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Leinster rally to beat Chiefs, Bath gain revenge over Toulon
By Peter Thompson
Leinster came storming back to maintain their 100 per cent European Champions Cup record with a 22-17 win over Exeter Chiefs and Anthony Watson's double gave Bath victory over Toulon in a classic at The Rec.
Exeter travelled to the Aviva Stadium smarting from a home defeat to Leinster last weekend and looked set to gain revenge when they led 17-3 late in the first half, Sam Skinner and Luke Cowan-Dickie scoring tries.
Leinster lost Jonathan Sexton to a head injury, while Cian Healy was fortunate to escape with just a yellow card for a forearm on Cowan-Dickie at a ruck. Scott Fardy was also sin-binned as the Premiership champions had much the better of the first half.
Leo Cullen's Pool 3 leaders hung in there and Isa Nacewa's fifth penalty reduced the deficit to only two points, before Luke McGrath took a pass from Dan Leavy, which looked suspiciously close to being forward, to dart away for a decisive try 10 minutes from time.
Leinster are five points clear of Montpellier, who moved above Exeter courtesy of a 36-26 victory against Glasgow Warriors at Altrad Stadium.
Glasgow led 19-14 at the break, but Henry Immelmann claimed a second-half brace as Montpellier came out on top in a pulsating clash to keep themselves firmly in the hunt for a place in the last eight and leave the Warriors still without a win.
Toulon left it late to beat Bath last Saturday but Todd Blackadder's men gained revenge seven days later, going top of Pool 5 with a thrilling 26-21 success.
Beno Obano crossed in the first minute, while Watson dotted down twice, the second a brilliant solo effort, before the Premiership side soaked up huge pressure in the closing stages to edge it.
Scarlets were forced to charter a flight for a clash with Benetton Treviso due to an air-traffic control strike in Italy and back-to-back triumphs have seen their Champions Cup campaign take off, Gareth Davies scoring two tries in a 31-12 win for the Welsh side which leaves them only a point behind Bath and Toulon.
Racing 92 are second in Pool 4 following a 29-7 bonus-point win over Top 14 rivals Castres, although Juan Imhoff took the gloss off the result when he was shown a red card for a headbutt.
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Latest Comments
It's the same criticism of Dmac and Mo'unga as well. Sadly the way the game has been heading recently it's the only way to break down a defence, and a player of Lawrences nature would have a very limited chance at doing that because he's too one dimensional.
Noah Lolesio is your sort of player and that worked OK, but only because his team is far more creative than Englands for example. The highly organized Irish attack was also another that didn't require much from the 10, but that is now changing with Prendergast who is in that league mold like the most new age 10's.
So it is in fact your two which would require even more change to make the most of than Marcus Smith.
Go to commentsThe Stormers sloppiness show that they are a poorly coached side. Fortunately for them, so are the Sharks.
There are tougher opponents waiting and they will be punished heavily unless the coaching improves dramatically.
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