Chiefs 8 Leinster 18
Exeter Chiefs 8
Leinster 18
Mark Stevens at Sandy Park
You don’t win titles by chance, especially when it comes to Europe, and Leinster underlined just why they are one of the best in the business, inflicting defeat on rivals Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park.
Almost a year to the day since Bordeaux-Begles emerged victorious from fortress Sandy Park, so it was the turn of the Irish province to experience the same winning feeling against Rob Baxter’s men.
Leo Cullen’s outfit produced not only a victorious display in deepest Devon, but a streetwise one at that, claiming tries through Johnny Sexton and Jack Conan, together with successful kicks from the boot of Sexton and skipper Isa Nacewa.
The Chiefs - who will no doubt be kicking themselves for a somewhat uncharacteristic display on home turf - countered with a second half try from James Short and a penalty from Gareth Steenson, but it was never enough to see off the threat of the three-time champions.
With both sides having collected wins over Glasgow Warriors and Montpellier in the opening two rounds, the Irishmen judging edging it having collected bonus point triumphs, there was a real buzz of anticipation all around a packed out Sandy Park as the rivals lined up for battle.
The Chiefs - fresh from successive Premiership wins over Harlequins, Saracens and Bath - made two changes in personnel to their starting line-up, bringing in Henry Slade at centre for Sam Hill, while up front Jonny Hill came into the Exeter engine room in place of Sam Skinner.
Leinster, meanwhile, were fully loaded for the contest, fielding a glut of their Irish internationals, whose tally of caps alone amassed over 2,000 in total.
It was, however, the visitors who started the brighter, setting about taking the game to the Chiefs, whose last defeat was this time last year when Bordeaux-Begles emerged victorious with a 13-7 success at the same stage of last season’s competition.
Early pressure saw them set up camp deep inside the Chiefs half, forcing the home side to dig deep in defence to keep them at bay. On five minutes, though, it was French TV match official Eric Gonthier who came to the rescue for Baxter’s side, ruling out a try for Luke McGrath after he adjudged that Sexton’s foot was in touch following a last-gasp tackle from Olly Woodburn in the build-up to the touchdown.
Minutes later and the Chiefs were breathing another huge sigh of relief as the normally reliable Sexton saw a straight-forward penalty chance sail wide of the mark after Thomas Waldrom had been singled out for taking out McGrath as he looked to ship the ball away from a ruck.
Undeterred, Leinster continued to pile forward in numbers, pinning the Chiefs back with a strong press game that again almost brought them reward. As Nic White looked to clear with a box kick for the hosts, his effort was charged down and fell invitingly into the arms of Jack Conan, who was halted just shy of the line.
The ball, however, was recycled quickly by the visitors and fed to the imposing Devon Toner who, despite his 6ft 9in frame, was somehow held up on the line by a clutch of home defenders. Again, the French officials deemed no try, but the lives were fast running out for the English champions.
Indeed, the Chiefs cause was further hampered as first they lost Phil Dollman to a rib injury, then England prop Harry Williams was dispatched to the sin-bin by referee Romain Poite for dropping a series of scrums just yards from his own line.
It meant an early introduction for fellow tight-head Tomas Francis, but the Welsh international quickly made an impact, forcing the turnover from the resultant scrum that allowed the Chiefs to clear the danger.
Not that it proved that much of a let-off for the home side, whose ‘Pink Wall’ of defence finally crumbled on 20 minutes when Sexton found his way over in the left corner. The Irish playmaker started - and finished - the move, linking cleverly with skipper Isa Nacewa to claim the game’s opening points.
In all honesty, it was no more than Leinster deserved for their efforts, but the Chiefs responded well and with their first meaningful attack into the Irishmen’s half, they gleaned their first points, courtesy of the boot of Steenson, who was able to dispatch a simple penalty after Healy failed to release Slade at the tackle area.
Suddenly, the Chiefs were up and running and playing the kind of rugby that has put them top of the pile - eight points clear - in the Aviva Premiership.
Leinster, though, are not three-time champions of this competition for no reason and they responded just past the half hour mark when Sexton restored their five-point buffer when Sexton landed a penalty of his own after White was deemed to have taken out Healy illegally when combining with Luke Cowan-Dickie to halt the Irish and Lions prop on the charge.
