Exeter 17-69 Bordeaux: Visitors dent Chiefs' qualification hopes

Damian Penaud scored a hat-trick to help Bordeaux-Begles thrash Exeter Chiefs, all but ending the home side's hopes of reaching the Champions Cup last 16. Exeter winger Paul Brown-Bampoe had opened the scoring with a stunning length-of-the-field try on his Champions Cup debut.

Bordeaux responded quickly with tries from the French duo of Maxime Lucu and Damian Penaud, demonstrating high efficiency and dominance in the first half. Penaud’s clever run created a second try for Lucu, with replacement Louis Bielle-Biarrey and hooker Maxime Lamothe also crossing the line before halftime.

In the second half, Penaud and Bielle-Biarrey each scored again, and Cyril Cazeaux also added a try. Brown-Bampoe scored another for the Chiefs early in the second half, but Exeter were outclassed throughout the match. Penaud had a chance to complete his hat-trick but selflessly passed the ball to Matthieu Jalibert for a try, while replacement Yann Lesgourgues also got on the scoresheet.

Late in the game, Toma Taufa was red-carded for a high tackle, and Ben Hammersley's fine try gave Rob Baxter's side some hope of securing a losing bonus point. However, Penaud eventually completed his hat-trick, and Bordeaux were resolute in defense, denying the home side a fourth try and the bonus point.

The top four teams will advance to the last 16, with the top two in each pool securing home advantage in the knockout stages. This defeat leaves the Chiefs in sixth place in Pool One, meaning they need to rely on results elsewhere and secure a big bonus-point victory in their final game against Ulster on Friday. It was also their biggest home loss since qualifying for the top flight in 2010 and their 12th defeat in 13 games this season.

On paper, the game was clearly skewed in favor of the visiting French side. The Chiefs had won only one game this season, while Bordeaux had amassed 82 points in their opening two pool games against Leicester Tigers and Ulster and were the leaders of the Top 14 league. Bordeaux had been camped inside the Exeter 22 for much of the early stages until Brown-Bampoe intercepted the ball, evaded two defenders, and ran the length of the field for an unlikely opening try.

However, the Top 14 side, who came into this game on a seven-match winning run, responded immediately, with Yoram Moefana breaking through some flimsy defense to put Lucu in for an easy try. French winger Penaud then crossed for the visitors' second try following a sharp attacking move involving Lucu. Bordeaux, one of the favorites for the tournament, did not let up, with Penaud creating a try for Lucu with a clever run, and the Top 14 side took control of the game.

An injury to full-back Romain Buros in the first half saw 21-year-old Bielle-Biarrey come on, and he did not hesitate to score with a sharp attacking move, followed by hooker Lamothe scoring from the back of a ruck in the final move of the first half. Despite the victory being almost secured by halftime, Bordeaux remained relentless in attack in the second half to increase their points difference in their bid to secure the top seed in the pool.

Toulouse's failure to secure a bonus-point victory meant that Top 14 leaders Bordeaux took top spot in Pool One. Bordeaux will conclude their pool stage campaign at home to the Sharks next Sunday (13:00 GMT). Exeter director Rob Baxter said: "The score got away from us. It was a pretty chastening defeat, wasn't it?"

"We had a lot of players trying to fight and trying to have a big impact on the game, and it stopped us doing things as a team. I thought we steadied up after halftime and were better, and you saw some good moments, but once something went against us, tries followed. No one likes conceding that many points. That's the reality. You have to get on with it, turn up for training the next day, take it on the chin, and keep going."