La Rochelle 47 Chiefs 28
La Rochelle 47
Exeter Chiefs 28
Mark Stevens at the Matmut Atlantique Stadium
In the end there was to be no fairy tale European farewell for Exeter’s departing stars.
Instead, the Chiefs golden generation were left to lick their wounds by reigning Heineken Champions Cup holders, La Rochelle, who produced a ruthless showing at the impressive Matmut Atlantique Stadium in Bordeaux to book a final showdown with Leinster in Dublin later this month.
Rob Baxter’s side were competitive throughout, even producing a buoyant final quarter that yielded two tries, but it was never enough against the fabulous Frenchmen, who will take some stopping if they are to be denied back-to-back crowns.
For those Chiefs heading to pastures new next season, there are memories aplenty for them to savour in the years to come. But for those fledgling members tasked with taking the club on, the experience of playing in the red-hot furnace of Europe’s top club competition will no doubt serve them well also.
On a glorious day in the wine capital of the world, it was the Chiefs who packed the initial punch, taking the lead inside five minutes when No.8 Sam Simmonds – who next season will be plying his rugby trade at Montpellier – crashed his way through, making the most of some decoy running from his team-mates to give the visitors the perfect start and the game’s opening try, which was converted by younger brother Joe.
That early advantage, though, proved short-lived as within four minutes La Rochelle had restored parity, winger Raymond Rhule chasing down his own fly-hacked kick to dive over in the left-hand corner, much to the delight of the 30,000+ Yellow Army who had packed inside the intimate stadium.
It was a lively opening to the contest, but the Chiefs were bang up for their heavyweight showdown. They were more than happy to trade significant blows with their imposing rivals at every opportunity. Indeed, the Exeter eight were making fine work of their efforts, again propelling themselves to within sniffing distance of the La Rochelle try-line.
This time, however, the home side were able to scramble sufficiently, denying charges from Dan Frost, Jannes Kirsten and Sam Simmonds, before possession was eventually overturned.
La Rochelle then turned defence into attack, unlocking the Chiefs backline with a scintillating switch play that allowed UK Seuteni to glide his way under the posts for a second converted try.
Buoyed by the score, La Rochelle now had the bit between their teeth. They were throwing everything at the Chiefs, seemingly from all angles, and it appeared that had struck again when captain Gregory Aldritt found his way over. The officials, though, were unsure and following a plethora of TV replays, the French international’s effort was deemed inconclusive and duly chalked off.
It mattered not for Aldritt or his team-mates, who on 30 minutes made the most of a yellow card to Exeter hooker Frost, the No.8 this time picking up from the base of a close-range scrum to crash over on the blind-side.
Although no real concern in the Chiefs camp as half time approached, Baxter’s interval chat was given extra impetus when, with just a minute of the half remaining, La Rochelle struck again, this time through scrum-half Tawera Kerr-Barlow who was able to scamper his way over for another score.
HALF TIME: LA ROCHELLE 26 EXETER CHIEFS 7
The break did allow the Chiefs to at least regroup, but La Rochelle re-emerged looking to pick up from where they had left off. Indeed, it took just three minutes for them to strike, the forward back punching the holes, before the impressive Antoine Hastoy landed a precision, cross-field kick into the path of Rhule, who stepped back inside to touch down for his second of the afternoon.
The signs were looking ominous for the Chiefs, who having lost lock Jonny Gray to a dislocated knee in the first half, now turned to their bench in a bid to ignite a spark in their game.
La Rochelle, however, were having none of it. They were controlling both territory and possession and when the Chiefs coughed up a soft penalty, the home side kicked for the corner and went for the exposed Exeter jugular. Using the line-out five metres out, the hosts amassed as one to propel Pierre Bougarit over for another score.
To their credit, the Chiefs refused to go quietly and with the clock edging towards the hour mark, it was Sam Simmonds who offered their first threat of the second half. The England international raced his way down the right flank, only to be felled just shy of the line by some desperate, last-gasp cover from the French outfit.
The Chiefs, though, were quick to recycle possession and as they worked the ball back inside, there was Kiwi prop Josh Iosefa-Scott to bulldoze his way over by the posts for a second Exeter score.
For the small minority of Chiefs fans who had crossed the Channel, it was a small crumb of comfort on a testing afternoon watching from the stands.
Exeter’s score, however, was soon extinguished as the home side landed a killer blow, Teddy Thomas and Hastoy combining initially, before Kerr-Barlow took charge and picked his hole to race through for a second.
At 47-14 the game was already done and dusted, the Frenchmen already plotting their route to the Aviva Stadium at the end of the month. The Chiefs, thankfully, have that fighting spirit and in a defiant final ten minutes, they were happy to remind the rugby world that all is not lost heading into the future.
First, Henry Slade and Stuart Hogg weaved their magic down the left to create the opening for Olly Woodburn to sneak over. Then, club captain Jack Yeandle – one of a number who this week committed his future to his hometown club – squeezed his way over to given the scoreline a much healthier look come the final whistle.
La Rochelle, though, ruled supreme. They duly lapped up the plaudits from all corners at the conclusion of the contest. Now, they must head to the Emerald Isle and overcome the mighty Leinster in their own backyard!
La Rochelle: B Dulin; D Leyds, UJ Seuteni, J Favre, R Rhule (T Thomas 62); A Hastoy, T Kerr Barlow (T Berjon 68); R Wardi (J Sclavi 52), P Bourgarit (Q Lespiaucq Brettes 54), U Atonio (G Henri Colombe 52); R Sazy (T Lavault 44), W Skelton (R Bourdeau 64); U Dillane, L Botia (P Boudehent 18), G Alldritt (capt).
Tries - Rhule (2), Setuni, Aldritt, Kerr-Barlow (2), Bourgarit, Lespiaucq Brettes; Conversions - Hastoy (6)
Chiefs: T Wyatt (J Yeandle 31-42, S Hogg 50); J Nowell (capt), H Slade, S O’Brien (H Skinner 60), O Woodburn; J Simmonds, W Becconsall (S Townsend 44); S Sio (N Ablaze 48), D Frost (J Yeandle 48), M Street (J Iosefa-Scott 48); J Kirsten, J Gray (A Davis 29); J Vermeulen (D Ewers 48), C Tshiunza, S Simmonds.
Tries - S Simmonds, Iosefa-Scott, Woodburn, Yeandle; Conversions - J Simmonds (4)
Yellow Card: Frost
Referee: J Peyper.
Attendance: 41,204