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Exeter Chiefs prop Brett Sturgess has called for his side to take a grip on European Rugby Challenge Cup pool two by going one-better than their last French trip. - 02/12/2014 12:02
Exeter Chiefs prop Brett Sturgess has called for his side to take a grip on European Rugby Challenge Cup pool two by going one-better than their last French trip.
Rob Baxter’s men travel to the Bay of Biscay to take-on knockout stage rivals La Rochelle in round three with their opening weekend visit to Bayonne fresh in their minds.
The Chiefs were leading with three minutes left on the clock but let flanker Lisiate Fa’Aoso slip through to steal victory – after the French side had three men sent to the sin-bin.
But they have won every match since their Bayonne heartreak after they bounced back with a 33-13 triumph over Connacht to leave the pool finely poised, with each side having won once and lost once.
And Sturgess has urged his teammates to take control by seeing off the side who beat Bayonne 25-13 in round two.
He said: “If we go there and get something as vital as a win, then you can bring them back home and really start commanding the pool. It is a close group at the minute so one of these away wins could really take hold of the group.
“They are going to be really up for it, they always are, they’ve got the home crowd and they bring something extra. We’ve got to be ready to match that. It’s important we go away again knowing it’s going to be a tough game – it always is when you’re going to France – and play really well and hopefully come away with something.”
A single bonus-point gives Exeter a slim advantage at the top of the pool with Connacht set to welcome Bayonne to the Sportsground.
But if their domestic form is anything to go by, the Chiefs are favourites to march on into the knockout phase.
Christmas came early for the Devon side in November as they saw-off last season’s Heineken Cup finalists Saracens, Challenge Cup victors Northampton Saints and Wasps.
Les Irlandais du Connacht reçoivent dimanche à 16h15 les Exeter Chiefs pour la rencontre au somment dans cette poule 2 d'European Rugby Challenge Cup. - 16/01/2015 11:36
Exeter Chiefs seized control of Pool 2 with a bonus-point 36-10 Challenge Cup win over La Rochellle at Stade Marcel-Deflandre.
Byron McGuigan and Fetu’u Vainikolo crossed in the final six minutes to take maximum points and ensure Exeter will remain top after round 3. Tom James and Brett Sturgess crossed in the first half before La Rochelle briefly hinted at a comeback during a ten minute spell either side of half-time.
Jean Pascal Barraque crossed and Julien Audy kicked five points but Gareth Steenson celebrated his new contract with 19 points. Normally Exeter would have been delighted to lead 17-7 at half-time on the west coast of France yet will be frustrated to not have been further ahead.
Steenson kicked the opening points but the Chiefs failed to convert three scoring chances in quick succession.
Moray Low coughed up possession over the line after Ryan Caldwell and Hayden Thomas went close.
Matt Jess failed to finish a rapid burst by Adam Hughes and Sturgess thought he has scored from the resulting lineout but the score was ruled out for an earlier knock-on.
Exeter finally made their pressure count when Wales wing James powered over from five metres out following McGuigan’s mazy run on 29 minutes. Sturgess then added a second from Kai Horstmann’s crunching tackle and off-load.
Steenson converted to open a 17-0 lead but the hosts immediately hit-back when the Chiefs forwards conceded a penalty from the re-start. Full-back Barraque collected the quickly-taken kick to score shortly before half-time.
Audy added the conversion and a penalty early in the second half to cut the lead to seven points. But Steenson kicked three penalties to keep Chiefs out of sight before two late tries.
McGuigan raced onto Ian Whitten’s long pass before James set up Vainikolo for the all-important fourth try. The Chiefs now have 11 points at the top of Pool 2 and will have home advantage over La Rochelle next weekend.
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