Toulon 32 Chiefs 20

 



RC Toulon 32

Exeter Chiefs 20

Mark Stevens at Stade Felix Mayol

As copies of the local Var-Matin newspaper flittered from high in the stands of Toulon's Stade Felix Mayol, so it seems the hopes of Exeter Chiefs qualifying for the latter stages of this season's Heineken Cup followed suit.

Heroic efforts against reigning champions Toulon have certainly been notable, but the back-to-back defeats have left Devon's finest well adrift of their star-studded French rivals in Pool Two.

Bernard Laporte's star-studded side not only returned to the summit of the group, but their five-point haul has ensured they now lead next best Cardiff Blues by two points entering into the latter stages.

Winger David Smith claimed two of the home side's four scores, whilst Xavier Chiocci and Jonny Wilkinson also crossed during the second half for Toulon, whose other points came courtesy of Aussie Matt Giteau.

The Chiefs, however, played their part in another excellent encounter claiming tries through Don Armand and Ben White, whilst Henry Slade and Ceri Sweeney also got on the scoresheets with some impressive kicking. It was, though, never enough in the sunshine of the South of France.

Just a week after facing the current holders of the competition, Baxter opted to freshen up his line-up making six changes from that which went down 14-9 on home soil. Into the pack came James Hanks and Don Armand, whilst behind Haydn Thomas and Slade formed a new half-back partnership and Ian Whitten and James were also included from the outset.

Battered and bruised from their visit to Devon, Toulon also made changes as Jean-Charles Orioli and Jocelino Suta were brought in up front; whilst Giteau was switched from centre to fly-half at the expense of Jonny Wilkinson; Maxime Mermoz was brought into the centre and Smith filled the void left by South African speedster Bryan Habana.

Despite the new look to both teams, it was the Chiefs who set the early tone as they used the opening exchanges to outline their attacking endeavours. Although it was enterprising stuff from Baxter's men, it failed to bring the reward they craved in the hot-house of the Stade Mayol.

As it was, the Frenchmen soaked up Exeter's pressure before claiming the game's opening points on 11 minutes when Giteau, Alexis Palisson and Mermoz all combined to send winger Smith sprinting over in the left-hand corner for an unconverted try.

It was certainly the stuff of champions, but so too was the response form the Chiefs who countered within minutes. Thomas and Jack Nowell triggered the alarm bells with successive snipes, before the visitors delivered a telling blow through Armand.

The South African powerhouse was able to power his way over for his maiden Exeter try as he finished off a sizzling move that was instigated by Arscott's looping pass wide to James, who in turn barged his way past Palisson before shipping the ball back inside to Armand who did the rest. Slade obliged with the extras to give the Chiefs a slender two-point cushion.

Two minutes later and things could have got it even better as Arscott sliced through the Toulon midfield with a sharp counter. However, with Phil Dollman inside him the Chiefs full-back shunned his team-mate, opting instead to back himself for the outside route. Sadly, his burst was repelled and the chance came and went much to the relief of the home faithful, who had earlier been whipped into a frenzy by the infamous pre-match 'Pilou Pilou' chant.

Toulon made the most of the let-off as Aussie ace Giteau atoned for an earlier penalty miss by creating the opening for Smith to coast over for his second score, which was awarded by the TMO even though the final pass looked at least two yards forward.

Giteau this time made no mistake with the conversion, nor a penalty which the Chiefs concede in front of their sticks just before the break for straying offside in midfield.

However, the Chiefs were undeterred and having won back possession following a good kick-chase, they won a penalty wide on the right after Toulon were adjudged to have pulled in an opponent at the ruck. Up stepped Slade - on his European debut - to fire over a sublime kick to reduce the deficit to just five points.

HALF TIME    RC TOULON 15    EXETER CHIEFS 10

Looking for a big start to the second period, the Chiefs were dealt an early setback when referee John Lacey penalised them for a ruck infringement, allowing Giteau to stroke over his second penalty of the game and extend Toulon's grip on the contest to two scores.

