Exeter Chiefs v Stade Toulousain

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Team news will be announced at 1pm.

Exeter Chiefs:

15 Josh Hodge

14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso

13 Ben Hammersley

12 Tamati Tua

11 Tommy Wyatt

10 Henry Slade

9 Stu Townsend


1 Will Goodrick-Clarke

2 Dan Frost

3 Ehren Painter

4 Rusi Tuima

5 Richard Capstick

6 Ethan Roots

7 Jacques Vermeulen (c)

8 Ross Vintcent


Replacements:

16 Jack Yeandle

17 Kwenzo Blose

18 Jimmy Roots

19 Dafydd Jenkins

20 Greg Fisilau

21 Will Becconsall

22 Will Haydon-Wood

23 Zack Wimbush

Toulouse:

15. Thomas Ramos,

14. Juan-Cruz Mallia,

13. Pierre-Louis Barassi,

12. Santiago Chocobares,

11. Matthis Lebel,

10. Romain Ntamack,

9. Antoine Dupont (c),

1. Rodrigue Neti,

2. Julien Marchand,

3. Dorian Aldegheri,

4. Thibaud Flament,

5. Emmanuel Meafou,

6. François Cros,

7. Jack Willis,

8. Alexandre Roumat

Replacements:

16. Guillaume Cramont,

17. David Ainu'u,

18. Joel Merkler,

19. Joshua Brennan,

20. Théo Ntamack,

21. Mathis Castro-Ferreira,

22. Paul Graou,

23. Blair Kinghorn

Match Officials

REFEREE: Andrew Brace (Ire)
ASSISTANT REFEREE Robbie Jenkinson (Ire)
ASSISTANT REFEREE Padraic Reidy (Ire)
TMO Olly Hodges

Weather Forecast as at 1200 Friday

Light cloud and a gentle breeze from the west
Temperature 10 degrees will feel like 9 degrees
Precipitation is not expected.

TV Coverage

According to ECPR, Premier TV has the exclusive rights to the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup in the UK and Ireland

Fantastic news Toulouse have put out their best 23 and as such it should be a fabulous watch, a pity we could not do the same.

The absence of Christ an international lock is staggering bearing in mind he is not injured and Rigg also given his potential not sure what Hammersley offers he looks totally out of his depth but perhaps the coaches see something I don’t. It could be Christ is moving on at the end of the season wouldn’t blame him given his lack of game time, like Hawkins.

No doubt Daf will come on with the game already lost - why not start him and take him off when tired - he’s a our best lock by a country mile.

On paper looks a total mismatch particularly 9-15.

Chiefs 14 Toulouse 65

Unfortunately I can't see anything other than a win for Dupont and co. But then again I didn't predict a win for us out in Toulon last season. Still think this is too big an ask though, Chiefs 24 - 31 Toulouse.

Toulouse haven’t left the big guns at home. Looking forward to this one and I’m hopeful we can stay in the game long enough to perhaps get a point!
Chiefs 23 - 30 Toulouse

Chiefs 10 - 55 Toulouse On form Hammersley should not be starting. Rigg the better option and what's happened to Cairns, he should be on the bench, Becconsall has been poor. IMO.

In the immortal words of C-3PO in Return of the Jedi: "50,000. No less."

Chiefs 17 - 55 Toulouse.

Cueto wasn't in touch, at least in my dreams.

Still no let up in the gloom I see. I quite like the selection although Cappers in the row remains a mystery.

I think that the boys can make a match of it, but as usual things will crumble in the last 20.

Chiefs 22 Toulouse 37.

Not expecting anything, however I have been in previous games and have been let down, so ... 🤔
No. Head over heart: Chiefs 24 : Toulouse 30

In Rob we trust.
By the way - cream on first. There's nothing to debate.

Chiefs 15 Toulouse 51

Looking forward to seeing the best club side in the world. But fear the worst so :
Exeter 17 - 45 Toulouse

Quote:

Chief Boldeagle
Chiefs 10 - 55 Toulouse On form Hammersley should not be starting. Rigg the better option and what's happened to Cairns, he should be on the bench, Becconsall has been poor. IMO.

I’m not so sure Chief B, I know Hammers has made a couple of mistakes of late but all players do that and his work rate is second to none, which I’m not sure is true of all our lads when we cant capitalise on a 15 to 12 player advantage.

