Rugby

Forgotten England star shines as Exeter Chiefs edge out Toulon

Henry Slade held his nerve to land a match-winning conversion with the game’s final kick as Exeter launched their Investec Champions Cup campaign with a stunning 19-18 victory over Toulon.

The Chiefs trailed by 13 points at half-time, but they kept French Top 14 title contenders Toulon scoreless after the break.

Flanker Jacques Vermeulen touched down from close range for Exeter’s third try with a minute left at Stade Felix-Mayol, then England international centre Slade stepped up to convert amid intense pressure.

In the pursuit of a round-of-16 spot, it also meant that Rob Baxter’s squad got off to a great start at the beginning of each of the four pool stage weekends.

Half-flyThe Chiefs’ Harvey Skinner scored an early interception try, but Toulon seized the lead when prop Beka Gigashvili and former Leicester scrum-half Ben White touched down. Fly-half Enzo Herve also booted two penalties and attempted a conversion.

Exeter was behind 18–5 at the break, but the Chiefs’ second-half effort—which included hooker Max Norey scoring a try that Slade converted—will go down in Chiefs history as one of their best in their European history.

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