Champions Cup

2023 - 4 - 2

Post cover — Image courtesy of "planetrugby.com"

Champions Cup: Exeter Chiefs progress after stalemate with ... (planetrugby.com)

Exeter Chiefs have booked their place in the Champions Cup quarter-finals after drawing 32-32 with Montpellier after 100 minutes of action at Sandy Park.

[Exeter](https://www.planetrugby.com/team/exeter-chiefs) prop Scott Sio scored the hosts’ first try with Sam Simmonds, Tom Wyatt and Josh Iosefa-Scott crossing the whitewash, Joe Simmonds adding three conversions. [Champions Cup](https://www.planetrugby.com/tournament/european-champions-cup) having scored five tries to Montpellier’s four. [Zach Mercer ‘hard done by’ after red card against Exeter Chiefs in the Champions Cup](https://www.planetrugby.com/news/watch-zach-mercer-hard-done-by-after-red-card-against-exeter-chiefs-in-the-champions-cup) Exeter could not clear from inside their 22, and Montpellier created enough room for Langdon to touch down just 50 seconds after joining the action, with Garbisi landing a wide-angled conversion. [Click here to see teams and scorers](https://www.planetrugby.com/europe-european-rugby-champions-cup-final-stage-exeter-chiefs-vs-montpellier/2023-04-02/2347718/overview) [Montpellier](https://www.planetrugby.com/team/montpellier) in the opening 80 minutes, with Garbisi adding a conversion and three penalties.

Exeter Vs. Montpellier: Heineken Champions Cup Live Rugby ... (FloRugby)

Exeter Rugby takes on Montpellier Rugby in the Heineken Champions Cup Round of 16. Follow the action live!

Ospreys, 10 a.m., April 2](https://www.florugby.com/events/10550281-2023-saracens-fc-vs-ospreys-rugby) [Stream the 2023 Heineken's Champions Cup knockout round games live on FloRugby.](https://www.florugby.com/events?date=2023-04-01&facets=%7B%22Streaming%20Source%22:%22FloSports%22,%22Governing%20Body%22:%22European%20Professional%20Club%20Rugby%22%7D) Bulls, 10 a.m., April 2](https://www.florugby.com/events/10550275-2023-stade-toulousain-vs-vodacom-bulls) [Saracens vs. from Sandy Park ](https://www.florugby.com/events/10550285-2023-exeter-chiefs-vs-montpellier-herault-rugby)in Exeter in the United Kingdom. Montpellier, 7:30 a.m., April 2](https://www.florugby.com/events/10550285-2023-exeter-chiefs-vs-montpellier-herault-rugby) [Toulouse vs. Follow the action live!

Exeter edge 14-man Montpellier in Champions Cup thriller (FRANCE 24)

Exeter qualified for the Champions Cup quarter-finals on tries scored when Sunday's last 16 thriller with Montpellier ended 33-33 after extra time.

We've challenged them a bit this season around some of the highs and lows of performances," said Exeter boss Rob Baxter. Montpellier had to play the final 30 minutes of regulation time down a man after Mercer's red card for a tackle to the head of Christ Tshiunza. A deliberate knock-on by Henry Slade earned the Exeter centre 10 minutes in the sin bin with Garbisi kicking the resulting penalty to put Montpellier back in front by a point at half-time. "We've had a few rollercoasters over the years. But Jack Yeandle crashed over with Joe Simmonds converting in the last minute to draw Exeter level at the end of 100 minutes of breathless rugby. Yeandle's try was Exeter's fifth to Montpellier's four, sending the 2020 European champions through to a quarter-final with the Stormers after the South African side beat Harlequins 32-28 in Cape Town on Saturday.

Zach Mercer red 'wrecks' Champions Cup thriller (RugbyPass)

Montpellier's Zach Mercer was shown a red card by referee Andrew Brace for a tackle on Exeter Chiefs' forward Christ Tshiunza in today's...

Red card for Zach Mercer at Exeter reveals the silly side of new framework. One, more reasonable, Tweeter wrote: “Personally thought the red card from Mercer was VERY unlucky . Another account queried why a HIA wasn’t mandatory in the situation given the decision implied there was significant force in the head contact. [Stephen Jones](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/stephen-jones/) wrote: “Red card for Zach Mercer at Exeter reveals the silly side of new framework. At time of contact Mercer hardly moving. The decision has caused a stir on social media, with many fans and pundits questioning the call.

Exeter v Montpellier result: Last-gasp try sends hosts through after ... (Telegraph.co.uk)

Those of you who like your rugby matches brimming with twists and turns will have enjoyed this one.

Mercer’s disciplinary hearing this week will be one to monitor, as Montpellier wait to see when he will return while trying to push for the Top 14 play-offs. It was about the only thing that did not go the way of Simmonds in a player-of-the-match performance in this last-16 tie. Then he was left muttering in frustration, having been sent off for making contact with the head of Christ Tshiunza with an upright tackle.

Yeandle's last-gasp try helps Exeter through in thrilling Montpellier ... (The Guardian)

Exeter reached the Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals on try count after extra-time following a dramatic 33-33 draw with Montpellier at Sandy Park.

It was now a completely different game, with Montpellier having lost almost all their rhythm and momentum. It was a fabulously exciting finale to a wild rollercoaster of a game. Equally, though, it was impossible to ignore the character and tenacity of a reshuffled Then came Mercer’s dismissal for a high challenge on Christ Tshiunza and, suddenly, Exeter dared to believe it could be their day. Initially there had appeared to be only one winner, as the Chiefs’ defence struggled to adjust to their opponents’ power and direct running. Their task appeared to have become even tougher when Montpellier cranked back into life and a couple of burst tackles gave Mercer the chance to touch down wide on the right.