Exeter beaten by Sharks in Champions Cup opener

Phepsi Buthelezi touched down for the first of Sharks' five tries against Exeter Chiefs

Investec Champions Cup

Sharks (26) 39

Tries: Buthelezi, Mapimpi, Williams, Kolisi 2 Cons: Jordan Henrikse 4 Pens: Jordan Hendrikse 2

Exeter (14) 21

Tries: Frost 2, Feyi-Waboso Cons: Hodge 3

Exeter Chiefs were beaten 39-21 by a strong Sharks side in an eventful opening Investec Champions Cup pool match in Durban.

Chiefs played against 12 men for about six minutes late on as Sharks had three players sent to the sin-bin in quick succession, but they could not find a fourth try that would have earned them a bonus point.

Exeter, who have lost their first seven Premiership games of the season, went ahead early on with hooker Dan Frost's try, which came while they were a man down themselves with Greg Fisilau in the sin-bin.

Frost touched down again in the closing seconds of the first period, but by that time Challenge Cup holders Sharks had taken control with four unanswered scores to lead 26-14 at the break.

Phepsi Buthelezi, Makazole Mapimpi and Grant Williams all rounded off slick attacking moves, before South Africa's World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi strolled in to wrap up a bonus point.

Kolisi's second try, after Sharks had snaffled the loose ball from an Exeter line-out, stretched the hosts' lead to 22 points.

England winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso claimed a crossfield kick for Exeter's third score, but they missed a glorious opportunity to collect a bonus point when Ben Hammersley failed to gather a high kick to the left corner during the spell they were playing with a three-man advantage.

Exeter, Champions Cup winners in 2020 and beaten quarter-finalists last season, host holders Toulouse in their next Pool One match on Sunday, 15 December (17:30 GMT).

Clinical Sharks too strong for Chiefs

Although winless in the Premiership in 2024-25, five of Exeter's seven defeats have been by a margin of six points or fewer.

Without the rested Henry Slade, Chiefs showed attacking ambition against a Sharks starting XV containing six of the players who helped South Africa beat England at Allianz Stadium last month.

The visitors were rewarded with an opening try in the spell while number eight Fisilau was off the field, having been yellow-carded for making head-to-head contact in a tackle on Sharks full-back Aphelele Fassi.

Rather than kick an easy three points when Sharks were penalised close to their own line, Exeter took a quick tap and Frost burrowed over from close range.

But the hosts proved far too clinical at the other end, with Kolisi crossing for two of their five tries.

Back with Sharks after a year playing for Racing 92 in France, the flanker marked his first Champions Cup appearance since his return to South Africa by twice running in unopposed from 20 metres.

Line-ups

Sharks: Fassi; Keyter, Hooker, Esterhuizen, Mapimpi; Jordan Hendrikse, Williams; Nche, Mbonambi, Nyakane, Etzebeth (capt), Van Heerden, J Venter, Tshituka, Kolisi.

Replacements: Richardson, Mchunu, Jacobs, Jenkins, Buthelezi, Jaden Hendrikse, Masuku, F Venter.

Exeter: Hodge; Feyi-Waboso, Hammersley, Tua, Wyatt; Haydon-Wood, Townsend; Sio, Frost, Street, Molina, Capstick, E Roots, Vermeulen (capt), Fisilau.

Replacements: Innard, Goodrick-Clarke, J Roots, Tshiunza, Vintcent, Becconsall, Skinner, Rigg.

Referee: Jeremy Rozier (France)