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Nic White of Exeter Chiefs scored in the 31-31 Heineken Champions Cup draw with Glasgow Warriors
A win for Exeter Chiefs against La Rochelle on Saturday evening at Sandy Park in Pool 2 will be enough to secure the English side a home quarter-final in the Heineken Champions Cup.
This match comes after Exeter managed to pick up all five points against La Rochelle on the road in Round 1 and wrapped up the Pool with a 31-31 draw at Glasgow last weekend.
Key facts
- Exeter have won their last three home games in the Heineken Champions Cup, their best run since managing that feat in 2015/16.
- Exeter are the only side to concede fewer than 50 turnovers this season, however, they’ve won the fewest turnovers with 21.
- La Rochelle have won each of their 34 scrums on their own put-in in the Heineken Champions Cup.
- Exeter’s Joe Simmonds has slotted 21 of his 22 place kicks at goal.
📸 – Great images from @Dan_Mullan @GettySport of the @ExeterChiefs players during training ahead of Saturday's clash with @staderochelais in the @ChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/hnNGPkt4pj
— Exeter Chiefs (@ExeterChiefs) January 15, 2020
Exeter's Luke Cowan-Dickie celebrates his try
Exeter Chiefs secured a Heineken Champions Cup home quarter-final after a dominant 33-14 win over La Rochelle at Sandy Park on Saturday night.
They started the stronger side and took the lead after a driving maul got rolling on and over the try line with Luke Cowan-Dickie the man to dive over.
La Rochelle hit back though with an immediate response as Kini Murimurivalu received the ball out wide and powered past two Exeter players defending their own line in the corner.
In a crazy three minutes before the break, Dave Ewers first gave Exeter the lead again after a tap in front of the posts but the French side would respond.
.@samsimmonds_ secures the bonus point try for @ExeterChiefs!
Announce the home quarter-final 👀 pic.twitter.com/lbobHMguON
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) January 18, 2020
La Rochelle were on the front foot and spread play wide before a deliberate knock on meant Stuart Hogg was given a yellow card and a penalty try was awarded to the visitors.
Exeter took over in the second period with the first try coming from a tap and go with a powerful Cowan-Dickie carry, releasing Sam Simmonds who rode a tackle and went over.
Simmonds would double his tally on 57 minutes after dotting down at the back of a rolling scrum, bringing up the bonus point before Stuart Townsend later added a fifth try.
That win means Exeter Chiefs will have a home Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final, to be confirmed tomorrow.
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