Again the response was encouraging from the Englishmen as Nowell and Dollman threatened down the right flank, before Arscott clever grubber kick in behind just eluded Whitten as he closed in on the line.

As before, the Chiefs could not turn pressure into points and when James allowed Toulon to regain possession with a loose kick, the home side sensed the opportunity was there for them to strike. Delon Armitage landed a sumptuous touch finder; Suta stole the subsequent Exeter line-out and in the ensuing play, Steffon Armitage was deemed to have knocked the ball on just a yard or so from the Exeter line.

Exeter had escaped somehow and they used the let-off to position themselves back in enemy territory from which Slade was again able to strike - landing a penalty from inside the Toulon 22 after the home side had strayed offside.

It was not only an absorbing contest, but a bruising one to boot. With the injury count mounting on both sides, the Chiefs did their best to keep the pressure on their illustrious hosts. But with such riches available available from the bench, including England World Cup winner Wilkinson, Toulon's canter turned into a sprint come the last quarter.

A simple ball off the top from Ali Williams enabled the French side to release Drew Mitchell on the charge, the Aussie ace tore through the centre of Exeter's defensive line before the ball was worked through a series of phases to prop Chiocci, who was able to do the rest as he bulldozed his way over the whitewash for the converted score.

With the bonus point in sight, Toulon smelt blood and duly went for the jugular in their quest for further bounty. Turning down a kickable penalty, Wilkinson positioned the home side into the corner with a kick from which they were than add to pounce.

Initially the Chiefs held firm under sustained bombardment, but with Toulon pressing with wave upon wave of attacks, they exploited the numbers game cleverly to send Wilkinson in under the sticks for the all-important fourth try which man of the match Giteau duly converted to make it 32-13.

The class and execution of Toulon in attack were certainly telling factors, but the visitors were far from finished and they ensured the travelling Tribe of almost 1,000 fans were able to at least have the final cheer of the day.

Having seen Arscott thwarted by a superb try-saving tackle just five minutes from time, the dogged Chiefs kept on and coming and were duly rewarded when replacement White was able to crash over from a pop pass from Will Chudley. Replacement Ceri Sweeney added the conversion on his European debut for the club, but by then it was all a little too late.

Exeter did their best in the dying embers to try and salvage at least a losing bonus point, but Toulon were having none of it and expertly closed out the contest without too much fuss to put them back on the summit of Pool Two, two points ahead of next best Cardiff Blues, who during the past fortnight have been able to record back to back wins against Glasgow Warriors.

The Welsh region and the Scottish side are next on the agenda for the Chiefs in terms of Europe, but before then Baxter's men will have more pressing matters in the Premiership to deal with, starting with the upcoming visit of Newcastle Falcons to Sandy Park.


RC Toulon: D Mitchell; A Palisson (D Armitage 18), M Basteraud, M Memoz, D Smith (J Wilkinson 58); M Giteau, S Tillous-Borde (F Michalak 71); F Fresia (X Chiocci 59), J-C Orioli (B Noirot 66), C Hayman (M Castrogiovanni 54); J Suta, A Williams; J Smith, S Armitage, C Masoe (capt, V Bruni 10). Replacement (not used): K Mikautadze.

Tries - Smith (2), Chiocci, Wilkinson; Conversions - Giteau (3); Penalties - Giteau (2)

Chiefs: L Arscott; J Nowell (P Dollman 78), I Whitten, P Dollman (S Hill 66), T James; H Slade (C Sweeney 71), H Thomas (W Chudley 74); B Moon (B Sturgess 65), J Yeandle (C Whitehead 65), H Tui (A Brown 65); D Mumm (capt), J Hanks (D Welch 53); T Johnson (B White 54), D Armand, D Ewers (B White 49-54).

Tries - Armand, White; Conversions - Slade, Sweeney; Penalties - Slade (2)

Referee: J Lacey

Attendance: 13,657

UP NEXT FOR THE CHIEFS: v Newcastle Falcons (H), Aviva Premiership, Saturday, December 21 (3pm)