Chiefs 9 Toulon 14

Exeter Chiefs 9

Toulon 14

Mark Stevens at Sandy Park

They say that cream always rises to the top and so it proved as Jonny Wilkinson put the seal on a hard fought 14-9 victory for reigning Heineken Cup champions Toulon over hosts Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park.

Just over ten years have elapsed since the talented playmaker dropped a goal in Sydney to win England their first and only Rugby World Cup.

Present day in Devon and the 34-year-old was at it again as his late three-pointer ensured the star-studded Frenchman escaped with a slender advantage over their industrious Westcountry hosts.

The Chiefs, who gave everything in pursuit of victory and points, could easily look back at the contest and think 'if only' - but with their heads held high, they will regroup once more and prepare to challenge Bernard Laporte's men again at the Stade Mayol next week knowing they are not a million miles away from claiming arguably their biggest-ever scalp.

Returning to European action after Premiership defeats to Saracens and Bath, Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter stuck with an unchanged starting XV from that which had been undone at the Rec just seven days earlier. Indeed, the sole change in Exeter personnel came on the bench where the long-serving James Hanks was preferred to Don Armand.

Toulon, meanwhile, were still licking their own wounds from a heavy loss at Stade Francais the week previous. However, the array of talent at the disposal of Laporte means that whoever takes to the field will offer something seriously tasty in terms of world rugby.

As it was, the Toulon XV led out by Wilkinson was easily the most eye-catching ever to take to the field at Sandy Park. Across the 23-man squad, it was not only a definite 'Who's Who' of world rugby, but boasted some 825 international caps between them. In reply, Exeter's total was that of 38 - of which 33 of them came from their own inspirational on-field leader, Aussie Dean Mumm.

Reputations, it seemed, counted for nothing as the Chiefs tore into their rivals from the outset. The bright opening saw the Premiership club go through a series of attacking waves, creating an opening for winger Jack Nowell wide on the right. However, as the Cornishman tore towards the line, he was bundled into touch by a clutch of French defenders, scrambling across at hast to thwart his advances.

In doing so, Toulon had clearly infringed as No.8 Chris Masoe was penalised by referee Alain Rolland for coming in at the side. It allowed Exeter's own deadly No.10, Gareth Steenson, to step forward and slot the game's opening points.

Exeter's lead, though, proved shortlived as within minutes Toulon countered to deadly effect. A slip tackle just inside the Chiefs half allowed Craig Burden to break free, before swift hands from Matt Giteau and Ali Williams paved the way for French prop Florian Fresia to bulldoze his way over the home line.

Wilkinson failed with the testing touchline conversion, but made no mistake when he was afforded a first penalty chance on 11 minutes when Chiefs flanker Ben White was adjudged to have held on in the tackle.

Steenson countered with a 18th minute penalty of his own, but that would be the Irishman's last involvement in the contest as he was forced to depart the grand stage, still nursing the effects of an earlier, bone-crunching hit in midfield from French powerhouse Mathieu Basteraud.

With Steenson sidelined, it meant an early call into the fray for Henry Slade, the young England fly-half who many are tipping to tread a similar international path to that of Wilkinson. And it didn't take the 20-year-old - himself a World Cup winner with England's Under-20s last summer - to showcase his talents, firing over a sublime penalty from wide on the right to make it 9-8.

It was a deserved lead the Chiefs held until the interval - even though they did threaten with several other half chances before Rolland called time on a pulsating first 40 minutes.

HALF TIME EXETER CHIEFS 9 TOULON 8

Although it was a slender buffer, the Chiefs re-emerged for the second period looking to replicate their on-field endeavours. Sadly, Toulon had other ideas and in a powerful opening burst to the half, they outlined their attacking strategy with a near 15-minute spell of pressure.

The Chiefs, especially on home soil, don't tend to lie down and surrender. Instead, they threw themselves into every collision, denying their illustrious counterparts by whatever means possible.

Referee Rolland was aware of the Exeter tactics and having spotted Mumm pull back an opponent off the ball, he awarded Toulon the first of several second half penalties. Wilkinson, though, was unable to capitalise as his long-range effort dropped short of the mark and into the arms of a Chiefs player who cleared with aplomb.

Back came Toulon again, but the Chiefs once more stood firm, winning the turnover just yards from their own line. However, as Phil Dollman and Luke Arscott looked to lead the counter, it was the latter who was singled out for holding on, thus allowing Wilkinson another opportunity to strike. Again, the Toulon skipper could not capitalise as this time he fired wide of the far post.

With chances mounting by the minute for Wilkinson, the normally lethal marksman suffered yet more woes as another lengthy punt fell short after replacement Haydn Thomas had become isloated looking to run the ball out of defence.

Toulon's pressure was clearly rising as first Arscott raced back to deny Alexis Palisson as he looked to chase down his clever chip over the top; then the intervention of the TV match official chalked off a potential score from Rudi Wulf after Nowell put in an outstanding try-saving tackle in the left-hand corner.

Bravely the Chiefs were hanging on by a thread, but when Alex Brown was popped out of a scrum midway inside the Exeter half, Wilkinson handed the kicking duties over to Aussie international Giteau, who disected the points with a laser-guided kick to restore his side's lead.

It was no more than Toulon deserved for their second half efforts. They were, however, not finished and having punched their way back inside Exeter's half, they created the opening for Wilkinson to land his decisive drop-goal.

Although the Chiefs did their best to summon a last response of sorts, Toulon's experience of slowing the game down, coupled with their ability to hold the ball at crucial times, meant Exeter's advances were ruthlessly denied.

The loss means that Baxter's men must now head to France knowing nothing short of victory will be enough to keep their Euro adventure alive.
Chiefs: L Arscott; J Nowell, P Dollman, J Shoemark (I Whitten 66), M Jess; G Steenson (H Slade 20), D Lewis (H Thomas 56); B Moon (B Sturgess 71), J Yeandle (C Whitehead 65), H Tui (A Brown 56); D Mumm (capt), D Welch (J Hanks 65); T Johnson, B White (K Horstmann 61), D Ewers.

Penalties - Steenson (2), Slade

Toulon: D Mitchell; A Palisson, M Basteraud, M Giteau, B Habana (R Wulf 37); J Wilkinson (capt), S Tillous-Borde (M Claassens 75); F Fresia (X Chiocci 56), C Burden (J-C Orioli 33), M Castrogiovanni (C Heyman 53); B Botha (J Suta 35), A Williams; J Smith (V Bruni 60), S Armitage, C Masoe. Replacement (not used): M Mermoz.

Try - Fresia; Penalties - Wilkinson, Giteau; Drop-Goal - Wilkinson

Referee: A Rolland

Attendance: 10,744

UP NEXT FOR THE CHIEFS: v Toulon (A), Heineken Cup, Saturday, December 14 (2.35pm)