Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Outlandish Sam Simmonds effort not enough for Exeter in Montpellier

By PA
Sam Simmonds /Getty

Sam Simmonds scored three tries yet still ended on the losing side as Exeter went down 37-26 to Montpellier in the Heineken Champions Cup.

ADVERTISEMENT

Montpellier’s victory earned them a place in the top eight in Pool A and and a round-of-16 meeting with English champions Harlequins, while the Chiefs will take on Munster.

The home win also ended Glasgow’s hopes of staying in the tournament.

Montpellier director of rugby Phillipe Saint-Andre was able to field a near full-strength team a week on from their 89-7 annihilation in Dublin against Leinster and, after being rocked by a third-minute try from Sam Simmonds, the home side took firm control through their huge pack.

Video Spacer

Rob Kearney and Alfie Barbeary – A Lion and a Wasp | RugbyPass Offload | Episode 17

Video Spacer

Rob Kearney and Alfie Barbeary – A Lion and a Wasp | RugbyPass Offload | Episode 17

Sam Simmonds got the first of his three tries as he burst around the front of a close-range line-out and powered through three tacklers to score in the left corner.

It gave Exeter a great start, yet by the time the game was half-an-hour old Montpellier had responded with 24 unanswered points.

With only three of last weekend’s side in their squad, they took the lead with a try from full- back Anthony Bouthier that owed everything to his wing Gabriel Ngandebe.

He gathered a box kick on his 10 metre line and exploded through the heart of the Exeter defensive line before giving Bouthier a simple run in to the posts.

ADVERTISEMENT

Louis Foursans added the routine conversion and then added the extras to tries from French lock Paul Willemse, from close range, and former South Africa centre Jan Serfontein in the left corner.

He then punished Luke Cowan-Dickie for a no-arms tackle by kicking a penalty to extend the lead to 19 points.

The Chiefs had been under the pump, but two tries in the space of four minutes got them right back into the contest.

That man Sam Simmonds powered through another three would-be tacklers to score from five metres out and then centre Sean O’Brien picked off a floated midfield pass from home prop Enzo Forletta and raced 40 metres to the line.

ADVERTISEMENT

Joe Simmonds converted them both and Stuart Hogg got over the line on the stroke of half-time but was adjudged to have knocked on before grounding after catching a chip ahead by Joe Simmonds.

That meant the former champions were five points down at the break, but it did not take long for them to regain the lead.

Once again it was the England and British and Irish Lions number eight Sam Simmonds who did the damage as he completed his hat-trick with another unstoppable close-range burst.

That made it seven tries for this season’s tournament and his brother’s conversion edged the Chiefs in front at 26-24.

Montpellier needed to take one point from the game to knock Glasgow out of the top eight.

Foursans regained the lead for them with a straightforward penalty in the 66th minute and then Springbok scrum half Cobus Reinach intercepted a Sam Maunder pass 10 metres from his line and raced all the way to the other end.

That guaranteed a try bonus-point, and a seventh French team into the round of 16, and Italy international Paulo Garbisi added the conversion.

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

H
Hellhound 17 minutes ago
Forget Ireland, the All Blacks face the real alpha of Europe next

I'm no fan of Du Point, but I am not blind. I will go as far as agree to disagree. Without him the French wouldn't nearly have been so good. He has made game saving tackles, he has steered the French to victory in most of his games. He creates try assists that should not have been.


His kicking is very accurate, and if he was a Bok, he would be in the team. Roigard is very good, but he is no Du Point. He is a generational talent. You dislike him BECAUSE everyone is so hyped about him, NOT because he is a very good player.


It's the same with me. It irritates me, but I am not blind. ANYONE saying he isn't good, is definitely lying to themselves. Do yourself a favour. Go and look at highlights about him on YouTube or somewhere. Really have a look. Without prejudice.


He isn't as lucky as other players to have the kind of players like SA and NZ have, although currently the French forwards is the biggest on the planet. To my shame I must admit that every game I see him play, I hope someone injures him which is very very wrong. It's just that he is THAT GOOD. There is no other players that I ever wished for that, because they are just not in his class.


No, stop lying to yourself. Go look at his stats. He is responsible for at least 60%-70% of the French score every game. Creating tries, scoring himself or assist, pin point kicking, creating gaps, tackles like a machine, slippery as hell and always tries to dominate a ref which is starting to count against him, but don't be fooled. I haven't even mentioned half of what he does. He inspires that team in a way other players can never do.


There is no other scrumhalf in the world like him, and there will never be again. I hate the French and I hate Du Point, but there is no denying his talent. If he played for your team, you would have raved and absolutely loved him. That is not to say Roigard isn't good. He is very good too.

45 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Ripper of a performance but Wallabies must ensure it’s not another one-off Ripper of a performance but Wallabies must ensure it’s not another one-off
Search