Chiefs 8 Clermont 35

A bit like the Incredible Hulk, you don’t want to see him angry, but an angry Rob Baxter pulled no punches after watching his side slip to defeat in their European Champions Cup opener against ASM Clermont Auvergne.

Having watched his side make a spluttering start to this season’s Aviva Premiership campaign, the Chiefs failed to fire at all against the star-studded Frenchmen, who inspired by Wesley Fofana cruised their way to all five points at Sandy Park.

The talented French international helped himself to a brace of tries, while Julien Bardy, Noa Nakaitaci and Nick Abendanon also found their way over the whitewash.

Scrum-half Morgan Parra converted the first four tries, while replacement Pato Fernandez added the final nail in the Exeter coffin.

For the Chiefs – who travel to Ulster Rugby this coming Saturday – they countered with a first half penalty from Gareth Steenson and a late try from Sam Hill, but they were the only bright moments on a dismal night for the Devonians.

Ahead of kick-off both teams emerged to mark a minute’s silence in memory of Munster head coach Anthony Foley, who had suddenly passed away just hours before his own side’s scheduled European encounter with Racing Metro 92 in Paris.

With the wind at their backs in the opening half, the Chiefs started brightly and wasted little time in setting out their attacking stall against the current Top 14 league leaders.

For the full report go to http://exeterchiefs.co.uk/news/chiefs-8-clermont-35/

Chiefs: L Turner (M Bodilly 52); O Woodburn, O Devoto, S Hill, I Whitten; G Steenson (capt, H Slade 57), D Lewis (J Maunder 56); M Low (C Rimmer 52), L Cowan-Dickie (J Yeandle 29), H Williams (G Holmes 52); G Parling, D Welch (M Lees 56); K Horstmann, J Salvi, T Waldrom (D Dennis 56).
Try – Hill; Penalty – Steenson

Clermont Auvergne: N Abendanon; D Strettle, R Lamerat (A Rougerie 60), W Fofana, N Nakaitaci; C Lopez (P Fernandez 64), M Parra (L Radosavljevic 66); T Domingo (E Falgoux 52), B Kayser (N Charles 69), D Ziratkashvili (C Ric 60); F Van Der Merwe, S Vahaamahina; D Chouly (capt, P Jedrasik 53), J Bardy, F Lee (A Lapandry 46).
Referee: G Clancy (Ire)
Tries – Bardy, Nakaitaci, Fofana (2), Abendanon; Conversions – Parra (4), Fernandez
Yellow Card: Van Der Merwe
Attendance: 9,879