Exeter Chiefs v Clermont Auvergne (5.15pm Sky)

                
Exeter Chiefs v ASM Clermont Auvergne
Saturday 12 December 2015
KO 17:15
Sandy Park, Exeter

Referee John Lacey (Ireland)
Touch Judge 1 Gary Conway (Ireland)
Touch Judge 2 Nigel Correll (Ireland)
TMO Simon McDowell (Ireland)
Citing Commissioner Murray Whyte (Ireland)

Couldn't find a thread on this one so thought I'd start this one - apologies for it being an inferior version of George's.

TEAMS

Exeter Chiefs: Phil Dollman; Jack Nowell, Ian Whitten, Sam Hill, James Short; Gareth Steenson, Will Chudley; Ben Moon, Jack Yeandle (capt), Tomas Francis; Mitch Lees, Damian Welch; Don Armand, Julian Salvi, Thomas Waldrom.

Replacements: Elvis Taione, Carl Rimmer, Moray Low, Geoff Parling, Tom Johnson. Dave Lewis, Will Hooley, Olly Woodburn

Clermont Auvergne: Scott Spedding; David Strettle, Aurelien Rougerie, Hosea Gear, Noa Nakaitaci; Camille Lopez, Morgan Parra; Thomas Domingo, John Ulugia, Clement Ric; Paul Jedrasiak, Sebastien Vahaamahina; Peceli Yato, Viktor Kolelishvili, Damien Chouly (capt).

Replacements: Pellow van der Westhuizen, Raphael Chaume, Daniel Kotze, Flip van der Merwe, Judicael Cancoriet, Ludovic Radosavljevic, Patricio Fernandez, Albert Vulivuli.

stub wrote:Couldn't find a thread on this one so thought I'd start this one - apologies for it being an inferior version of George's.

He must have something against our pool Stub, he didn't start one on our game either.

This looks to be a fascinating match up to me - Exeter in fine form but up against the French giants they are sure to be tested to the limit...

wayne wrote:

stub wrote:Couldn't find a thread on this one so thought I'd start this one - apologies for it being an inferior version of George's.

He must have something against our pool Stub, he didn't start one on our game either.

Ospreys v Bordeaux looks a fascinating match too Wayne - I'll be flicking between the 2 games.

stub wrote:

wayne wrote:

stub wrote:Couldn't find a thread on this one so thought I'd start this one - apologies for it being an inferior version of George's.

He must have something against our pool Stub, he didn't start one on our game either.

Ospreys v Bordeaux looks a fascinating match too Wayne - I'll be flicking between the 2 games.

Do a decent report on here about your game stub, not too much bias (if you can, I know I'd be biased on ours) as I'll be taping our game, I'll be at the Liberty shouting my head off this afternoon.

wayne wrote:

stub wrote:

wayne wrote:

stub wrote:Couldn't find a thread on this one so thought I'd start this one - apologies for it being an inferior version of George's.

He must have something against our pool Stub, he didn't start one on our game either.

Ospreys v Bordeaux looks a fascinating match too Wayne - I'll be flicking between the 2 games.

Do a decent report on here about your game stub, not too much bias (if you can, I know I'd be biased on ours) as I'll be taping our game, I'll be at the Liberty shouting my head off this afternoon.

I'm actually a Worcester supporter so I'll be able to be reasonably unbiased Wayne! Enjoy your game this afternoon - I think you'll have way too much for Bordeaux but you never know with the French! As Wuss got their rugby out of the way on Thursday I'm looking forward to an afternoon in front of a variety of matches. Love these European weekends.

Have a feeling it's going to be a very long weekend for French clubs with most them losing starting with ASM

whocares wrote:Have a feeling it's going to be a very long weekend for French clubs with most them losing starting with ASM

What about Racing, Stade Francais and Toulon? All must be in with a really good shout and ASM could easily beat Exeter too?

stub wrote:

whocares wrote:Have a feeling it's going to be a very long weekend for French clubs with most them losing starting with ASM

What about Racing, Stade Francais and Toulon? All must be in with a really good shout and ASM could easily beat Exeter too?

I'd say only Toulon is a clear favourite. Racing-Northampton is evenly matched. Stade Francais should be careful while this clermont team looks average.

stub wrote:

whocares wrote:Have a feeling it's going to be a very long weekend for French clubs with most them losing starting with ASM

What about Racing, Stade Francais and Toulon? All must be in with a really good shout and ASM could easily beat Exeter too?

Whocares, have you seen the back line they have out today, it is a bit like the Welsh International team of the 70s, they used to say about them 35 to 40% of the ball and they'd win, that is a tremendous back line, I hope (sorry Exeter) and expect CA to win today. Hope they keep us up to date at the Liberty today.

ASM backline actually worries me. Fofana, Abendanon and James are out injured. Lopez form is a mystery, Hosea gear at centre might not work and Nakaitaci is a broken player since the World Cup.

whocares wrote:ASM backline actually worries me. Fofana, Abendanon and James are out injured. Lopez form is a mystery, Hosea gear at centre might not work and Nakaitaci is a broken player since the World Cup.

Come on whocares who are you trying to kid, Scott Spedding is not a weakness, Lopez was selected ahead of James for our game, that is not a weakness, Nakaitaki will learn from that error, yes Gear might not work, but a NZ International wing into the centre probably will work, I would take a few of those for our back line Spedding, Strettle, Rougerie, Gear, Nakaitaki, Lopez, Parra, of our selected back line today I would only take Biggar, Matavesi and Walker and if he was up against Strettle I wouldn't take him.
Anyway see you all later, have a good day

Ok looks like I overestimated Treviso and underestimated Dan Carter influence in his first game! Still think ASM will struggle.

