30 April 2023 , 22:25
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Emotional Exeter faced up to the end of an era after their Champions Cup semi-final turned into a painful last hurrah.
Chiefs had dared dream that a side about to be broken up could summon one final effort to bring down the might of La Rochelle. That players who had made history by turning one-time Devon minnows into kings of the continent could sign off with a second European crown in four years.
It didn’t work out at all that way at a seething Stade Matmut Atlantique, where the holders inflicted a seven-try hammering.
Jack Nowell, Stuart Hogg, Sam Simmonds and brother Joe might have rejected ‘last dance’ talk ahead of their summer departures.
But it was beyond dispute long before the final whistle confirmed Ronan O’Gara’s side will face Leinster in Dublin in a repeat of last year’s final.
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“It was a bit emotional,” Chiefs boss Rob Baxter admitted. “We came with great intent and energy, but you have to say well done to La Rochelle because they definitely capitalised on pretty much every mistake we made.
Dillyn Leyds gets ball away as he is tackled by Exeter's South African flanker Aidon Davis (AFP via Getty Images)“I said to the lads in the changing room, there’s two stories at the minute. There’s the incredible group of players who have had incredible success together and have been part of the most successful period in the club’s history.
“At the same time the story is there’s a new chapter for some young players who were out there and will have gained an awful lot from an incredible day.”
Exeter started brightly, believing they could succeed where Northampton, Gloucester and Saracens had failed against Les Maritimes.
Raymond Rhule scores first of his two tries in yesterday's rout (AFP via Getty Images)They scored a clever opening try, shaping to go wide with a tap penalty, shifting left without touching the ball and leaving Sam Simmonds to pick up and plough over.
Sadly, it would be the only time La Rochelle were wrong-footed all afternoon.
No sooner had Joe Simmonds converted than Jules Favre broke up the left before feeding Alldritt inside him. Before Exeter could regroup, Antoine Hastoy chipped to the unmanned blindside for Raymond Rhule to score.
Brice Dulin is tackled by Chiefs' scrum-half Stu Townsend (AFP via Getty Images)La Rochelle’s joy was short-lived as breakdown king Levani Botia limped off injured but Exeter needed to seize on that briefest moment of vulnerability and were unable to do so.
Instead, Tom Wyatt kicked dead from a promising position and the imperious Alldritt went back upfield to set up field position from where UJ Seuteni cut inside to score.
The 41,204 crowd were now in a ferment and though there was only half an hour on the clock it was clear which way the afternoon was headed.
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Antoine Hastoy clears his lines as La Rochelle book a return trip to Champions Cup final (AFP via Getty Images)Henry Slade kicking out on the full and Jonny Gray being carried off with a dislocated kneecap only confirmed that the remainder of the game would be an exercise in damage limitation.
Even that did not go very well as La Rochelle turned up the heat and Chiefs’ challenge melted away.
Alldritt scored, moments after having one chalked off, when Will Becconsall failed to hold him at the back of a scrum and he escaped down the blindside.
Joe Simmonds tackles La Rochelle's Paul Boudehent (AFP via Getty Images)Tawera Kerr Barlow rounded off a fine team score for the first of his brace and at 26-7 at half-time Exeter wanted the ground to swallow them up.
No such luck as the tries kept coming. Rhule and Kerr-Barlow each scored their second, sandwiched either side of one for Pierre Bourgarit.
Three late tries for Exeter softened the scoreline but could not change the fact they had been beaten out of sight.
LA ROCHELLE - Tries: Rhule (2), Seuteni, Alldritt, Kerr-Barlow (2), Bourgarit. Cons: Hastoy 6.
EXETER - Tries: S Simmonds, Iosefa-Scott, Woodburn, Yeandle. Cons: J Simmonds 4.