Exeter Chiefs set up date with Stormers

MATCH REPORT: Hooker Jack Yeandle crossed in the final play of extra time to send Exeter Chiefs into the Champions Cup quarterfinals on tries scored as they drew 33-33 with 14-man Montpellier Hérault at Sandy Park on Sunday.

The veteran dotted down after 100 minutes of drama, Joe Simmonds’ conversion drawing Exeter level and seeing them progress – they scored five tries to Montpellier’s four. The win sees Exeter host Stormers in the quarterfinals next weekend.

Scores from Scott Sio, Sam Simmonds, Tom Wyatt and Josh Iosefa-Scott looked to have been enough for the 2020 champions in normal time, but Paolo Garbisi’s penalty for Montpellier levelled the scores at the death – the Italian tallied 13 points during the contest.

Montpellier crossed twice inside the opening 10 minutes, through Curtis Langdon and Vincent Rattez, and although Zach Mercer was sent off in the second half, the TOP 14 side got over again through Lenni Nouchi.

The visitors looked to have snatched an incredible victory in extra time when Louis Carbonel crossed, but Yeandle was on hand to cross in dramatic fashion for Exeter.

It was a worrying start for Exeter as Montpellier went over twice early on – replacement hooker Langdon powered over before wing Rattez finished off a flowing move in the corner.

Flyhalf Garbisi converted the first score to leave the gap at 12 points, but Exeter grew into the game and eventually forced their way over through prop Sio after good work from hooker Dan Frost.

No.8 Sam Simmonds then notched Exeter’s second on 34 minutes with another close-range finish, the hosts’ pressure also seeing Montpellier flanker Masivesi Dakuwaqa sent to the sin bin.

With a man advantage and the lead thanks to Joe Simmonds’ two conversions, it looked a healthy situation for Exeter as the clock ticked down to half time, but Montpellier responded well and as they pushed for a third score, centre Henry Slade was shown yellow for a deliberate knock-on.

Garbisi slotted the resulting penalty to put Montpellier 15-14 up at the break but there would be contrasting emotions for their No.8 Mercer at the start of the second half.

The Englishman looked to have scored his side’s third try when he crashed through Tom Wyatt to finish in the corner, but the TMO spotted an off-the-ball block in the build-up and moments later, Mercer was dismissed for a high tackle on Exeter flank Christ Tshiunza.

Garbisi kicked a penalty to extend Montpellier’s lead to four points but Exeter piled on the pressure with an extra man and young full-=back Wyatt produced a terrific finish on his EPCR debut to hand them the lead.

Chiefs then forced their way over for a fourth time on 64 minutes when replacement prop Iosefa-Scott planted down from close range, Joe Simmonds’ extras widening the gap to eight points.

But Montpellier continued to look dangerous with ball in hand, and after the TMO ruled out another score from them, replacement back-row forward Nouchi finished off a flowing move to reduce the deficit to three points.

And Exeter couldn’t see out the remaining two minutes, conceding a penalty deep into overtime, which Garbisi duly dispatched from 45 metres to level the scores at 26-26 and force extra time.

It was a nervy additional period and Montpellier, undeterred by the numerical disadvantage, continued to cause Exeter problems.

The visitors looked to have snatched an improbable win when replacement flyhalf Carbonel darted over and Garbisi converted with seven minutes to play.

But Yeandle, who was held up over the line in the first period of extra time, made no mistake in the final seconds as he barreled across the whitewash, Joe Simmonds nervelessly striking the conversion through the uprights.

The scorers:

For Exeter Chiefs:
Tries: Sio, Simmonds, Wyatt, Iosefa-Scott, Yeandle
Cons: Simmonds 4

For Montpellier
Tries: Langdon, Rattez, Nouchi, Carbonel.
Cons: Garbisi 2
Pens: Garbisis 3

Yellow cards: Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 38); Masivesi Dakuwaqa (Montpellier, 33)

Red card: Zach Mercer (Montpellier, 49)

Teams:

Exeter: 15 Tom Wyatt, 14 Jack Nowell (captain), 13 Henry Slade, 12 Sean O’Brien, 11 Olly Woodburn, 10 Joe Simmonds, 9 Will Becconsall, 8 Sam Simmonds, 7 Christ Tshiunza, 6 Jannes Kirsten, 5 Dafydd Jenkins, 4 Jonny Gray, 3 Marcus Street, 2 Dan Frost, 1 Scott Sio.
Replacements: 16 Jack Yeandle, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 19 Aidon Davis, 20 Dave Ewers, 21 Tom Cairns, 22 Harvey Skinner, 23 Josh Hodge.

Montpellier: 15 Anthony Bouthier (captain), 14 Ben Lam, 13 Thomas Darmon, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Vincent Rattez, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Zach Mercer, 7 Masivesi Dakuwaqa, 6 Nico Janse van Rensburg, 5 Tyler Duguid, 4 Elliott Stooke, 3 Henry Thomas, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Enzo Forletta.
Replacements: 16 Curtis Langdon, 17 Simon-Pierre Chauvac, 18 Mohamed Haouas, 19 Lenni Nouchi, 20 Leo Coly, 21 Louis Carbonel, 22 George Bridge, 23 Marco Tauleigne.

Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Eoghan Cross (Ireland), Oisin Quinn (Ireland)
TMO: Joy Neville (Ireland)