Toulouse beat Exeter 43-40 after early red card as Slade misses late penalty

Toulouse beat Exeter Chiefs 43-40 in their Champions Cup pool match after playing most of the contest a man short, with Henry Slade missing a late penalty that would have secured a draw. BBC Sport reported that the hosts recovered from Rodrigue Neti’s first-half dismissal to win despite a hat-trick from Exeter winger Zack Wimbush.

Watch the highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYCuTwrMlvk

Neti was sent off in the 16th minute for shoulder-to-head contact with Ross Vintcent. Toulouse were leading 12-7 at the time, having responded to Wimbush’s second-minute opening try with a score from Ange Capuozzo and a penalty try. The penalty try also brought a yellow card for Exeter full-back Sam Harris, adding to a first half in which both teams had to cope with players being sent to the sin-bin.

Wimbush, who started in place of the injured Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, added his second try after Neti’s dismissal. Toulouse nevertheless moved 10 points clear through Joshua Brennan and Teddy Thomas before another disciplinary setback changed the balance. Thomas received a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on, leaving Exeter with a two-player advantage. Jack Yeandle and Stephen Varney then scored to put the visitors 26-24 ahead at the interval, after four tries apiece.

Exeter extended that lead to nine points after the restart when Will Butt scored following a charge-down of Antoine Dupont’s clearing kick. The advantage did not last, however, as Toulouse answered with further tries. Wimbush completed his hat-trick for Exeter, while Matias Remue scored twice and Romain Ntamack also crossed for the home side during the second half.

The lead changed repeatedly, and Toulouse took advantage while Exeter replacement Ben Hammersley was in the sin-bin. Their response left the visitors three points behind heading into the closing stages. Exeter still had a route back when they were awarded a late penalty and opted for a shot at goal rather than pursuing another try.

Slade’s attempt from roughly 40 metres went wide with time already expired, preserving Toulouse’s narrow victory. He had converted five of Exeter’s six tries, but could not add the three points needed at the finish. Exeter, the 2020 champions, left with a losing bonus point after falling short in a match they had led both at half-time and early in the second half.