Rigg has had some excellent moments, but last week it was crying out for him to run straight and he drifted wide cutting into Wyatt’s space which was a disappointingly schoolboy error…I guess Hammers also offers cover in various positions

I wonder whether we’ll see Zac W in the starting line up rather than either Rigg or Hammers next time out

Anyway fingers crossed for at least a point and a decent performance as a minimum

Agree re Cairns v Becconsall though btw

Chiefs 20 Toulouse 19, well you never know!

Quote:

Lapo
Chiefs 20 Toulouse 19, well you never know!

Bravo Lapo. Thats cheered me up no end!

Quote:

Lapo
Chiefs 20 Toulouse 19, well you never know!

What time did you get to the pub this morning?

Although, I hope you're right!

In a bid to maintain my consistent record of getting the result wrong, I’m going with Lapo.
Chiefs 33, To Lose 31

I am so looking forward to watching the stellar names in the Toulouse squad. For the first and only time I will probably spend more time watching them than ourselves. Of course we expect to lose and on this occasion I don’t really care……….unless of course we are in with a shout with 10 min to go!
Chiefs 17 Toulouse 47

I had a dream hammersley caught the ball rounded Dupont ,crawled through Ramos's legs and smashed chocolate-bars on the line before scoring, then i woke up and predicted the score Toulouse 58 chiefs 17 but he ho what a team to watch.

Just to add they are 1/25 with the bookies so no return there but perhaps lavo might fancy a flutter at 14/1.

I am looking forward to seeing what we can do to prevent this magnificent team from running riot. It's going to be amazing to see these players at SP.

Chiefs 25 Toulouse 48

Well, having been at Toulouse earlier this year and witnessed us ahead after half time, only to wilt in the heat, which most certainly wont be the conditions on Sunday, I’m going all in for a Chiefs win

Chiefs 30 Duponts boys 25 🤞🤞🤞

Reading their team-sheet I fear that we will receive a battering. Difficult to see where we have any edge. I think the score depends on how much possession we give them with kicking our possession away, how many pens we give away at the breakdown, and whether any of them are poorly. So NM no cheer from me but hope for 100% effort and energy from us in which case Chiefs 18 Toulouse 42.
Genuinely sorry not to be there - I will have a balanced view from my son and not so balanced from my grandson.

*looks at Toulouse teamsheet* Ummmm...

Chiefs 20 Toulouse 25 and that's being optimistic.

Toulouse by 50:

If you want to join the song:

Allons enfants de la Patrie,
Le jour de gloire est arrivé !
Contre nous de la tyrannie,
L'étendard sanglant est levé, (repeatwith different rhythm)
Entendez-vous dans les campagnes
Mugir ces féroces soldats ?
Ils viennent jusque dans vos bras
Égorger vos fils, vos compagnes
Chorus:
Aux armes, citoyens,
Formez vos bataillons,
Marchons, marchons !
Qu'un sang impur
Abreuve nos sillons !

Quote:

Exeforever
Toulouse by 50:
If you want to join the song:

Allons enfants de la Patrie,
Le jour de gloire est arrivé !
Contre nous de la tyrannie,
L'étendard sanglant est levé, (repeatwith different rhythm)
Entendez-vous dans les campagnes
Mugir ces féroces soldats ?
Ils viennent jusque dans vos bras
Égorger vos fils, vos compagnes
Chorus:
Aux armes, citoyens,
Formez vos bataillons,
Marchons, marchons !
Qu'un sang impur
Abreuve nos sillons !

Hes knocked it on,
Hes knocked it on...

PLEASE. No knocked it on singing to the Marseillaise tune when playing a French team. It's disrespectful.

That is very strong Toulouse side, unlike the sharks side for Tigers! I hate what this competition has become This pool system and draw is awful. Enough of my moaning! Like most sane people on here I can see only a heavy defeat. Those of you who've predicted a chiefs win, can I have some of your happy pills please?! Some selection issues for me, Capstick in the row for one, but with that opposition it doesn't really matter! I'll be happy if we can keep the score respectable. Chiefs 14 Toulouse 54

I see Henry kicking penalties and the game opening up. Going with heart Chiefs 37 Toulouse 29

Am I right to expect the same bus services as normal to SP given it’s a 5:30 Sunday game? Any confirmation or otherwise will be appreciated, thanks.

Chiefs 23 Toulouse 47

Toulouse by 30+. I too am looking forward to seeing the galacticos in flowing form. Of course I shall celebrate all and any small victories by Chiefs, but on past form the majority of the Toulouse team are so far ahead of ours in terms of skill and ability we shall be hanging on for grim death.!

With a sad feeling Exe 18 - 36 French galactios but I really really hope I am wrong and I cant go so watching it on the tv is not good for my old jam tart!