Whocares - Northampton getting caned by Racing 50mins in. Your weekend might not be as bad as feared?

whocares wrote:Ok looks like I overestimated Treviso and underestimated Dan Carter influence in his first game! Still think ASM will struggle.

Just beat me to it!!

Treviso are doing nothing to help the Italian cause for a place in the CC. That is quite a decline as a few years ago they would go into any game at home believing they could win.

Ditto Northampton. They were decidedly second best today.

Exeter v Clermont lively enough game with both sides moving it about.

Clermont have their second try though after 20 mins.

Exeter 3-14 Clermont

Try! Love watching Chiefs play.

Great all-round game. Good backs move and then forwards do their bit.

Nowell is so hard to stop.

Fair play to Exeter. They have weathered the storm and the wind against Clermont and deservedly get a try through Waldrom and Steenson converts brilliantly against the wind.

Exeter 10-14 Clermont. 36 mins.

Clermont look like a team that don't like it up 'em.

Exeter could turn this around in the second half with the wind and the crowd in their favour.

Cyril wrote:Try! Love watching Chiefs play.

Great all-round game. Good backs move and then forwards do their bit.

Nowell is so hard to stop.

Nowell could be a real shining star for England. Lovely runner and passer. And speedy too.

Gear doing well in the centre so far then...

mikey_dragon wrote:Gear doing well in the centre so far then...

Am watching the ospreys game but saw his work on the try at HT. Good thing am not into betting as I got everything wrong so far still plenty of rugby to be played, shame Slade ain't playing though.

Exeter rightly take the lead with their second try and conversion.

Exeter 17-14 Clermont 48 mins

Must say Ian Whitten combining well with Steenson.

That's a 10-12 combo that the IRFU should be keeping an eye on.

Jack Nowell is having some game here!

Ian Whitten a good example of a player lost to one province because they have an excess of centres when another province could have used him! IRFU could handle that better.

Think he's a cracking player and never a surprise to see him doing well.

Notch wrote:Ian Whitten a good example of a player lost to one province because they have an excess of centres when another province could have used him! IRFU could handle that better.

Think he's a cracking player and never a surprise to see him doing well.

Ditto Steenson.

Would be great to see him at Connacht with Carty or Leinster if Madigan goes to Munster.

Best match of the weekend so far. Really enjoying this - could still go either way.

17-14 57 mins.

Thanks for doing the thread, Stub. This is bloody close! Cooom on you Chiefs.

That was dumb of Exeter. Ref tells them they're infringing repeatedly at breakdown and they persist. Yellow card for Dollman.

And a very odd decision by ref on a crooked throw by Clermont that he turns into a knock on by Exeter.

Still overall he's done well.

Pace gone out of the game a little bit. Nowell man of the match for me even though Waldrom gets a standing ovation as he goes off.

And the best response to a yellow card for your side? Attack.
Exeter pushing Clermont really hard. Another score could open the gap beyond 7 points.

Exeter extract a penalty. Kick to corner?

Oh wait. TMO on possible yellow for a swinging arm by Clermont 6. Well picked up by the officials.

14 men apiece. Exeter kick to corner. Going to close it out.

They take the throw and work to the line. Three attempts and it's over but needs TMO for try yes or no.

It's been held up. 5m attacking scrum. 9 mins to go.

Scrum stands up but Exeter had a clear shot at the line before ref blew up. Opportunity missed.

Another scrum and it has to be reset.

Ball out with No 8 and eventually they go over. Stadium erupts.

Great score by the Chiefs!

And Steenson widens the gap to 10 points.

Could Chiefs get a fourth try?

They're back to 15 and 5 mins left

Stats look completely one sided.

Clermont not giving. They attack down right and win a penalty.

They kick for corner instead of posts.

Massive result for Exeter, brilliant

And Exeter smash Clermont back in the ensuing catch and drive and win a scrum.

They break out from their 22 and Exeter pour forward.

They have the numbers but ball doesn't go to hand.

They still have the ball and camp near the Clermont line.

And they're over!! Absolutely brilliant.

Steenson converts and its full time.

31-14. Brilliant by Exeter.

What a performance by Exeter.

Waldrom and Nowell fantastic but Mitch Lees as well I thought was outstanding.

Chudley had yet another excellent game at 9 too. Along with Cooke at Bath he's a guy who should be getting a look in for the Saxons IMO.

What a result!

How did Exeter do that?! More pool news, Dan Biggar just about beat BB.

Wow, fantastic stuff. I was too engrossed too contribute! Clermont such a classy team but well done Chiefs - it's difficult not to admire what you have done.

George Carlin wrote:Thanks for doing the thread, Stub. This is bloody close! Cooom on you Chiefs.

You do all the heavy lifting George - it's the least I could do!!

Exeter is favourite to win this pool now. Specially given how Ospreys played today against a 2nd string UBB team who spent most of the time playing at 14 and yet could easily and deservedly got a draw.

Please Eddie stay away from Exeter the two stars are injured and the rest are good club players

Brilliant by Exeter. Very good game and that's performance of the tournament so far.

Well done Chiefs!

Nowell will have impressed Jones today. Liking the look of him at 13. Exeter have some very strong-running backs.