While Rob Baxter seems able to net the most out of every Chiefs player in the European Champions Cup,the Saints’ big-name players are strugglingBy the time Jérôme Garcès blows the final whistle at Welford Road on Sunday evening, at least three English clubs should be well on their way to the Champions Cup quarter-finals. Saracens, and Leicester and one of Wasps and Bath should be sitting very pretty at the halt of the weekend’s action,and I would not bet against Exeter confounding expectations away to Clermont. Northampton’s backs, though, and not to mention their forwards,are firmly against the wall.
Exeter Chiefs win over Clermont was the story of the round for me. Three years ago they lost 46-12 at domestic to the same opponents but last Saturday they won the fixture 31-14. They outmuscled Clermont around the fringes and held them in the scrum, which are meaningful achievements, and they used that power as the basis to play with freedom and enthusiasm.
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Source: theguardian.com