Maybe we should start with 14 men given that we scored more with 14 then 15 on the pitch last week.

Chiefs 19 Toulousain 35

note to Becconsall :- dont wait to take the ball out of a maul until the ref says once and half the opposition pack has left the maul and joined the defence line. either take the ball out with the opposition pack going backwards in the maul or heads up and when you see half the their pack leaving the maul leave it in and get your forwards moving against less men

Toulouse clearly targeting a win and I think they'll get one. What is the fascination with Capstick at 5 when we have Christ & Daff fit. I'll go 15 - 32. Max points for Toulouse.

Much as I hope I'm wrong, Chiefs 21 Toulouse 44

Also hoping to be wrong, Exeter 14 - 35 Toulouse

Chiefs 25 Toulouse 17

Well , that was a shaftathon
Never ever expected that

A pleasure to be there tonight to see rugby played at its best by a champion team brilliantly coached and game plan executed. Gulf in class was evident across the teams where none of our players would get in their 23.
Our team selection brutally exposed at times as was our game plan in the first half kicking aimlessly to a team who run the ball back with beautiful passing and offloading. Tackling was optional where the stats suggest we missed 32% of tackles.
Toulouse ability to score off first phase in the second half with the wingers walking in untouched showed clearly the gulf in ability, we never passed out first phase to the wing all game despite having our two best players playing on the wing. The one off running into tackle resulted in simple turnovers, Toulouse just don’t do this they offload- keeping the ball alive. It just shows the different ideas of the opposing coaches, I think we all know which is best!
Taking off Frost who didn’t looked tired and was excellent with ball summed it up, we replace with a slower defence minded player and he looked very disappointed leaving the field. Slade at 10 didn’t work and neither did playing utility players out of position which had been a regular theme on our losing run. So crazy when there are specialist players of international class not featuring, Christ and Hawkins must be disillusioned being at the club.
Wyatt and Manni looked so good but were starved of the ball, Roots, Vincent and Vermullen put a lot of hits and tackles in but it was a matter of holding the dam which would eventually bust.

We won’t face anyone as good as this in the premiership so it will be interesting how we react against Sale on Friday, unfortunately a very quick turnaround which is hardly a level playing field. Clearly we need to change the team up but I hope the coaches are not blind to our shortcomings in both attacking system and defence.

Well played Toulouse a wonderful watch.

Whilst I don’t disagree with anything you say Andy, and it was indeed a pleasure to watch the best club team in the World strutting their stuff, there were a couple of positive points. Early in the second half before we tired there was a complete change in style to an offloading more fluent game which I rather liked. If that is to be adopted then the players must do ALL their training and drills with a ball in hand, and they must also be ready to be in support at all times which means upping fitness and picking players with pace.
I don’t agree that there are players more deserving of a place who are in form. Christ has seemed a shadow of his former self with deficiencies in his posture in the tackle and ball retention, and Hawkins has sadly never shown real premiership abilities in any of his performances. There are plenty of others that might be criticised but I do believe there is the makings of a workmanlike mid table side in there IF coached to play a more modern fluid game. Perhaps Hugo Mola might present a coaching master class before Toulouse return to France?

It was a real privilege to watch Dupont, in particular, in the flesh. I cannot think of a better scrum half that I have seen in the 60ish years that I have played and watched the game.

As others have said the gap in class was enormous, but, given the differential in expenditure so it should have been.

I thought Wyatt was absolutely outstanding and even bettered Manny tonight. Either of them would have been worth a place on the Toulouse bench but other than that it was (big) men against (small) boys.

I reckoned that defeat by less than 50 would mean that we had at least contributed and you could argue that we deserved a 4th try.

So, yes, a chastening experience for the players, but Toulouse really are a joy to watch.

Now that's how you play rugby, and they made it look incredibly easy !

Dupont was outstanding, made even more impressive by the fact that he seemed to be hit late by our defence every time he offloaded the ball ! I hope that was his genius fooling the defender rather than a tactical ploy !

I hope so too BA.
This match demonstrated one of the blights of the modern game , the lack of refereeing of the offside line in the backs. I guess we are all so used to defences being offside in the centres that it is no longer deemed worthy of comment. Whilst I have no doubt Chiefs were just as egregious, I was looking at the Toulouse defence with a critical eye, and they were going early in the backs most of the game. It seems to me that in enforcing whatever edict World Rugby have handed down this month that lots of offences are being overlooked. It was probably always thus but it has become a particular irritant to me.
Rant over!

