EXETER SOAR TO IN GLORY STORY A NEW HIGH FOR BAXTER
EXETER completed their fairytale rise from junior rugby to European Champions Cup finalists by beating the four-time champions in a Sandy Park thriller. Rob Baxter’s Chiefs were forced to come from behind to book a final spot against Racing 92 at Bristol’s Ashton Gate on October 17, when a first-time winner of Europe’s elite club competition is guaranteed.
Exeter’s comeback served only to make their triumph all the sweeter in what is just their 10th year in English rugby’s top flight.
Director of rugby Baxter said: “When Toulouse won the first of their four titles we were not on the same rugby planet as them, 100 per cent not.
“I’m not going to say this is a dream come true because it’s not – it’s not been a dream, it’s been a reality.
“It’s been a lot of hard work from a lot of good people but it does feel like a fantastic achievement.”
The enormity of the occasion had seemed to weigh heavily on Exeter early on – that or the sheer ambition of a French side which loves to play.
Ugo Mola’s men bossed the first quarter, shifting the point of attack with an offloading game that bamboozled the Chiefs.
Exeter have not got where they are by being starved of ball. Dominating possession is their game, yet for half an hour they were restricted to firefighting.
Fortunately, they made a decent fist of it, limiting the French to two penalties by Thomas Ramos in the first 13 minutes before finally breaking their shackles and playing through the phases.
Tom O’flaherty found a gap to get within two metres of the Toulouse line, then Harry Williams crossed after a series of bruising phases.
With Joe Simmonds adding the conversion, it was confirmation that Exeter could deliver on such a big stage.
From there it was not quite plain sailing. Toulouse struck straight back, with Cheslin Kolbe inevitably involved in a smart try out wide by substitute winger Alban Placines.
But the Chiefs had a lucky break when Jack Nowell was not penalised for appearing to leave a knee on the try-scorer, giving the home side the chance to strike back immediately.
They needed no second invitation. Henry Slade and Nowell made ground from the restart for Sam Simmonds, the tournament’s top try-scorer, to claim his
EX-FACTOR: Exeter’s final try is scored by Joe Simmonds
seventh of the campaign. Brother Joe added the goal to give their side a 14-11 half-time lead
Now Exeter had the wind in their sails. Toulouse had had a disrupted week of training due to Covid restrictions and they tired as Exeter’s forwards really went to work.
“Big games of rugby are like boxing matches,” Baxter observed. “At some stage it’s the guy who can’t get his hands up any more that’s going to get knocked down.”
With an hour gone Williams burrowed over for his second and the Chiefs’ third
try before Joe Simmonds darted and dummied his way over to settle the issue nine minutes from time, despite Matthis Lebel scoring a consolation try between the posts.
Standing on the touchline, Gareth Steenson had to pinch himself. The club’s record point-scorer had played junior rugby for the club.
“Now we’re in the European Cup Final,” he said. “Never thought I’d see this.”
EXETER: Tries: Williams (2), S Simmonds, J. Simmonds. Cons: J Simmonds (4),
TOULOUSE: Tries: Placines, Lebel.
Ramos (2).
EX-FACTOR: Joe Simmonds celebrates the try which sealed Exeter’s historic victory