Brad Shields is a doubt for the start of England’s autumn internationals campaign after suffering a broken cheekbone during his debut for Wasps. Shields was taken to hospital on Saturday night after sustaining the injury early in the second half of Exeter’s thrilling victory and Wasps confirmed he could be out of action for up to eight weeks.
The New Zealand-born flanker clashed heads with Exeter’s Stu Townsend and left the field with blood streaming down his face. He will see a specialist on Monday to determine whether surgery is required and, while Wasps are hopeful it may only be a three-week spell on the sidelines, the worst-case scenario is that Shields would be ruled out of England’s opening autumn international against South Africa on 3 November.
“Brad Shields sustained a broken cheekbone against Exeter Chiefs,” said a Wasps statement. “Having attended hospital, it was decided that Shields needs to see a specialist on Monday, to decide whether an operation is necessary. It is estimated that the back-rower will be out for three to eight weeks.”
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While it is a blow for England, it is also a considerable setback for Wasps to lose their marquee summer signing from the Hurricanes so early into his career with the club. With Nathan Hughes hobbling off with a tight hamstring, Dai Young now has 10 frontline players on the injury list. “We don’t seem to get much luck when it comes to injuries,” said the director of rugby, before Shields’s fracture was confirmed. “It would be a real blow as he has been so excited about pulling the shirt on and playing his first game this week – he was really upset because he wasn’t playing last week.”
Truth be told, it is hardly surprising that, in a contest as breathless as this, not all stay the pace. In the week when the Premiership chief executive, Mark McCafferty, predicted the organisation could become a billion-pound business, this thrilling match showcased the best and the worst of England’s domestic league.
It featured 10 tries – two each for Sam Simmonds and Henry Slade – a compelling contrast in styles and a grandstand finish; Don Armand’s last-gasp try eventually put paid to hopes of a Wasps comeback after Dan Robson’s 70th-minute score and the introduction of their All Black debutant Lima Sopoaga from the bench had given them renewed purpose. And inevitably, the concerning injury bulletin for Eddie Jones.
If it was not safe until the final stages, there can be few complaints with Exeter’s victory. It is now 12 tries in two big wins against Leicester and Wasps for the Chiefs, who again look the best equipped to challenge Saracens’ dominance come May.
By half-time it was three tries apiece – Exeter’s possession game has its critics but there is no doubting it is effective while Wasps’ ability to strike on the counter made this such a compelling contest. To demonstrate, with half an hour on the clock Exeter had missed more tackles (12) than they had made (10).
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Wasps struck first, Elliot Daly creating the opening try out of nothing with a glorious dummy – paid for in full by Ollie Devoto – before the England flyer stepped inside, pinned back his ears and made for the posts. The visitors were level when the Argentina wing Santiago Cordero finished off a well-worked move on the right while Wasps’ second try was just as opportune as the first. Christian Wade won the restart after Cordero’s try and while Billy Searle’s grubber was deflected, it popped up perfectly for Josh Bassett to finish.
Then came the Exeter squeeze. With Matt Kvesic again to the fore – he won two key turnovers in the first half – the Chiefs blasted over with a driven lineout, finished by Simmonds, before Slade ghosted past Shields to put Exeter ahead for the first time. But a long-range penalty from Searle and a close-range finish from Hughes – not long after he had been walloped into next week by Armand – edged Wasps 24-21 ahead at the interval.
With Shields making way, Exeter’s start to the second half was ominous and Simmonds was again pushed over before Slade picked off a Searle pass and stayed ahead of Daly in a long-range chase to put the Chiefs 11 points ahead. Cue the introduction of Sopoaga and a frantic final quarter. Wasps were back to within four when Robson burrowed over under the posts but with the rain getting heavier and the ball increasingly greasy, Exeter just about kept the hosts at bay before Armand’s final word.