Rob Baxter has described the end of Exeter Chiefs' enthralling Champions Cup victory over Glasgow Warriors as 'farcical', as his side very nearly blew it in spectacular fashion. Exe were a long way from their best at Sandy Park today (Saturday, January 13), but managed to haul themselves into an unlikely 19-17 lead with just a couple of minutes remaining after trailing for much of the game.
But a scrum on their own 5m line turned into a nightmare when Ross Vincent tried to kick the ball out from the base of the scrum. His weak clearance was charged down and fell to Euan Ferrie, who dived over the line to seemingly snatch victory from the jaws of defeat for the visitors.
But referee Pierre Brousset eventually went to the TMO and, after a lengthy review, disallowed the try for Ferrie detaching from the scrum early. There were also suggestions that scrum-half Stu Townshend was hauled down by opposite number George Horne.
The win sent Exeter through to the knockout stages of the competition, and director of rugby Baxter felt it was the right decision to disallow the try.
"The end was a little bit farcical but that’s what it was. It was always going to be disallowed if it went to the TMO because there were three or four offences. The big decision wasn’t turning the try over, the big decision was going to the TMO," he said.
"It looked like he was going to give a decision but then it happened so quickly, he just gave the try. I thought something was going on and it took a long time for the TMO to look at. Once he did, it was an easy decision to make.
"We had a young No.8 there who wasn’t see a scenario like that before. There’s no way he should be looking to kick that ball off the field but, at the same time, our No.9 should have been there to play it but he was pulled to the ground.
"Those are some of the silly things we will have to go through with these lads because they just haven’t been through them before. I’ve had this for weeks and weeks in a row with these lads but it is kind of what makes it fun as well."
Exeter showed remarkable resilience to hang on in a game in which they were second best for long periods. A lacklustre first-half performance saw them trailing 10-0 early on as Horne kicked a penalty and Duncan Weir converted a Kyle Rowe try. Exeter also had Greg Fisilau sent to the bin for tackle with head contact.
Man-of-the-match Jacques Vermeulen managed to power over just before the break though and Henry Slade's conversion reduced the deficit to three. Sione Tuipulotu then finished off a thrusting Glasgow attack and Weir converted to give Glasgow a deserved 17-7 lead.
Despite being a long way from their best, and coming up against a stubborn Glasgow defence, Exeter kept fighting. Dan Frost ploughed over to cut the lead again, but Slade missed the conversion to make it a five-point game. Zack Wimbush had a try disallowed, but managed to dot down with three minutes remaining to level it.
Slade converted, and it looked like Exeter had come from behind once again to secure the win. Then came the late drama with Glasgow seemingly pinching the victory, only for Monsieur Brousset and TMO Denis Grenouillet to deny them.
"I’m not being funny but fair play to these lads – there is something about them isn’t there? There definitely is a never-say-die situation about them," Baxter said. "I see no reason why we can’t knock some big teams over but I think our challenge is fighting on all fronts."
