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Stuart Hogg admits Exeter 'got a bit of a bollocking at half-time'
By PA
Stuart Hogg described Exeter’s 27-12 Heineken Champions Cup win in Castres as one of the “special nights” for the 2020 champions.
The Chiefs recorded their fourth win on French soil in the club’s European history and also picked up a bonus point as they scored two tries in each half.
They face the South African newcomers the Bulls at Sandy Park in round two and Hogg has urged his team-mates to follow up their impressive victory.
“I’m hugely proud of that performance,” Hogg said.
“We talked about having special nights in Europe and we knew coming across to Castres was going to be one hell of a challenge for us.
“To come away with a bonus-point win is everything we wanted. Now the challenge is to back it up next week.
“We stuck to our game plan and got a bit of a bollocking at half-time. After that we came out and showed them what we are properly about in the second half.”
Four penalties by Julien Dumora kept Castres, unbeaten at Stade Pierre Fabre for the previous 11 months, in the hunt at 12-12 at half-time despite Exeter tries from Sam Simmonds and Dave Ewers.
But Sam Maunder and Olly Woodburn crossed in the second half to wrap things up for the Chiefs.
Hogg, who made the bonus-point try for Woodburn, added: “Our game plan was working for us in the first half, but we went off script and didn’t get numbers to the breakdown quickly enough. Credit to Castres they turned us over.
“The two tries we scored in the first half was a bit of us, we went through multi-phases and eventually scored. That’s what we are about, and we needed a little bit more of it.
“Maybe we were concentrating a little bit too much on them and not what we were about. The second half was exactly us and we’ll enjoy this one.
“We have had 60-70 minute performances this season, but not the full 80. A times it’s not always going to be perfect, but then you get your rewards on night like this.”
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Latest Comments
I am.
Go to commentsI cannot believe that you don't think the French rugby team coach and captain are not discussing putting Jalibert on the bench in favour of Duponts club teammate that doesn't even play at 10.
This is a terrible, massive insult to a 10 and I'm sure Dupont would also be very enraged if benched for a player that doesn't even play halfback.
A good captain would've insisted to the coach that it was an idea of madness and either select Jalibert or replace him with another 10 if you want him to be reserve.
Jalibert may not be the world's finest tacklers but that's often not a tens main strength that the loose forwards and second five cover. An intercept pass is never great but they happen.
When any player is playing for his club then it's club first, respect doesn't need to be shown to opposition players simply because they're internationals.
Who exactly are you claiming Jalibert hasn't respected? If it's Toulouse international players then it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this bench demotion out.
The outcome of selecting Jalibert to the bench and he then throwing his croissants out the window of the team bus immediately prior to playing the Allblacks is a disaster that will be team disharmony as any team mates of Jalibert are in a state of anger and revolt so a performance that will be sub optimal against a team that is thirsting for revenge against France.
I don't know about you but the Allblacks are very upset they've lost twice in a row to France and want to put out a statement performance so this preparation by Galthie of creating havoc looks to me like a coach that is clueless.
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