Rob Baxter gave his side a licence to thrill right from the off against Bordeaux-Bègles in a bid to get Exeter’s Champions Cup campaign back on track after the disappointing defeat against the Ospreys.
Having been in control of that game at half-time, they slipped to a 25-13 defeat and left Wales with nothing to show for their efforts. So, with three successive games against Top 14 opposition to come for his side – they play Clermont Auvergne in the back-to-back matches next month – Exeter’s head coach obviously decided he needed a full house of points at home.
Easy kicks at goal were ignored, Jack Nowell and Phil Dollman ran back every ball they received and the tempo was kept at a high rate. The plan worked well for a while, especially as the visitors conceded nine penalties in the first 40 minutes.
Olly Woodburn raced 30 metres up the left touchline to score the first try and the tighthead prop Moray Low popped out of a maul five metres from the Bordeaux line like a champagne cork to bag a second try. Henry Slade obliged with the conversion of Low’s surprise effort and also kicked three penalties.
This was the French club’s first game in the top flight of Europe in 17 years and their rugby director, Raphaël Ibanez, would have wanted to forget much about their first-half effort. There was one moment of magic to savour, though, after they won a lineout in the home 22.
The ball was moved speedily from left to right and the centre Sofiane Guitoune made enough space with his arcing run to allow the full back Nans Ducuing to dive over in the corner for a try, which Lionel Beauxis converted superbly off the touchline.
The Chiefs edged close to the required mark of four tries with their third three minutes after the break from centre Ian Whitten but still the floodgates refused to open. Instead, Bordeaux hit back with some gusto and no sooner had Ducuing been denied a second try by a sensational cover tackle from Woodburn than Julien Rey carved his way through for the visitors’ second score.
The long wait for the bonus point ended in some style in the 58th minute when Slade turned defence into attack with a brilliant run out of his 22 that ended with Woodburn sprinting clear for his second try of the night.
The impressive Yann Lesgourgues then scampered his way to the posts for a third French try to keep the game interesting and honest, so much so that Slade went against the grain eight minutes from time to kick a fourth penalty.
After the match, Baxter stressed he was not disappointed that England did not come calling when they were seeking a replacement for Stuart Lancaster and hopes the man selected for the job, Eddie Jones, will consider some of his players.
“He has already said that he is starting with a clean sheet, that’s great for the players and great for me from a coaching point of view when I am talking to our English-qualified players,” said Baxter. “Human nature should say to those players that they want to impress him [Jones] and they’ll want to make sure that they are playing well in these games when he first starts to look at them.
“I don’t know him [Jones] at all but I am looking forward to meeting him and to discuss our lads.
“I’d hope to learn how he sees things going forward as I don’t know too much about his coaching style. I would like to think that some England coaches had been considered, I certainly wasn’t asked, but it is now for the Premiership sides to produce the players.”
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