the left touchline. The ball is passed out over the touchline, but there’s a suspicion of a deliberate knock-on from Henry Slade as he made the tackle. He looks destined for the sin-bin, but will there be a penalty try awarded? 3.02pm BST 1 min: Exeter Chiefs 7-0 Saracens An early handling error from the kick-off by George Kruis allows Exeter’s Alex Cuthbert to lead the charge towards the line and scrum-half Nic White goes over from the ensuing ruck. What a start from Exeter, who add the two points from the conversion. 3.00pm BST The teams are out: The teams march out on to the pitch, with players of reigning champions Saracens wearing red shirts, shorts and socks. Exeter’s player’s wear black shirts, black shorts and black socks. Kick off is moments away. 2.57pm BST Not long now: The trophy is out on the pitch and the teams are going through the last of their pre-match niceties in their dressing-rooms. It’s a glorious day for rugby at Twickenham, where the sun is shining brightly. 2.50pm BST 2.47pm BST 2.44pm BST Related: Premiership finalists Exeter have more to offer than just their finishing move | Ugo Monye 2.29pm BST Jack Nowell speaks: “The emotions that we felt last year, coming in after the game where there were a lot of tears has driven us all through the years,” Exeter’s full-back tells BT Sport, when asked how it feels to be up against Saracens in another final. “It’s going to be nice to play against these boys.” On the subject of his team’s tactics, he says: “I think Owen Farrell puts his kicks on the money all the time, so we’ve got to be up in the air trying to catch that ball.” 2.26pm BST Will Skelton speaks: “I think we’re focussed,” says the Saracens second row, in an interview with BT Sport. “It’s a massive game ahead. We got to attack them at set-piece, it’s where they’re strongest. We have to try and stop their front foot ball. They’ve got some good ball carriers and we’ve got to smash them.” Asked how big a bonus it is that Brad Barritt is fit to start, he doesn’t mince his words. “He’s inspirational,” he says. “The way he hits people, his collisions. You aspire to be like him.” 2.25pm BST Both teams are unchanged from their semi-final wins. Saracens captain Brad Barritt was a doubt for today’s final, but has recovered from a hamstring injury that forced him out of Sarries’ win over Gloucester last weekend. 2.02pm BST Referee: Wayne Barnes 2.02pm BST Related: Saracens juggernaut ready to blast aside Exeter in Premiership final 2.02pm BST Exeter Chiefs: Nowell; Cuthbert, Slade, Devoto, O’Flaherty; J. Simmonds, White; Moon, Yeandle (c), Williams, Dennis, Hill, Ewers, Armand, Kvesic. Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Hepburn, Francis, Skinner, S. Simmonds, Maunder, Steenson, Hill. 10.32am BST Twickenham is the venue for a repeat of last year’s final, with Saracens hoping to retain their title and Exeter plotting some long overdue revenge. Exeter topped the Premiership table with 87 points, then beat Northampton Saints in the semi-finals to reach their fourth Premiership Rugby Final in as many years. Having won this title in three of the past four years, Saracens thrashed Gloucester in their semi-final and are looking to win their fifth Premiership title. Kick-off is at 3pm (BST) but stay tuned in the meantime for team news and build-up. Continue reading...