It's game day.
Exeter Chiefs host Montpellier today (Sunday, April 2) in the last 16 of the European Champions Cup. For hosts, it is a chance to reclaim the cup that they won in 2020, as well as recover from a disappointing loss at Bath last time out.
The reigning French champions will arrive at Sandy Park eyeing a quarter-final place, while the Chiefs will be looking to recover from a disappointing loss at Bath last time out.
“There was some tough talking, but I did think their needed to be,” said director of rugby Rob Baxter. “As a group, we all our had say, we all got things off our chest and now it’s a case of moving forward, starting with this weekend. For me, personally, I’m really looking forward to the game. I know some people will ask why, but the first thing I’m looking forward to is that first scrum, just to see if we have taken on board what happened last week and take on board what has happened in training this week. I want to see if we go: ‘Right, I’m here and I’m ready to stand up and fight.’
“Some things we can keep really simple for ourselves because as the game wore on last week, we got more and more frantic, more and more hectic and got more and more things wrong just because we wanted the game to go differently. The one thing that was really evident and all the discussions I’ve had with the group or individually, there was a frustration with each other and how we were playing that is causing more of the problems than is helping.
“Actually, what we have to do is settle down a little bit, focus in on our own jobs, focus on what we do, focus on our roles within the team and if we get anywhere near the level of doing those bits really well, I know we’re a very good side. That’s my job and that of the coaches to try and knock us back into alignment and not get frustrated with one another. We just need to chill a bit!”
As he warned, Baxter has made changes to his line-up and has rewarded some of those who impressed in the recent Premiership Rugby Cup final victory over London Irish. Tom Wyatt, Sean O’Brien and Will Becconsall all get their chance from the outset on Sunday.
Standing in the way of the Chiefs in their pursuit of victory and a potential place in the quarter-finals are Montpellier, who on their two previous visits to Devon have shipped over 40 points on both occasions.
Baxter, though, is aware of the threat they pose to his side and has issued a timely word of warning ahead of kick-off this weekend.
“They are a good side, but I’m kind of pleased about that,” he said. “Some of our best performances, particularly in Europe have come against good sides. Knowing it will be a challenge this weekend, I know will bring the best out of our guys.”
Team news for the Chiefs sees Baxter make two changes to his pack of forwards, bringing in the sizeable frames of both Jonny Gray and Jannes Kirsten. Outside of them, there is a new half-back pairing of Becconsall and Joe Simmonds, the former replacing Sam Maunder, who is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a serious knee injury. O’Brien comes into the midfield in place of Solomone Kata, while Wyatt will make his first-ever European appearance, replacing Josh Hodge at full-back.
Follow all the build-up, team news, live play-by-play match updates, reaction, stats, analysis and highlights from Sandy Park with regular updates below...
Incredible match
The dust is settling here at Sandy Park and people can't quite believe what they have seen. You can't help but feel Montpellier would have won that with a full complement of players for the full 80 but that's the game. They were desperately close with 14 men, but Exe showed remarkable resilience and determination to see it out.
Bring on the Stormers!
33-33
Unlucky Montpellier
You have to feel for the visitors. That was an amazing comeback from the French side, and it really looked like they had it. A herculean effort, they must be devastated to lose it so late. C'est la vie, as they say.
That. Was. Incredible.
One of the most incredible Chiefs games of all time. Just when you think you've seen it all with this club, they pull something else incredible out of the fire.
33-33
Exeter are through!!
Joe Simmonds lines up the conversion - he does it!!! Exeter are through!!!!!!!!! They go through on tries scored!!
33-33
TRY EXETER CHIEFS!!!!!
TRY EXETER CHIEFS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jack Yeandle goes over!!! Conversion to come.
31-33
Turnover to Exeter!
A Montpellier try would totally kill this - but Exeter cling on! Brilliant tackling and a turnover from Nowell. Exe with the lineout on halfway.
Exe need a try now.
26-33
Forward pass
O'Loughlin looks like he is about to hare down the wing - but the pass to him was forwards. Scrum to Montpellier. Only four minutes or so left to rescue this one.
26-33
Try - Montpellier
Carbonel finishes off an excellent move, slicing thorugh from cose range! Great try - and what a comeback from the visitors.
Garbisi bags the extras. Exeter have it all to do now.
26-33
More Montpellier pressure
Hodge tries to escape but is dragged into touch.
Montpellier lineout 5m out
26-26
Close!
Carbonel's kick is just - and I mean just - under the bar. Acuracy was good tough.
26-26
Penalty to Montpellier
Exeter make a bright start to the second half- but concede the penalty.
They are going for goal a good 5 metres inside their own half! Do they have the range? Louiis Carbonel lining it up...
26-26
All square still
No points from either side, despite heavy Exeter pressure.
The rules apparently are Exeter will go through on tries scored as things stand.
26-26
Held up!
So close! A rolling maul travels 20m and it looks like they are over - but held up!! They go to the TMO...no try.
Drop-out to Montpellier
26-26
Chance!
Penalty to Exeter, but they fail to find touch! Rookie error at this stage in the game. Exe still have the ball 40m out.
An amazing break by Sam Simmonds, he is so close but a wonderful tackle by Leo Coly just stops him. Penalty to Montpellier to ease the pressure.
26-26
Penalty - Montpellier
Early Exeter is halted - and now Montpellier have a penalty turnover which they are sending deep into Exeter territory.
Sandy Park stunned into silence here still.
26-26
Turnover!
O'Brien wins the turnover on the Chifs 22 and goes on the charge. It only needs to go out - but he is turned over!! Incredible!
Penalty to Montpellier 45m out - they are going for goal!
26-23
Close!
Exe slowing things down but then launch an attack down thw win. Deliberate knock-on? No, just a lineout.
Now Exeter knock on! Montpellier have a final chance, deep in their own territory, with 20 seconds left.
26-23
Try - Monetpellier
They get the try this time! Relentless play from the visitors and they have their breakthrough. Really well-worked on the outside and Lenni Nouchi dots down!
Garbisi misses the conversion. They are three points behind now.
26-23
Try disallowed!
Montpellier go over the whitewas again but the final pass is clearly forward and referee Andrew Brace calls them back.
Exe under heavy pressure here.
26-18
No try!
Increidlbe! The try is scrubbed off AFTER the conversion but BEFORE the restart. There was a knock-on before Jenkins infringed. Amazing. It's a penalty to Montpellier.
26-18
Try - Montpellier
They are hanging on! Montpellier keep plugging away, phase after phase. They win the advange and Exeter seemed to switch off for a second and Thomas Darmon dots down.
Conversion is missed.
Hang on - another TMO check?
Wasted chance!
Glorious chance for the visitors. They break the line and have men over, but Garbisi goes for a huge pass which drifts forward.
Let-off for Exe there. Still life left in this Montpellier team.
Hang on - TMO has called the ref back. It was a no-arms tackle on Garbisi after he sent the pass. Penalty to Montpellier, and they kick it into touch 5m out.
70 mins
Free-kick Exeter
The softest free-kick you will ever see. Montpellier try and go into a huddle before a lineout but referee Andrew Brace isn't having any of it. He urges them to hurry up - but they continue to chat among themselves. Free-kick to Exeter.
26-18
Try - Exeter Chiefs!
What a turnaround! Josh Iosefa-Scott powers over and Exe take command of this match. Determined close-range pick-and-gos and it is the prop who barges his way over.
Incredible stuff.
Simmonds converts - and crucially opens up an eight-point lead.
26-18
