Chiefs storm to bonus point win

Exeter Chiefs 31 ASM Clermont Auvergne 14: Match report

New England coach Eddie Jones witnessed first hand what many in the Westcountry having been bleating on about for some time – Exeter Chiefs are the fast becoming the growing force within the European game.

Not content with proving their worth in the Aviva Premiership, now Rob Baxter’s side blooded the nose of one of the star names within the Champions Cup, sealing a maximum haul against visiting ASM Clermont Auvergne.

Three years ago it was the French outfit who were ruling the roost, twice dispatching of Devon’s finest in their inaugural year in the then Heineken Cup.

Since then, Baxter has quietly gone about constructing an Exeter squad that is not only proving it’s worth in domestic battle, but judging on this showing can now match the very best around.

Thomas Waldrom, a hat-trick hero seven days earlier in Coventry, maintained his rich vein of form by collecting another double, alongside further touchdowns from fellow forwards Don Armand and Mitch Lees.

Fly-half Gareth Steenson converted all four scores, as well as adding a first half penalty, as the Chiefs moved to the top of Pool Two ahead of the Ospreys.

In reply, Clermont collected first half tries through Hosea Gear and Aurelin Rougerie, both of which were converted by Morgan Parra, but that was their only reward on a magical night in Devon.

Fresh from impressive league wins over Harlequins and Wasps in the past fortnight, the Chiefs were bidding to maintain their impressive form against the star-studded Frenchmen, who boasted a wealth of international stars within their ranks.

With the Chiefs missing key trio Luke Cowan-Dickie, Dave Ewers and Henry Slade, the latter of whom sustained a broken leg at the Ricoh Arena last time out, Baxter was forced to make changes to his winning formula.

Up front, Damian Welch and Don Armand replaced England stars Geoff Parling and Tom Johnson who dropped to the bench, whilst behind Ian Whitten came in for the stricken Slade.

And the Chiefs were then forced into a further change in the pre-match warm-up when centre Sam Hill limped out of the action with a hamstring injury, so Jack Nowell reverted to the centre and Olly Woodburn was promoted from the bench.

Early on and both Nowell and Woodburn were helping to lead the charge for the Chiefs, who set off at break-neck speed against last season’s beaten finalists. It was a powerful opening salvo from Baxter’s side, who having won an early penalty kicked for the left corner in pursuit of points.

It was a tactic they used to devastating effect against Wasps and on six minutes they thought it had worked a treat on home soil.

Referee John Lacey was unsure following a monumental shove for the line and although the TMO admitted the ball had been grounded, just whose hand had ultimately touched down the ball he was undecided upon. No score was awarded and Clermont duly made the most of the let-off, preceding down field to score the game’s opening points just minutes later.

Using powerhouse wing Noa Nakaitaci to batter them to within sight of the line, they used a resultant scrum to set-up the platform for Camille Lopez to brush off a home defender and feed Gear, who dotted down under the sticks for the score converted by Parra.

The Chiefs countered almost immediately as Steenson landed a straight-forward penalty from in front of the posts, but home cheers proved short-lived as the French outfit landed a sucker punch of their own, adding a second try shortly after. Initially little appeared to be on for the visitors, but when the lively Nakaitaci swotted aside the attentions of the home defence, he was able to exploit the space on the blindside before delivering a chip kick in behind they fell invitingly for Rougerie to add a second converted score.

With the wind howling into their faces, the Chiefs knew they needed to summon a response of sorts and as the half drew towards a close, they were eventually rewarded with another well-worked try.

Attacking from deep, Steenson released Ian Whitten in space, he drove forward and with trundles from Welch and Mitch Lees, suddenly Baxter’s troops were right on the frontline.

A simple pick and go tactic followed from the hosts, the fruits of which eventually saw No.8 Waldrom burrow his way over for the try, which Steenson converted with aplomb.

Half time: Exeter Chiefs 10 ASM Clermont Auvergne 14

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