Bonus point could be huge says Armand

Don Armand says the bonus point secured in the final minute of Exeter Chiefs' famous win over Clermont Auvergne on Saturday could be a vital lifeline in the race for a quarter-final spot.

Mitch Lees rumbled over from close range for Exe's fourth try in the European Champions Cup tie after a spell of heavy pressure to make it a five-point win and give their hopes of qualification from Pool Two a huge lift.

Gareth Steenson converted to make the final score 31-14, and Rob Baxter's men head to Clermont on Sunday with their European prospects looking healthy.

"That fourth try was huge – you don't know how much that bonus point will help us at the end of the day," said Armand, 27.

"The first thing Rob said after the game was what a massive, massive game it is now this weekend. We basically have to reset and come back knowing it will be an even bigger game now.

"There was a lot of chat about them being top of their league and us being near the top of ours and it was going to be a big clash. We picked it up though, it was a good game and we got some good tries.

"We are getting good conversions when we go to the opposition 22. We have to work hard for them and the guys have learned it is all worth working hard for when you get those points."

On a memorable night for the home side, and with new England head coach Eddie Jones in the stands, Armand joined Lees on the scoresheet, while No. 8 Thomas Waldrom dotted down twice and fly-half Steenson kicked 11 points.

Morgan Parra converted tries from Hosea Gear and Aurélien Rougerie to give the visitors a 14-3 lead at one stage, but Waldrom's first score just before the break helped turn the tide back in the home side's favour.

And the second half saw Exeter, playing with the wind behind them, seize the initiative.

Armand said: "The score before half-time was vital. At 14-3 down it is quite a gap and to close it just a little bit was actually quite big.

"Sometimes you can use the wind to your advantage and other times when it should be to your advantage and it should help, it doesn't.

"We said we were not going to rely on the elements to help us. It was testament to all the boys who are involved in the decision-making and how we play that we stuck to what we spoke about at half-time and got the result in the end."

The win saw the Sandy Park club continue their superb start to the season, making it seven wins from nine games in all competitions and four victories in a row.

But their form has not always been strong around Christmas. Last season they lost four games in a row around the festive period, while the 2013/14 campaign saw them defeated in eight out of nine games.

"We always seem to have a bit of a whoopsie around Christmas but this result has been vital because we are going into it with a strong mindset," Armand said.

"I definitely think that we have learned from last year and I think that this Christmas will be different for us. We have set a marker down now and I don't think that Christmas will get in our way."