Slade misses last-gasp kick as Toulouse deny Exeter famous win
Toulouse beat Exeter Chiefs in a dramatic Champions Cup pool match in France, winning 49-46 despite playing with 14 men for most of the game. Exeter could have forced a draw, but Henry Slade missed a penalty from about 40 metres as time expired, leaving the 2020 champions with a losing bonus point.
Exeter winger Zack Wimbush scored three tries, while Toulouse’s Rodrigue Neti was sent off in the 16th minute for shoulder-to-head contact. The first half featured eight tries and ended with Exeter leading 26-24; the lead changed hands after the break, with Toulouse edging ahead while Exeter’s Ben Hammersley was in the sin-bin. Toulouse, who have won the competition six times, prevailed through tries from Matias Remue, Romain Ntamack and others.
- Toulouse beat Exeter 49-46 despite playing most of the match with 14 men.
- Zack Wimbush scored a hat-trick for Exeter.
- Henry Slade missed a last-gasp penalty that would have forced a draw.
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The Champions Cup is a European club rugby competition, bringing together leading teams from domestic leagues. Exeter Chiefs represent the south-west of England, while Toulouse are one of France’s most successful clubs and have won the tournament six times.
Rugby union teams usually have 15 players, but a sending-off leaves a side a player short for the rest of the match. A penalty kick can be taken after certain infringements, and teams earn a losing bonus point in this competition if they lose by seven points or fewer. These rules help explain how a match can remain close even when one side is down to 14 players.