Exeter knew the backlash was coming yet still could not help being swept away by a smarting, snarling Clermont Auvergne who reminded everyone of their pedigree on home soil.
The Stade Marcel-Michelin, where Clermont have not lost in European competition since 2008, is as close as you will come to a modern-day gladiatorial colosseum among rugby stadia. After losing 31-14 at Sandy Park last week, the crowd came for blood. Devonian blood. The retribution was primarily delivered by a ferocious pack buoyed by the return of Vincent Debaty, Jamie Cudmore and Fritz Lee, the outstanding No 8.
The backs feasted upon such a platform. David Strettle scored the first of their five tries; Jonathan Davies, making his first appearance in seven months since rupturing his ACL the last. Their support were quick to issue the rejoinder that “Ici, Ici, c’est Montferrand.”
Jonathan Davies breaks through a tackle
Exeter’s hopes of progressing are still alive but much like a rabbit being played with by a Rottweiler they are not in a good way. Victories in their remaining matches against Bordeaux and Ospreys are essential. Their absenttes were acutely felt, particularly the boot of Henry Slade and the no-holds-barred physicality of Dave Ewers in the back row. As ever their spirit could not be found wanting and after being pummelled for the majority of the match they summoned the final try of the game through Tom Johnson, even if that proved to be a small crumb of comfort to Rob Baxter, the Chiefs head coach.
“We were aware that there was a real physical challenge coming today,” Baxter said. “If you know a physical challenge is coming then the first thing you need to do is be prepared to stand there and fight. Really when Clermont first had the ball, you couldn’t say we were standing and fighting and making it difficult for Clermont.
“We have bumps and bruises but you should have bumps and bruises after a game like this. There should be a bit of blood and a few stitches needed. I am not really too worried about the European games. Now it is about showing our real qualities on Boxing Day against Sale. I’ve said to the lads that I am expecting a huge buy-in from them now in terms of how they prepare themselves. I want to see some upset players who want to train and play better.”
Clermont keep Exeter pinned down
The opening promised so much for Exeter. After going through 20 plus phases inside the Clermont 22, Camille Lopez was sin-binned for dumping Matt Jess on his head. Gareth Steenson kicked Exeter 3-0 ahead giving the hardy band of travelling supporters reason to believe. By the time Lopez returned to the field that hope had been expunged.
Morgan Parra and Scott Spedding each kicked a long-range penalty. The Clermont tackling was ferocious, creating divots the size of sofas. It was from such a thumping tackle that created the opening for Strettle’s score when Dom Armand had the ball knocked from his grasp. Clermont worked the ball to the former Saracens wing who cut a gorgeous line inside James Short and past the despairing tap tackles of Gareth Steenson and Julian Salvi.
Another Parra penalty extended the lead to 16-3. The in-house band was now in full flow. It was to get worse before the half was out when Thomas Waldrom was sin-binned for playing the ball on the floor. Unlike Exeter, Clermont had no intention of letting this opportunity pass them by scoring tries through Alexandre Lapandry and Lee from mauls.
Scott Spedding makes inroads
There was glamour too to accompany the grunt, mainly from Davies. It was his searing break through the middle that set up the bonus-point score for Sébastien Vahaamahina. The Wales centre, who showed impressive fitness levels in his first game back after so long out, then got back to make a try-saving tackle on Alec Hepburn before popping up to gather Lopez’s crossfield kick for a cathartic try of his own.
Even if Johnson, the replacement flanker, scored a consolation try after two home players had been yellow carded collapsing Chiefs drives, this was very much a night of revenge and retribution for Clermont.
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