The Exeter Chiefs brought an end to the DHL Stormers’ maiden Champions Cup campaign with a brutal display of clinical, attacking rugby in the quarter-finals in Exeter on Saturday.
The Chiefs marched with surprising ease to a 28-0 lead on the Stormers early in the second half at a blustery Sandy Park, and then snuffed out an attempted comeback to claim a 42-17 victory and progress to the Champions Cup semi-finals.
The Stormers endured their difficulties in travelling for the playoff and looked off the pace from the first minute as Exeter simply outmanoeuvred their opponents with a fantastic display of attacking rugby.
Straight off the training ground ?
The @ExeterChiefs go long from the line out and @OllyWoodburn hits a perfect line, beats the defender and scores the @ExeterChiefs‘ third try of the first half ???#HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/ElRtuUQOTi
— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) April 8, 2023
Opportunism ? Strength
What a score from @nowellsy15 who spots an opportunity, breaks one tackle, rides another and stretches for the line!@ExeterChiefs | #HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/c6Wanyo3Ap
— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) April 8, 2023
Going into the break 21-0 down, the Stormers made a few early substitutions to lift the intensity, but they were on the back foot again early in the second half when N0 8 Sam Simmonds extended Exeter’s lead to 28 points.
The Stormers pulled it together to produce a purple patch that threatened to make a game of the playoff when Damian Willemse’s try was followed up by a well-taken score from Suleiman Hartzenberg. However, the Chiefs regained control and all but sealed the match when they opened up a 25-point gap with just five minutes to play.
Is there a storm brewing in Exeter? ⛈️?@THESTORMERS have their second try as Suleiman Hartzenberg collects a kick and wins the race to the corner!#HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/wrO0QzzmCk
— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) April 8, 2023
While Marvin Orie scored an excellent try from a charge down, it was too little, too late from the visitors, as Exeter made sure of the result when replacement scrumhalf Tom Cairns pounced on an error.
The Stormers will resume their Vodacom United Rugby Championship campaign with two home games, starting with Munster in Cape Town on Saturday, 14 April.
Photo: Ryan Hiscott/Getty Images