Montpellier 24 Chiefs 27
Montpellier 24
Exeter Chiefs 27
Mark Stevens at the Altrad Stadium
Hurricane Brian may have been whipping up a storm back in England, but across the Channel Exeter Chiefs continue to make waves in this season’s European Champions Cup.
Rob Baxter’s side made it two wins from two in Pool 3 as they overcame rivals Montpellier at the Altrad Stadium.
Fresh from sinking in-form Glasgow Warriors the week previous, the reigning English champions put on another gutsy display in the South of France, sealing victory thanks to tries from Don Armand (2) and Ian Whitten, plus 12 points from the boot of fly-half Gareth Steenson.
In reply, Montpellier countered with a brace from former Exeter winger Nemani Nadolo, plus further touchdowns from Joe Tomane and Benoit Paillaugue, who also slotted two conversions during an enthralling encounter.
It was, however, not enough to deny the Chiefs, who have rose manfully to Baxter’s pre-tournament challenge to start this season’s European assault on the up.
Having kicked off their campaign with victory over Glasgow the week previous, the Chiefs arrived in France looking to build on what was only their second-ever success in the opening round of the Champions Cup.
Baxter made two changes in personnel ahead of kick-off, both of them in the pack, where Tomas Francis got the nod over Harry Williams at tight-head, while Thomas Waldrom came in at No.8 with Sam Simmonds dropping to the bench.
Montpellier, meanwhile, were themselves looking to get back on track after they had slipped to defeat away to Leinster. The hosts fielded a formidable line-up, which was headed up by French international Louis Picamoles in the pack and included former Exeter winger Nadolo in a star-studded back division.
With a powerful wind at their backs in the opening half, the Chiefs looked to take the game to their rivals from the outset. However, it was the Frenchmen who opened the scoring, claiming the opening try of the game on seven minutes.
Loose play deep inside their own half from the Premiership champions allowed Montpellier to recycle possession - and although the ball appeared to ricochet off a number of bodies - it was centre Tomane, who was the eventual beneficiary, powering his way over the line.
In truth, it was a soft score to concede, but the Chiefs regrouped quickly and having positioned themselves back down field through a succession of penalties kicked to the left corner, they fashioned their first real chance on 12 minutes when Steenson fired a pass wide to Lachie Turner, who sped over in the corner, only for John Lacey to call it back for a forward pass.
It would not be the first time the Irish official would intervene during the opening half - as his next involvement was to deem the Chiefs were held up - and ultimately turned over - after Jonny Hill had collected a line-out just metres from the home line.
Exeter’s pressure, however, was mounting and they finally turned possession into points when, using their tried-and-trusted tactic, they created the opening for England international Armand to burrow his way over by the posts for a try.
Steenson added the conversion to that score, before slotting a simple penalty, which had been awarded when home full-back Jessy Mogg had deliberately knocked an intended pass for Mitch Lees to the floor after a clever break-out from Henry Slade and Olly Woodburn.
Although the Australian was forced to sit out the next ten minutes on the sidelines, Montpellier clicked back into life impressively. Indeed, heavy bombardment from the home pack laid the foundations for the French outfit to exploit the numbers game out wide, crafting the opening for Paillaugue to glide over for the score, which he was unable to convert.
With little to choose between either side, it was Montpellier who finished the half the stronger and although the Chiefs put in a string of sterling defensive sets, they leaked a third score with the final play of the half.
An Exeter line-out midway inside their own half - intended for the lanky frame of Hill - was stolen in the air and the hosts wasted little time in switching in from the right flank to the left, where having been shipped through a succession of hands, it found Nadolo, who produced a world class finish in the corner. Paillaugue landed the conversion to give his side a seven-point cushion at the turn.
HALF TIME MONTPELLIER 17 EXETER CHIEFS 10
It was a tough pill to swallow right on the stroke of half time, but the Chiefs came out firing on the resumption and it was not long before Baxter’s side had drew themselves level once more.
