Exeter Chiefs 65-10 Saracens - Josh Hodge records hat-trick as Exeter score ELEVEN tries in Saracens thrashing

Exeter Chiefs full-back Josh Hodge scored a hat-trick as Saracens endured a nightmare start to their defence of the Gallagher Premiership Rugby crown, conceding 11 tries in a 55-point drubbing that finished 65-10 in favour of the hosts.

The first try came after two minutes from Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and a bonus point was secured inside 17 minutes as Kenni Fisilau, Ethan Roots and Tom Hendrickson scored.

Six minutes later Henry Slade touched down before it became the Hodge show as he scored the next three tries, two of which were incredible individual efforts.

Saracens were more competitive after the break - only losing it four tries to two - with Ruisi Tuima, Ross Vintcent and Niall Armstrong scoring for Exeter, while Olly Hartley and Sean Maitland got on the board for the visitors.

Exeter have made a great statement with this performance and if Saracens needed a reminder life will be hard this year as champions, they certainly got it.

Inevitably, the answer must involve both. Playing the champions on home soil in the first match, especially when they are a rival, you would expect Exeter to be ready from the opening whistle - but this was something else. From the moment Hodge drove Saracens back in the first minute and Harvey Skinner set up Feyi-Waboso for the opening try, Exeter were playing with a fanatical intensity any team would have struggled to contain. Alex Lozowski's nightmare first Premiership Rugby match as skipper began with a fifth minute yellow card for catching Hodge high and he was barely back onto the field when the fourth try was conceded. Another caution for Aled Davies helped Exeter extend the lead further before the break. The second half was the kind of attritional battle we might have expected in the opening stanza, but even then, when Exeter chose to put their opponents under pressure, they were capable of playing at a much higher level.

There won't be an easier award to give all season. Even if he hadn't scored two fantastic individual tries as part of a hat-trick he would have been a contender for the award as he was pivotal in the early five-try burst before he got on the scoresheet. His first try saw him brush off four tackles before scoring, with the second showing electric burst and drop of the shoulder. If he maintains this form he will surely put himself into England contention when the post 2023-World Cup era begins.

Exeter: Hodge 10*, Feyi-Waboso 8, Slade 7, Hendrickson 8, Wyatt 7, Skinner 8, Cairns 8; Sio 7, Yeandle 7, Painter 7, Tuima 8, Pearson 8, Roots 8, Vermeulen 7, Fisilau 8.

Replacements: Norey 6, Keast 6, Iosefa-Scott 6, Davis 6, Vintcent 7, Armstrong 8, Haydon-Wood 6, Hammersley 6.

Saracens: Parton 5, Segun 6, Lozowski 4, Hartley 6, Lewington 6, Goode 5, Davies 6; West 6, Adejimi 6, Riccioni 6, Hunter-Hill 6, Isiekwe 7, McFarland 7, Knight 6, Willis 7.

Replacements: Hadfield 6, Adams-Hale 6, Clarey 6, Stonham 6, Christie 7, Bracken 6, Vunipola 6, Maitland 7.

2' TRY FOR EXETER! Saracens disjointed in midfield but a brilliant run from Hodge drives into Saracens territory and then Skinner runs down the right flank and as he is tackled flicks a ball from the back of his right hand to winger Feyi-Waboso who sprints in to touch down.

9' TRY FOR EXETER! Textbook forward play. Pearson wins their lineout and then they drive forward with Fisilau being the man to dive over the line.

13' TRY FOR EXETER! Roots goes over for a try on his Premiership debut. Wyatt looked like going over after a long pass from Hendrickson but when he was stopped metres from the line, it was only brief respite before Roots went over.

17' TRY FOR EXETER! What a sensation! They have the bonus point already. Cairns with a fine kick over the top for Slade to chase and he quickly flicked a ball outside to his fellow centre Hendrickson to race over the line.

23' TRY FOR EXETER! What a gift for Slade! An errant pass from Parton gifts Slade the chance to intercept and he runs in and dives over the line.

30' TRY FOR EXETER! This is obscene. Feyi-Waboso kicks intelligently from the right touchline and on the bounce, Parton cannot gather just pushing it back into the in-goal area where Hodge touches down.

36' TRY FOR EXETER! Remarkable run from Hodge! The try of the half, no doubt. Hendrickson threw wide to him and Hodge brushed off no less than four tackles before stretching his right arm out to touch down before he crashed into the flag.

46' TRY FOR SARACENS! The champions have their first try of the season. Lewington drew a defender and set Hartley free on the left wing and he raced 40m to run in and score.

56' TRY FOR EXETER! Hodge has his hat-trick! What a personal performance to stand out in this incredible team display. Cleary and Skinner combined to allow Hodge to run through the line at full speed and brush off a tackle before touching under the posts.

61' TRY FOR EXETER! Exeter were stopped just short of the line and Tuima took the ball and drove over the line to add yet another try.

66' TRY FOR SARACENS! Maitland dives over in the left corner after a number of quick passes with Isiekwe the last to set him up for a short run in.

73' TRY FOR EXETER! Armstrong takes advantage of a turnover ball with a well-weighted kick and Vintcent runs onto it and grounds in the in-goal area.

76' TRY FOR EXETER! Armstrong now has a try himself, Exeter's 11th. Skinner made the initial break and then a couple of offloads later Armstrong was under the posts.