Toulouse Overpowers Exeter Chiefs With Resounding 64-21 Champions Cup Win
Toulouse Overpowers Exeter Chiefs With Resounding 64-21 Champions Cup Win
Toulouse crushed the Exeter Chiefs 64-21 in the Champions Cup with a 10-try masterclass, led by Antoine Dupont and Thomas Ramos.
Toulouse delivered a commanding performance in its latest Investec Champions Cup clash, overwhelming the Exeter Chiefs 64-21 at Sandy Park on Saturday.
The French giants showcased clinical finishing and relentless attacking prowess to secure a decisive victory.
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The visitors set the tone early, with Antoine Dupont diving over in the eighth minute, followed by François Cros, Matthis Lebel and Thibaud Flament, each crossing the whitewash before halftime.
Thomas Ramos was near-flawless with the boot, converting all four first-half tries to give Toulouse a commanding 35-7 lead at the break.
Exeter’s Tommy Wyatt provided a glimmer of hope for the hosts, scoring late in the half, with Henry Slade adding the extras.
The Chiefs mounted a spirited response early in the second half.
Wyatt grabbed his second try, followed by Josh Hodge’s effort, both converted by Slade, cutting the deficit to 45-21. However, their resurgence was short-lived, as Toulouse’s depth and skill shined through.
Pierre-Louis Barassi, Theo Ntamack, Blair Kinghorn and Paul Graou added second-half tries for the visitors, who punished Exeter’s defensive lapses. Ramos contributed with conversions, though he missed a couple late on, while the Chiefs struggled to contain the relentless waves of Toulouse attack.
Despite Exeter’s intermittent flashes of brilliance, including a yellow card for Stu Townsend in the first half, Toulouse’s dominance never was in doubt. The result cements Toulouse’s reputation as one of Europe’s premier rugby powerhouses and leaves Exeter with plenty to ponder in their campaign.
Toulouse’s clinical 10-try performance highlights the team's intent to chase Champions Cup glory, as they outclassed their English opponents in a thrilling encounter.
What's Next For The Exeter Chiefs And Stade Toulousain In The Champions Cup?
The Exeter Chiefs will host Bordeaux-Begles at 10:15 a.m. ET on Jan. 11 in one of the most anticipated matches of the competition. Stade Toulousain will face the Hollywoodbets Sharks at 10.15 am ET on Jan. 12.
Investec Champions Cup 2024-2025 Round 1 Results
- La Rochelle 24, Bath Rugby 20
- ASM Clermont Auvergne 28, Benetton Rugby 0
- Hollywoodbets Sharks 39 Exeter Chiefs 21
- Northampton Saints 38, Castres Olympique 8
- RC Toulon 24, DHL Stormers 14
- Munster Rugby 33, Stade Francais Paris 7
- Saracens 27, Vodacom Bulls 5
- Glasgow Warriors 38, Sale Sharks 19
- Racing 92 23, Harlequins 12
- Union Bordeaux-Bègles 42, Leicester Tigers 28
- Stade Toulousain 54, Ulster Rugby 21
- Leinster Rugby 35, Bristol Bears 12
Investec Champions Cup Fixtures In Round 2
All Times Eastern
- Sale Sharks 29, vs. Racing 92 7
- Castres Olympique 16 vs. Munster Rugby 14
- Northampton Saints 30, Vodacom Bulls 21
- Union Bordeaux-Bègles 40, Ulster Rugby 19
- Leinster Rugby 15 vs. ASM Clermont Auvergne 7
- Leicester Tigers 56, Hollywoodbets Sharks 17
- Stade Rochelais 35 vs. Bristol Bears 7
- Harlequins 53 vs. DHL Stormers 16
- RC Toulon vs. Glasgow Warriors, Sun, Dec 15, 2024, 8 AM, Stade Felix Mayol
- Benetton Rugby vs. Bath Rugby, Sun, Dec 15, 2024, 8 AM, Stadio Monigo
- Stade Francais Paris vs. Saracens, Sun, Dec 15, 2024, 10:15 AM, Stade Jean Bouin
- Exeter Chiefs vs. Stade Toulousain, Sun, Dec 15, 2024, 12:30 PM, Sandy Park
Investec Champions Cup Fixtures In Round 3
- Glasgow Warriors vs. Racing 92, Fri, Jan 10, 2025, 3 PM, Scotstoun Stadium
- DHL Stormers vs. Sale Sharks, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 8 AM, DHL Stadium
- Exeter Chiefs vs. Union Bordeaux-Bègles, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 10:15 AM, Sandy Park
- Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Stade Toulousain, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 10:15 AM, Hollywoodbets Kings Park
- Munster Rugby vs. Saracens, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 12:30 PM, Thomond Park
- Stade Francais Paris vs. Northampton Saints, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 12:30 PM, Stade Jean Bouin
- Leicester Tigers vs. Ulster Rugby, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 3 PM, Mattioli Woods Welford Road
- Castres Olympique vs. Vodacom Bulls, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 3 PM, Stade Pierre-Fabre
