EXETER ARE LEFT REELING
They fall to first home defeat in a year after 44-phase Leinster try
EXETER’S Sandy Park fortress fell for the first time in a year to a brutal Leinster siege as English clubs suffered a clean sweep of defeats in the Champions Cup.
The try that won it came nine minutes from the end after a stunning 44 phases of Irish attack. Eventually — with bodies strewn across the pitch — No 8 Jack Conan flopped over and the Chiefs were left spent.
It was their first loss at home in a major competition for 12 months — since Bordeaux beat them a year ago today. All five English clubs lost at the weekend and, if Saracens lose their rearranged fixture with Clermont, it will be the first time all six Premiership sides have been defeated in one round.
The sheer brutality of this European Cup match was breathtaking. It felt like a Test match. The sides made 378 tackles between them — Don Armand 30 on his own, Mitch Lees and Matt Kvesic 20 each.
Leinster head coach Leo Cullen was delighted with his side’s persistence. ‘It is pleasing how patient we were in their 22, particularly away from home,’ he said. ‘We were three points ahead at that stage so we didn’t need to force it but it was nice to get over. It was a proper cup rugby match.’
The first half was remarkable for two reasons: that Leinster were not out of sight after the first quarter, and that Exeter did not lead at the break.
After 21 minutes the Irish province had 72 per cent possession and 91 per cent territory, had been denied two tries, missed a penalty and the Chiefs had seen Harry Williams sin-binned. The Devonians had made 56 tackles to Leinster’s nine before they finally succumbed to the pressure.
Johnny Sexton inspired the first legitimate try. He kick-passed to Isa Nacewa on the left wing, he was hauled down and from the resulting ruck, Luke McGrath found Sexton, on the same side he had kicked to, and the fly-half scored in the corner.
Sexton did not convert and his side immediately conceded. Cian Healy was off his feet at a ruck and Gareth Steenson struck the penalty.
After Sexton had hit one back, it was Leinster’s turn to scramble. Exeter put together 22 tight phases, hammering the blue line, but eventually Thomas Waldrom knocked on.
The first half was low on points but high on entertainment, and on the resumption Exeter began as they had ended. Soon Jack Nowell, on for Phil Dollman, was speeding down the left. Over came Sean Cronin but the hooker went in very high. It was a poor tackle and he was sin-binned.
After countless more phases, Sean O’Brien turned over five metres from his line to end the pink wave. However, Exeter did score before the hour, executing a perfect three- on-two with Olly Woodburn popping the final pass to James Short. Steenson missed the kick, so it was 8-8.
Next it was Leinster’s turn and this time there were 32 phases in the exeter 22 before McGrath threw a pass at Sam Simmonds, who was offside. Nacewa hit the penalty and Leinster led again.
Then the hammer blow — the five-minute Leinster drive that must have broken all records before Conan finally went over. Nacewa’s conversion meant the Irish side even denied exeter a losing bonus point.
This two sides go again in Dublin next Saturday and coach Rob Baxter knows the Chiefs must reverse this result.
‘I have no complaints about the result, we got what we deserved,’ he said. ‘We now have a fantastic challenge next week. If we can go and win without conceding a losing bonus point over there, everything is back on.
‘That is what we are going to target.’