Quote:

Debenair
I hope so too BA.
This match demonstrated one of the blights of the modern game , the lack of refereeing of the offside line in the backs. I guess we are all so used to defences being offside in the centres that it is no longer deemed worthy of comment. Whilst I have no doubt Chiefs were just as egregious, I was looking at the Toulouse defence with a critical eye, and they were going early in the backs most of the game. It seems to me that in enforcing whatever edict World Rugby have handed down this month that lots of offences are being overlooked. It was probably always thus but it has become a particular irritant to me.

COMPLETELY AGREE - non management of offside kills the game

particularly frustrating as the offside is less complex to referee than the breakdown for example…

That said, overall listening to the ref mic I though Brace was excellent and managed the players well

Vermuelen is a warrior but for me too often gets on the wrong side of the ref and not the right fit for a captain in the modern game….not coincidence he got the shepherds crook immediately after being marched back 10…. He’d tested the refs patience all game …


Rant over!

Imho the best club team at the moment, won and led with great skill.
We looked better and deserved a fourth try but it wasn’t to be, our full backs size showed in defence as their big wingers just ran through him, he is a good player but maybe a swap in position may help.
Scrum held well as did a lot of the line outs, great improvement on passing than a month ago with quicker ball and more going to hand. Plenty of gamesmanship by the French but it’s a top team and will usual get away with it, they seemed to be in the ear of the ref every stop in play which I found annoying. Reminded me of our trouncing by Clermont years back when they were riding high, we learned and moved on.
A pleasure to watch such a team in its pomp and some of our guys standing up to them, even when a loss.

Fantastic performance by a well drilled side. It's truly amazing how much difference a very deep pocket makes. I'm not taking anything away from Toulouse in that regard, but I think it's fair to say that whilst our budgets are considerably smaller, then we can expect similar results to come - as you'd expect from Premiership Vs Championship matches. We have talent that is maturing, but it'll take time, and even then, I'd hesitate to suggest we will ever be able to really dominate in Europe - and that goes for any Prem side.
On the matter of reffing, particularly off-side, it feels to me that the more our results go against us, the more the close decisions also go against us. It's like the officials expect us to infringe. How can a touch judge fail to see a foot in touch within 5m? Did he expect a flawless finish?

In Rob we trust.
By the way - cream on first. There's nothing to debate.

“How can a touch judge fail to see a foot in touch within 5m? Did he expect a flawless finish “
Great question… especially when East Terrace North could all see it. After all, he only had one job.

As for offsides. Some of their players were a yard ahead and at speed when the ball was kicked at restarts. Makes a big difference.

It seems that when Toulouse moved extra players to a wing, our defence were too slow to move with them leaving us outnumbered. Happened too often and has in previous games. I’m sure we will ‘learn’ or speed up.

Toulouse are a fabulous advert for the game.

The biggest take-away for me from that game is how much closer into contact their players go before making the offload, almost being tackled as the ball goes sideways. We seem to be offloading a meter before the tackle.

Is that a money thing, tactical, or just a gulf in ability? They may have a big budget but a lot of their players are home grown.

Toulouse had done things before we'd even thought they might happen. They were a pleasure to watch. The result for us doesn't look good, but I'm grateful to have been in a position to attend and watch that side.

We go again next weekend!

Quote:

Andy15.1
We won’t face anyone as good as this in the premiership so it will be interesting how we react against Sale on Friday, unfortunately a very quick turnaround which is hardly a level playing field. Clearly we need to change the team up but I hope the coaches are not blind to our shortcomings in both attacking system and defence..

Thought Sale game was Saturday evening?

Yes you are correct

True, but I also had it in my calendar for Friday evening, I think it must have been changed at some point. Not unreasonably imo but I didn't see any announcement.

Long time Chiefs fan, now exiled to the Midlands so don’t get to see as much rugby as I would like.

Have to say that many years ago when we first dipped our toes into Europe we were outclassed in many games, I remember in particular Clermont v Chiefs home and away where we were totally outclassed. We had a young side, no real internationals and a young Jack Yeandle coming over and apologising at the end of the game - What absolutely fantastic times and experiences. I feel we are in the same place now but our expectations are much higher because of history. We will get there and if we can add a few mature experienced heads, perhaps retired Internationals we have a young squad who will develop and could go places.

Keep the faith, good times could be on the horizon in just a few years as the squad develops.

OK, that hurt, a friend my uncle's got an introduction to top class rugby but it wasn't from us. The women are playing Chiefs rugby. Toulouse played mindblowing rugby, the guys...not sure what rugby we're playing at the moment.