Russell forced off as Chiefs book their place in last eight
FINN RUSSELL limped off as Bath lost 21-15 to Exeter in the Investec Champions Cup.
Chiefs, out of sorts in the domestic league, tamed a fierce wind to overturn an eightpoint deficit and set up a tie against either Toulouse or Racing 92 next weekend.
‘That’s a tough one to take,’ said Bath head coach Johann van Graam after Greg Fisilau and Ethan Roots dived over to seal a stunning comeback.
‘Finn (right) going off with what seems to be something in the groin area was a big moment. He’s a very important player.’
The Scot watched in horror as the Premiership high-flyers lost all control in the final half hour, having seemingly done the hard bit playing first into the wind.
Exeter boss Rob Baxter reserved special praise for young England wing Manny Feyi-Waboso for igniting them. ‘He’s the closest replacement to a Jack Nowell we could have had,’ he said. ‘A guy who gets you metres out of nowhere.’
It seemed Russell’s absence would make no material difference, so dominant was the Bath pack. Exeter had every advantage, including numbers after Tom Dunn was sinbinned early on, yet were repeatedly turned over or penalised at the maul.
Their profligacy caught up with them when Thomas du Toit went over on Bath’s first visit to the Chiefs’ 22. Exeter bounced back when Alfie Barbeary dropped the restart straight into the path of Ross Vintcent. Bath reasserted their authority when Ted Hill not only got hands to a high ball but outpaced Feyi-Waboso on a 50m gallop to the line.
When Bath repelled an Exeter siege on their own line to escape into half-time with the lead and the wind to come, it felt over.
Only Bath were nothing like as good with the ball as they had been without it and when Hill and Cameron Redpath were crocked in quick succession all control went with them.
Fisilau dotted down to reduce the deficit to a point, then Roots popped up with the try which sent the majority of a sell-out 15,000 crowd home happy.
Defending champions La Rochelle scraped through to the quarter-finals after Manie Libbok missed a last-gasp conversion for Stormers in the 22-21 away victory.
Libbok kicked 11 points and had the chance to dump out the holders after Suleiman Hartzenberg’s 79th-minute try, but dragged his conversion just wide.
The South Africa international fly-half put Stormers ahead with two penalties and they took advantage of Will Skelton’s yellow card as Herschel Jantjies scored their first try, Libbok adding the extras.
He then extended their lead with another penalty 10 minutes into the second half for a 15-0 advantage.
La Rochelle raced back into the game through a Louis Penverne try, with Antoine Hastoy converting, before the fly-half added another penalty.
The French side took the lead through Gregory Alldritt’s converted try before Joel Sclavi added another touchdown before the late drama saw La Rochelle squeeze through.
A dominant Bulls scored nine tries to secure their spot in the last eight after thrashing Lyon 59-19.
Bordeaux Begles laid down a marker of their own with a commanding 45-12 victory over Saracens.
The French side scored converted tries through Mateo Garcia (2), Nicolas Depoortere (2), Louis Bielle-Biarrey (2), and a penalty from Maxime Lucu to send Sarries packing.
In the late match, United Rugby Championship leaders Leinster saw off Leicester 36-22.
Handre Pollard scored 10 points for Leicester in the first half but tries from Jamison Gibson-Park (2) and a further seven points from the boot of Ross Byrne put the Irish side in control before a tight second period saw the hosts come out on top.