Exeter 19-17 Glasgow: Exeter snatch late win in dramatic Investec Champions Cup game
- Published
Jacques Vermeulen's try just before half-time proved to be a vital moment
Investec Champions Cup Pool 3 |
|---|
Exeter: (7) 19 |
Tries: Vermeulen, Frost, Wimbush Cons: Slade 2 |
Glasgow: (10) 17 |
Tries: Rowe, Tuipulotu Pen: Horne Cons: Weir 2 |
Henry Slade kicked a late conversion to snatch victory over Glasgow and book Exeter's spot in the Investec Champions Cup knockouts.
The Warriors thought they snatched a dramatic victory when Euan Ferrie scored but his try was chalked off.
Exeter's Ross Vintcent went to kick the ball out to end the game before he was tackled by Ferrie but he was adjudged to be offside from the scrum.
That meant Zack Wimbush's late try and Slade's conversion were the difference.
The circumstances were the same for Slade in the opening round when he slotted an injury-time conversion to beat Toulon, and the England international, from out wide, slotted the kick to once again be the hero for Exeter.
Glasgow scored the first try of the game through Kyle Rowe before Jacques Vermeulen responded in the last play of the half.
Sione Tuipulotu grabbed the opening score of the second period but Exeter fought back through tries by replacements Dan Frost and Wimbush.
The result means Rob Baxter's side have qualified for a fifth-consecutive season to the knockout stages. His side reached the semi-finals last season before defeat by eventual champions La Rochelle.
Exeter's final pool game is against Bayonne on 21 January, with Glasgow hosting Toulon on 19 January, knowing a win would likely secure a place in the last 16.
Youthful Chiefs continue to show resilience
Baxter has rejuvenated his squad this season through the introduction of youth following the departure of the core old guard from the 2020 Champions Cup-winning side.
The new, fearless group have so far in their European campaign shown no signs of expectations lowering with victories over former champions Toulon and Munster.
However, the inconsistency of youth appeared in the first half when Ben Hammersley misjudged the bounce of the ball - only to kick it into the hands of Rowe for the opening try.
Exeter responded at the end of the half when Vermeulen, one of the three remaining players from the 2020 Champions Cup final win, powered over.
The Warriors extended their lead in the second half when lock Scott Cummins broke clear before the ball was fired out to captain Tuipulotu, who showed sharp footwork to finish.
Against Munster and Toulon, the Chiefs showed mental resilience to fightback when the game appeared out of their grasp, and once again two tries and an ice-cool kick from Slade showed why this new generation could be just as special.
With England head coach Steve Borthwick set to name his Six Nations squad on Wednesday, the centre also provided another timely reminder of his temperament on the big stage.
'I have reset it back to the mindset before I was playing for England' - Slade
Match-winner Slade, speaking to 5 Live: "We showed a lot of heart in that game. If things go differently and we lose that game then we maybe we deserved to.
"Obviously we come away very happy as we have won. We are incredibly pleased with the four points but have plenty to work on."
On the winning kick: "I just focus on that job that is in front of you and taking yourself away from the gravity of the situation. Once that try is scored and everyone is celebrating I just take myself away for 10 seconds and regather myself.
"Thankfully I was able to convert. I would prefer it if I didn't have to do it so often."
On being picked in the Six Nations squad: "I was massively gutted not to go [to the World Cup] and distraught but I feel I have used it in a good way as a motivation and drive to keep improving. I have reset it back to the mindset before I was playing for England and how did I get picked.
"That is working hard here everyday and playing as hard as I can with these boys and [I will] control what I can control."
Line-ups
Exeter: Wyatt; Feyi-Waboso, Slade, O'Loughlin, Hammersley; Skinner, Cairns; Hepburn, Yeandle (capt), Painter, Tuima, Pearson, Roots, Vermeulen, Fisilau.
Replacements: Frost, Abuladze, Iosefa-Scott, Postlethwaite, Vintcent, Townsend, Hawkins, Wimbush.
Glasgow: McKay; Jones, Tuipulotu (capt), McDowall, Rowe; Weir, Horne; Kebble, Hiddleston, Fagerson, Cummings, Samuel, Miller, Fagerson, Venter.
Replacements: Turner, Bhatti, Sordoni, Gray, Williamson, Ferrie, Afshar, Jordan.
Referee: Pierre Brousset (Fra)
Sin-bin: Greg Fisilau(10)