Postpublished at 19:45 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2024
19:45 GMT 15 December 2024
Before the game at Sandy Park, I quoted Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter. He had discussed his side's chances of victory tonight by saying this:
"That's the beauty of sport – that you can go into a game and, if you get things right, then you can achieve things as a group that is almost beyond what anyone would think."
The beauty of sport was definitely on show tonight. It was on show, though, from Toulouse. And at the moment, very little looks to be beyond them.
Postpublished at 19:42 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2024
19:42 GMT 15 December 2024
FT: Exeter 21-64 Toulouse
What about Exeter going forward? They're back in domestic action away to Sale next Saturday, seeking their first Premiership points of the season.
Henry Slade, speaking to Premier Sports: "I think although the season results wise hasn't been anywhere near what we want, if you look at the performances, there have been a lot of games decided on small margins, so many games we've lost on the last score. Performance-wise, it's not far away and sooner or later it's going to be clicking. Conceding 60 points at home hurts and we hate to do that to our fans. We want to put it right and the first chance to do that is next week."
Postpublished at 19:40 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2024
19:40 GMT 15 December 2024
FT: Exeter 21-64 Toulouse
Henry Slade, speaking to Premier Sports: "Toulouse are an unbelievable team. They have threats everywhere. It's tough to win the ball. They've got quality players all over the park and they showed their class tonight."
Postpublished at 19:39 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2024
19:39 GMT 15 December 2024
FT: Exeter 21-64 Toulouse
Henry Slade, the England centre who has been pressed into action at fly-half in Exeter's opening two Champions Cup games, has come out to do a TV interview. Here's what he had to say.
Postpublished at 19:33 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2024
19:33 GMT 15 December 2024
FT: Exeter 21-64 Toulouse
Jack Willis and Blair Kinghorn both saying all the right things, there. And you can't really judge Toulouse's chances of winning the whole tournament solely on tonight's display. But they've made the statement they needed to make, and that will keep spirits sky high in advance of the bigger tests they will face later in the competition. At the moment, they are the team to beat.
'If you don't train or play well, you won't be in'published at 19:31 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2024
19:31 GMT 15 December 2024
FT: Exeter 21-64 Toulouse
Toulouse's Blair Kinghorn, speaking to Premier Sports: "I was happy to get on and get a good win with the boys. It's always a hard away game at Exeter, so I'm happy with the win. With the depth of the squad, it's making everyone better. If you don't play or train well, you won't be in the side."
'We have to be better than last year'published at 19:29 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2024
19:29 GMT 15 December 2024
FT: Exeter 21-64 Toulouse
Toulouse flanker Jack Willis, speaking to Premier Sports: "It's the first time I've ever won at Sandy Park, so I'm pleased to change that. We knew Exeter would come at us. They came at us in the first 10 minutes. I'm chuffed to get the win.
"From our perspective, we made some incredible memories last year. But we know the target's on our back and we know we have to be better than last year."
'The pressure makes us better'published at 19:23 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2024
19:23 GMT 15 December 2024
FT: Exeter 21-64 Toulouse
Man of the match Pierre-Louis Barassi, speaking to Premier Sports: "We are so happy for the team. It's collective work and I am just here to finish the work. I am happy we continue like this in the Champions Cup. I'm happy with my performance. and for the collective.
"It looked easy from the outside but on the pitch it's always hard because every team wants to beat us. We are lucky we have a big squad.
"We always feel pressure. But it's this pressure that makes us better."
Postpublished at 19:20 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2024
19:20 GMT 15 December 2024
FT: Exeter 21-64 Toulouse
Exeter can take heart from the fact that they scored three tries, and that they kept on fighting, and maybe that will give them something for the matches ahead. Tonight, realistically, was always going to be tough. And my goodness, it was tough.
Pierre-Louis Barassi is announced as the man of the match. That burst he made for Toulouse's third try, which was finished off by Matthis Lebel, was the moment of the match, I would argue.
Just a question of a knock-on in the build-up by Romain Ntamack in the build-up here. But it's worked right for Blair Kinghorn, who can't quite get to the line, and so lays it back for Paul Graou to go over for try number 10.
For a second, it looks as if Blair Kinghorn has somehow angled his body to dive over in the corner for Toulouse from another Thomas Ramos pass before being flung into touch. But TV replays show the ball just - only just - slipped from his grasp before the grounding.
Ross Vintcent gets involved in some off-the-ball playground naughtiness: Toulouse have the penalty, and from it, the attacking line-out. But Exeter manage to steal, and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso makes a burst that excites the home support before being held up - remember, Exeter need one more try for a bonus point.
Converted try: Exeter 21-59 Toulousepublished at 69 mins
69 mins
Blair Kinghorn (con Thomas Ramos)
Toulouse attack at speed once more, though - it's Ntamack, to Ramos, to replacement Blair Kinghorn, the man over, with the time and the space to go over in the corner. One of those tries where you look at the scorer and say: I could have scored that. It's the build-up play that makes it. And of course, you have to be in the right place to finish. Thomas Ramos puts the conversion in the right place, and Toulouse need two more points to match their score from last week.
Exeter, though, continue to fight - great work from Stu Townsend to hold up another Toulouse surge, and he wins the scrum for his team. The scrum collapses, and Henry Slade can clear the lines.
Converted try: Exeter 21-52 Toulousepublished at 62 mins
62 mins
Theo Ntamack (con Thomas Ramos)
Always the danger with Toulouse, though. Always the danger. Theo Ntamack, one of a raft of replacements on the second half, takes on the offload and races through unchallenged for try number eight.
And it's worth pointing out now that Exeter have outscored Toulouse on points in the second half so far. You don't win anything for that, but it is a signal as to how they've kept going here, for which they deserve great credit.