| Exeter (14) 28 |
| Tries: Williams (2), S.Simmonds, J.Simmonds Cons: J. Simmonds (4) |
| Toulouse (11) 18 |
| Tries: Placines, Lebel Con: Ramos Pens: Ramos (2) |
Exeter ground down free-working, swiftly-starting Toulouse to create their first Champions Cup closing with a if truth be told-earned victory at Sandy Park.
The French champions started smartly with about a Thomas Ramos penalties to illustrate for his or her early dominance.
However Exeter dug in and cease-differ tries from Harry Williams and Sam Simmonds gave them a slim half of-time lead.
After a 2d attempt from Williams, Joe Simmonds waltzed in to be obvious Matthis Lebel’s attempt wouldn’t alter the consequence.
Exeter’s avid gamers leapt in delight at the closing whistle with simplest the shouts from their backroom staff and fellow squad people echoing round the empty Sandy Park stands.
Exeter will play French facet Racing 92 at Bristol’s Ashton Gate on Saturday 17 October in a closing that will most seemingly be obvious a brand contemporary name on the trophy.
Toulouse have already obtained the tournament four events, their first title coming in the similar three hundred and sixty five days that Exeter were in the fourth tier of English rugby.
In the origin it seemed that Toulouse’s pedigree would trump Exeter’s ambition, with the French facet’s rapidfire recycling and skilful off-loading putting the hosts on the motivate foot.
However step by step Exeter imposed their trademark forward energy on a Toulouse pack that used to be bigger on bulk than stamina.
Williams’ first attempt came after impressive soar Tom O’Flaherty burst by to assign Toulouse into retreat.
The pals answered almost at present after with replace Alban Placines crossing at the live of a sweeping attack, nevertheless Sam Simmonds barged by on the stroke of half of-time to give Exeter a lead they under no circumstances gave up.
When Simmonds’ brother Joe threw a dummy and scampered for a converted attempt that made it 28-11 on 70 minutes the celebrations would perhaps also delivery up in earnest.
‘An 80-minute sport’ – what they talked about
Exeter director of rugby Opt Baxter: “It is section of what we’re about as a membership now, having things to aim for and walk for.
“The finest thing for me now isn’t good to flip up and contrivance cease section in the game. It is to acquire out on that enviornment to employ it.
“We had to weather the storm, we had to create them work flat out for his or her functions.
“Huge games of rugby, they’re love boxing matches. At some levels, the particular person that can’t obtain his hands up to any extent additional can obtain knocked out.
“We made Toulouse must preserve getting off the bottom, and made them must preserve doing something to acquire metres.
“Every person sold into the entire 80-minute thing. What’s the most easy contrivance of fatiguing a immense man? You stick him on the bottom and obtain him to acquire up.”
Exeter: Hogg, Nowell, Slade, Whitten, O’Flaherty, J. Simmonds, J. Maunder, Hepburn, Cowan-Dickie, Williams, Grey, Hill, Ewers, S. Skinner, S. Simmonds.
Replacements: Devoto for Whitten (67), Hidalgo-Clyne for J. Maunder (62), Moon for Hepburn (67), Yeandle for Cowan-Dickie (62), Francis for Williams (62), Armand for Grey (67), Dennis for S. Skinner (77).
No longer Extinct: Steenson.
Toulouse: Ramos, Huget, Guitoune, Ahki, Kolbe, Ntamack, Dupont, Baille, Marchand, Faumuina, R. Arnold, Tekori, Kaino, Cros, Tolofua.
Replacements: Placines for Arnold (23), Lebel for Huget (62), Holmes for Kolbe (67), Bales for Dupont (72), Neti for Baille (62), Mauvaka for Marchand (62), Aldegheri for Faumuina (51), Madaule for Tekori (67).