Again, the Chiefs looked to fashion a rapid response and with half time approaching, they had the bit between their teeth. A decent take from Mitch Lees off a line-out deep in the right corner allowed Waldrom to chug his way towards the line, but the try-scoring No.8 saw his path blocked by a sea of Leinster defenders.
Gifted another opportunity just moments later, the Chiefs then went for the old ‘tried and trusted’ - the lethal pick-and-go which has served them so well this season, bringing about a plethora of tries in all competitions.
Leinster, it appears, had clearly done their homework, repelling the Exeter tsunami with some heroic defence, which - after a succession of drives - finally resulted in Waldrom knocking on just inches from the line.
HALF TIME EXETER CHIEFS 3 LEINSTER 8
Having gone so close at the end of the first period, the Chiefs re-emerged just as energetic in attack, taking just three minutes to signal their intent. A slick Exeter attack saw the ball fed along their line to Whitten, who on the burst drew the cover to release Jack Nowell at pace.
However, as the England and Lions star tore down the right flank, destined for the try-line, he was clothes-lined just shy of the whitewash by Leinster’s Sean Cronin. Again, the TMO was brought into action, the results of which saw the hooker see yellow and the Chiefs awarded a penalty five metres out.
Now with the man advantage, the Chiefs looked to seize their opportunity. They pressed hard in attack, but some stout defence from Leinster - led superbly by flanker Sean O’Brien - kept them at bay for the period Cronin spent on the sidelines.
The Chiefs, though, were finally hitting their straps and it came as no surprise when they finally unpicked the Leinster rearguard to claim their opening try. The forwards did the initial work, trucking up through the middle, before the ball went wide to Steenson, who drew in Garry Ringrose before shipping the ball to Woodburn, who in turn fed Short to speed over in the left corner.
Sadly, Steenson’s conversion attempt from the touchline failed to find its mark, but the Chiefs were now level and very much alive in this absorbing contest.
As both sides emptied their bench, introducing fresh stock for the final quarter, it was Leinster who capitalised on a number of home errors to regain their lead.
Some 30-plus phases stretched the Chiefs at every angle and as scrum-half McGrath looked to whip the ball out wide, it cannoned into the retreating Sam Simmonds, who was immediately penalised for being offside. With Sexton down injured following a hefty collision earlier in the play, it was Nacewa who stepped forward to put his side back in front with their second penalty of the game.
Behind once more, Baxter’s side again looked to work the opening for them to haul themselves back into contention. Leinster, as they had shown for much of the contest, were having none of it, continually propelling their rivals back with some courageous, yet hearty, defensive hits.
Then, when they did have possession, they underlined their experience at this level, producing an even bigger attacking platform - this time 44 phases to be precise - to allow No.8 Conan to burrow over for a match-winning score, which Nacewa duly converted to put his side ten points clear.
Although the Chiefs tried to find a late rally, nothing of any note was produced, leaving them not only pointless on the night, but having to suck up their first home defeat in 364 days.
Thankfully, there is just six days until the two meet again, this time in the vast expanse of the Aviva Stadium, and already Baxter has set his team the goal of doing just what Leinster have done here in Devon, thus setting up an exciting New Year of battle in Europe’s top competition.
Exeter Chiefs: P Dollman (T Francis 17-26, J Nowell 26); J Short, H Slade, I Whitten (s Hill 72), O Woodburn; G Steenson (capt), N White (W Chudley 72); A Hepburn (B Moon 47), L Cowan-Dickie (J Yeandle 54), H Williams (T Francis 47); M Lees, J Hill (S Skinner 66); D Armand, M Kvesic, T Waldrom (S Simmonds 52).
Try - Short; Penalty - Steenson
Yellow Card: Williams
Leinster Rugby: R Kearney; F McFadden (J Tracy 44-53), G Ringrose, R Henshaw, I Nacewa (capt, J Larmour 74); J Sexton (R Byrne 72), L McGrath (J Gibson-Park 72); C Healy (J McGrath 53), S Cronin (J Tracy 53), T Furlong (M Bent 72), D Toner, S Fardy; R Ruddock (J Van der Flier 43_, S O'Brien, J Conan. Replacement (not used): J Ryan,
Tries - Sexton, Conan; Conversion - Nacewa; Penalties - Sexton, Nacewa
Yellow Card: Cronin
Referee: R Poite (Fra)
Attendance: 12,606