While the Exeter Chiefs will host Montpellier Hérault Rugby in the knockout stages of the Champions Cup on April 2, we invite you to come back to the four previous meetings between the two teams, three of which were won by the English club.
2017 : Montpellier 24 Exeter 27
Exeter inflicted just Montpellier’s fifth home defeat in the Champions Cup. Flanker Don Armand showed the way forward with two tries in this Pool 3 encounter. The Cistes however led 17 to 10 at the break thanks to the tries of Joe Tomane, Benoit Paillaugue and Nemani Nadolo, the last having been transformed by Paillaugue. In response, Armand scored the first of his two tries. Gareth Steenson added the conversion as well as a penalty.
Ian Whitten’s converted try allowed the Chiefs to come back up to the MHR in the 44th minute of play. But Nadolo immediately restored the advantage to Montpellier with his second try of the match. However, Exeter came back in contention with Armand’s second try, Steensen converting that try before handing the victory to the Chiefs eight minutes from the final penalty whistle.
2018 : Exeter 41 Montpellier 10
Exeter secured yet another Pool 3 victory against Montpellier, this time at Sandy Park, with an attacking display punctuated by six tries, two of which were scored by winger Olly Woodburn. The Chiefs were only 7-0 up at the break after a try from Dave Ewers converted by Gareth Steenson, but they went wild in the second half.
In addition to Woodburn’s double, Sam Simmonds, Don Armand and Nic White also found their way to the Montpellier in-goal, Steenson converting two, Joe Simmonds one and not forgetting a penalty at the last minute. Montpellier was overpowered in the forward fight and could only respond with a try from Nemani Nadolo (78th) converted by Aaron Cruden, who had scored a penalty a few minutes earlier.
2021 : Exeter 42 Montpellier 6
Montpellier experienced another difficult afternoon for its second trip to Sandy Park. Exeter second-row Jonny Gray shone with a hat-trick in the Pool A encounter. five tries in the second period after leading 7-6 at the break thanks to the try of Stuart Hogg (23rd), converted by Joe Simmonds, while the MHR limited the gap with two penalties from Louis Foursans. Gray went wild from the start of the second half with his three tries while Sam Simmonds and Don Armand added two tries to confirm the Chiefs’ supremacy.
2022 : Montpellier 37 Exeter 26
Montpellier recorded their first victory against Exeter at the end of a thrilling meeting allowing them to grab the last qualifying place for the knockout stages of the Champions Cup. An epic encounter with eight tries scored. England number 8 Sam Simmonds scored a sensational hat-trick but the 2020 champions had to settle for sixth place in their pool after being beaten by Montpellier. The TOP 14 side netted three of their four first-half tries through Anthony Bouthier, Paul Willemse and Jan Serfontein to lead 24-19. Louis Foursans converted three while adding a penalty.
Exeter also scored three tries before the break with Simmonds (2) and Sean O’Brien. But the Hérault formation reacted well in the second act. Despite the Chiefs’ lead after Simmonds’ third try (26-24), MHR responded surgically, with Foursans netting a penalty before Cobus Reinach sealed the attacking bonus point with a try in the 69th minute. .