- RC Toulon vs. Harlequins, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 8 AM, Stade Felix Mayol
- Stade Rochelais vs. Leinster Rugby, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 10:15 AM, Stade Marcel Deflandre
- Bristol Bears vs. Benetton Rugby, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 10:15 AM, Ashton Gate
- Bath Rugby vs. ASM Clermont Auvergne, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 12:30 PM, The Rec
Investec Champions Cup Fixtures In Round 4
- Ulster Rugby vs. Exeter Chiefs, Fri, Jan 17, 2025, 3 PM, Kingspan Stadium
- Vodacom Bulls vs. Stade Francais Paris, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 8 AM, Loftus Versfeld
- Northampton Saints vs. Munster Rugby, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 10:15 AM, cinch Stadium @ Franklin's Gardens
- ASM Clermont Auvergne vs. Bristol Bears, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 10:15 AM, Stade Marcel-Michelin
- Benetton Rugby vs. Stade Rochelais, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 12:30 PM, Stadio Monigo
- Leinster Rugby vs. Bath Rugby, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 12:30 PM, Aviva Stadium
- Harlequins vs. Glasgow Warriors, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 3 PM, Twickenham Stoop
- Racing 92 vs. DHL Stormers, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 3 PM, Paris La Defense Arena
- Union Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 8 AM, Stade Chaban-Delmas
- Saracens vs. Castres Olympique, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 10:15 AM, StoneX Stadium
- Stade Toulousain vs. Leicester Tigers, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 10:15 AM, Stade Ernest Wallon
- Sale Sharks vs. RC Toulon, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 12:30 PM, Salford Community Stadium
Investec Champions Cup Format
Key points of the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup:
- A multi-pool format, as launched in the 2023-2024 season
- 24 elite clubs - eight each from the Gallagher Premiership, URC and TOP 14 - in four pools of six
- Sporting jeopardy, with each club playing against four different opponents, home or away, in the pool stage
- Four highest-ranked clubs in each pool qualify for the Round of 16
- The Investec Champions Cup will be played over eight weekends, with four pool rounds and four knockout rounds culminating in the 2025 final, which will be staged at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on Saturday, May 24.
Investec Champions Cup Weekends
- Round 1 – 6/7/8 December 2024
- Round 2 – 13/14/15 December 2024
- Round 3 – 10/11/12 January 2025
- Round 4 – 17/18/19 January 2025
- Round of 16 – 4/5/6 April 2025
- Quarter-finals – 11/12/13 April 2025
- Semi-finals – 2/3/4 May 2025
- 2025 Investec Champions Cup final – Saturday, May 24, Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Champions Cup Qualifications
Twenty-four clubs have qualified for the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup as follows:
- United Rugby Championship (8): The eight highest-ranked clubs based on their final finishing positions.
- TOP 14 (8): The eight highest-ranked clubs based on their final finishing positions.
- Gallagher Premiership Rugby (8): The eight highest-ranked clubs based on their final finishing positions.
- If not already qualified, the winner of the 2024 Investec Champions Cup will take the place of the eighth-ranked club in its league.
Investec Champions Cup Qualifiers
- TOP 14 – Stade Toulousain, Union Bordeaux-Bègles, Stade Français Paris, RC Toulon, Stade Rochelais, Racing 92, Castres Olympique, ASM Clermont Auvergne
- GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP – Northampton Saints, Bath Rugby, Sale Sharks, Saracens, Bristol Bears, Harlequins, Exeter Chiefs, Leicester Tigers
- UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP – Glasgow Warriors, Vodacom Bulls, Munster Rugby, Leinster Rugby, DHL Stormers, Ulster Rugby, Benetton Rugby, Hollywoodbets Sharks
When Does The 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup Begin? When Is The Champions Cup Final?
The Investec Champions Cup and the EPCR Challenge Cup begin Dec. 6, and the four-round pool-play action ends Jan. 19, 2025. The Round of 16 starts on April 4, while the quarterfinals are April 11-13. The semifinals are May 2-4.
The EPCR Championships weekend is in Cardiff, Wales at Principality Stadium. There are championship games on May 23 (EPCR Challenge Cup) and May 24 (Investec Champions Cup).
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