Early possession gave the visitors decent front foot ball from which to work, after which a slick handling move - no doubt crafted out on the Sandy Park training paddock - saw former Montpellier star White loop round with Steenson, before the ball was fed to the onrushing Whitten.
Still with plenty to do, the Northern Irishman pinned his ears back, before galloping clear of the cover, shrugging off the attentions of home winger Ben Fall right at the death to claim Exeter’s second converted try of the game.
The Travelling Tribe - of which there were many - duly hailed their on-field stars, but their celebrations were soon dampened as back roared the Frenchmen.
Within just a couple of minutes, the home side propelled themselves back down field, probing away at the Chiefs defensive line, before the imposing Nadolo crept off his left wing to a centre field position. Delivered the ball on a plate, the Fijian international needed no second invitation, bulldozing his way over the line for the score, converted by Paillaugue with ease.
Baxter needed to react in some shape and form - and this he did - turning to his bench, which was armed not only with fresh muscle, but a healthy splattering of pace which, as it turned out, provided the extra zest the Englishmen needed to attack the final quarter.
Props Alec Hepburn and Harry Williams, together with hooker Elvis Taione, offered a new, no-nonsense approach in the front-row, while Sam Simmonds - who has been causing havoc all season in the Exeter back-row - wasted little time in introducing himself to proceedings.
Sensing they could gain an advantage up front, the Chiefs slowly, but surely, started to apply some pressure. With the momentum building by the minute, again their heavyweight pack got them to within sight of the line. A series of attempts at the line went close, but with no reward, before the ball came out to Armand, who stooped low and drove himself to the foot of the post.
Unsure, Lacey again refereed the decision to the TMO, but it took less than two viewings to confirm the Exeter man had claimed his second of the game. Steenson once more obliged with the conversion to level things up at 24-24.
With the Tribe now in full voice and the home band have been somewhat mooted by Exeter’s clinical approach. It was the Chiefs who looked to finish the job and claim a notable scalp.
This they did with aplomb, again working their way through the phases, this time milking a penalty which, perhaps on another day would have gone to the corner, but on this occasion was duly lapped up by Steenson, who drilled the ball between the posts to put his side in control.
Although there was less than eight minutes remaining, the Chiefs knew they could ill afford any kind of slip-ups. Twice they went into contact through Hepburn and the impressive Slade - and twice they coughed up turnover ball.
Thankfully, it did not harm them too much as first Nadolo was bundled into touch, courtesy of a great tackle from Turner, then the hosts knocked on in possession, gifting the Chiefs a scrum from which they could clear their lines.
In the end, Baxter’s side did what they had to do, starving their rivals of possession and running down the clock with ruthless precision. Such tactics were not only impressive, but another indicator of how this Chiefs side had evolved in recent years.
Europe now takes a back seat until December, when the Chiefs will go back-to-back against Pool 3 leaders Leinster. However, based on these opening two rounds, brace yourselves for two belting contests, the results of which could decide who advances into the last eight in the New Year.
Montpellier: J Mogg (J Michel 72); B Fall (T Nagusa 52), J Tomane, F Steyn, N Nadolo; B Paillaugue, R Pienaar (E Sanga 21); M Nariashvili ((G Fichten 65), R Ruffenach (C Geli 69), A Guillamon (D Kubriashvili 65); J Du Plessis, NJ van Rensburg; K Galletier, Y Camara (J Delannoy 72), L Picamoles (capt, W Liebenberg 66).
Tries - Tomane, Paillaugue, Nadolo (2); Conversions - Paillaugue (2)
Yellow Card: Mogg
Chiefs: P Dollman; L Turner, H Slade, I Whitten, O Woodburn (J Short 29); G Steenson, N White (W Chudley 75); B Moon (A Hepburn 49), J Yeandle (capt, E Taione 60), T Francis (H Williams 49); M Lees, J Hill; D Armand, J Salvi, T Waldrom (S Simmonds 52). Replacements (not used): O Atkins, T Hendrickson.
Tries - Armand (2), Whitten; Conversions - Steenson (3); Penalties - Steenson (2)
Referee: J Lacey (IRFU)
Attendance: 9,541