Converted try: Exeter 21-45 Toulousepublished at 57 mins
57 mins
Josh Hodge (con Henry Slade)
Sharp passing from Exeter - Tamati Tua loses the ball as he's tackled, but Josh Hodge improvises with some neat footballing skills, propelling the ball forward legally and into space, and getting the score. And Exeter need just one more try for a bonus point.
Tommy Wyatt is stopped five metres short, but Exeter have the penalty advantage - it looks like they might get through, but Toulouse just about hold them off. It comes back for the penalty, and then the line-out. A little dink through from Stu Townsend almost gets Henry Slade in, but it's intercepted.
Another beautifully timed pass from Antoine Dupont, having drawn the defender, finds Thomas Ramos, who finds Pierre-Louis Barassi, and Exeter run out of cover. Thomas Ramos' conversion attempt, from distance out on the left, falls short.
The pleasing thing for Exeter there is that they've added those points while a man down.
A big moment here as Dafydd Jenkins come on for Exeter - his first competitive rugby since July, having been out of action with knee and shoulder problems
Converted try: Exeter 14-40 Toulousepublished at 46 mins
46 mins
Tommy Wyatt (con Henry Slade)
Exeter couldn't fire the first shot of the second half - but they have fired the second. Lovely spin from Dan Frost to create some space for himself, and then he asks Tommy Wyatt: How quick are you? He's fast enough to hurtle down the left touchline and over.
Toulouse now with enough time and space to decide on who scores their tries. Antoine Dupont involved again, and Thomas Ramos could score himself, but instead feeds left for Matthis Lebel to go over by the touchline. It arguably makes Ramos' conversion harder - too hard, as it turns out: His first failure of the night.
Postpublished at 18:31 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2024
18:31 GMT 15 December 2024
Exeter 7-35 Toulouse
Exeter prop Scott Sio, who is not on duty tonight, has been speaking to Premier Sports at half-time: "We haven't shown up for the first 40 minutes but I'm sure the boys will come out firing. At times there, at set-piece line-out, we haven't executed. They're very good at the transition. We're down 28 points, and we've got to fire the first shot."
Postpublished at 18:27 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2024
18:27 GMT 15 December 2024
Exeter 7-35 Toulouse
John Lockyer Former Exeter Chiefs captain on BBC Radio Devon
Dupont is a magician, isn't he? He's everything about Toulouse, not just a scrum-half, which obviously is an integral part of rugby. But he's appearing on the blindside, he's able to kick, he's making tackles, he's brave.
It's been a wonderful exhibition of brilliant rugby.
Postpublished at 18:25 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2024
18:25 GMT 15 December 2024
HT: Exeter 7-35 Toulouse
Feels like Rob Baxter's pre-match words about being positive are important now. He suggested his players at least had to try to dictate terms for the sake of their learning and development. Certainly they'll learn a lot from tonight - and maybe, in the long term, that will benefit them.
Postpublished at 18:22 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2024
18:22 GMT 15 December 2024
Tonight's Christmas half-time music watch at Sandy Park: Merry Christmas Everybody by Slade. Obviously thinking along similar lines to Leicester, who gave us Wizzard at half-time last night. Again, sounds like the Whamageddon players have been taken into account here.
Half-time: Exeter 7-35 Toulousepublished at 18:20 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2024
18:20 GMT 15 December 2024
Well, there's been some outstanding rugby played, and Exeter, for their part, have given it a good go. And really, that's all they can do. Toulouse have put on a first-half masterclass. It's not all been Antoine Dupont - although he has been superb.
Converted try: Exeter 7-35 Toulousepublished at 40 mins
40 mins
Pierre-Louis Barassi (con Thomas Ramos)
From the scrum, Antoine Dupont works it left, the ball keeps moving faster than Exeter can keep up with it - hasn't that been the story of the night so far - and Pierre-Louis Barassi dots down for the try he deserved for his role in their third score earlier on. Thomas Ramos keeps up his 100% kicking record, and Toulouse go in at the break with the match in their hands.
Andrew Brace, the referee, warns Exeter about the rising penalty count. "Next one goes to the bin," he shouts. Exeter just looking to get to half-time without further damage.
That is, of course, the bonus point secured for Toulouse, and they're pushing for another try here. Matthis Lebel darts this way and that - Exeter manage to hold firm.
Converted try: Exeter 7-28 Toulousepublished at 35 mins
35 mins
Thibaut Flament (con Thomas Ramos)
Exeter defending for all they're worth, and there looks no way through for Toulouse - but under pressure Antoine Dupont finds exactly the right pass, short and wide, for Thibaut Flament to dart into the corner. One moment there was no space; the next there was plenty. That's the magic of Dupont. Four conversions from four now for Thomas Ramos.
Converted try: Exeter 7-21 Toulousepublished at 32 mins
32 mins
Tommy Wyatt (con Henry Slade)
Great response. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso breaks a tackle and feeds Stu Townsend, and suddenly it's Toulouse who are opened up. Tommy Wyatt's free to finish the move, and Henry Slade converts. Exeter needed that.
Converted try: Exeter 0-21 Toulousepublished at 18:02 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2024
18:02 GMT 15 December 2024
Matthis Lebel (con Thomas Ramos)
Wow. All about Pierre-Louis Barassi, this. From deep in his own territory. the centre produces some magical footwork and suddenly there's a gap. He can't quite go all the way himself, and needs Matthis Lebel to provide the finish, but there's never any doubt it's going to be a try. Lebel dives between the posts, Thomas Ramos adds two more.