Champions Cup roundup: Exeter to host Bath in last 16 after defeats in France

Exeter will host West Country rivals Bath in the Champions Cup last 16 after both sides slipped to defeat in France on Sunday.

Bath were beaten 31-19 by Toulouse at Stade Ernest-Wallon as the home side finished top of Pool 2. Both sides had already qualified for the last 16 but the English side were hoping to secure a home tie in the first knockout round with a victory that would have taken them ahead of Harlequins in the group.

Toulouse led 12-0 and then 19-12, with Bath hitting back on both occasions to go in level at the break, but the home side proved too strong and scored two tries deep into the second half to earn a fourth win from four, finishing the group stage with the best record overall and the top seed in the last 16.

Exeter, meanwhile, crashed to a 40-17 defeat away to Bayonne. The Chiefs, who were already assured of a home tie in the last 16, were punished for their indiscipline as the hosts, who sit fifth in Pool 3, ran in six tries.

Northampton top Pool 3 as a result and will host Munster in the round of 16; Leicester visit the Pool 4 winners, Leinster, Harlequins host Glasgow Warriors and Saracens go to Bordeaux-Bègles. The two-time defending champions, La Rochelle, secured their place by beating Sale and will next face South Africa’s Stormers.

In Toulouse, the hosts took the lead in the sixth minute after Emmanuel Meafou bundled his way over. The hosts moved 12 points in front three minutes later after Thomas Ramos went over and slotted the conversion.

Bath had a try of their own five minutes later. After winning a ­penalty, a five-metre lineout was executed to perfection as Beno Obano ran over the line, with Ben Spencer adding the extras. Bath were level after 23 ­minutes when Thomas du Toit crossed from close range.

Toulouse reestablished their lead via a penalty try. They worked their way to within a metre of the line from a 10-metre lineout before Charlie Ewels illegally dropped the maul and was shown a yellow card. Ramos hit a post with a ­penalty and Bath made Toulouse pay just before the break when Ollie ­Lawrence crossed to make it 19-19 at half-time.

Toulouse won it late on by crossing twice in the final 12 minutes. Juan Cruz Mallía got on the end of Ramos’ kick and the win was sealed with three minutes to go when Antoine Dupont kicked behind the defence for Ramos to round off a 31-19 win.

In Exeter’s defeat to Bayonne, the French side scored first via Tom Spring, who showed great pace to the tryline. Exeter responded through Dan Frost and Henry Slade added the conversion to level the score at 7-7. Bayonne bounced back after a ­mistake from Exeter’s Josh Hodge; the full-back failed to control the loose ball and Kote Mikautadze went over.

After Exeter’s Ollie Devoto was shown a yellow card, Bayonne took advantage through Aurélien Callandret, who crossed to make it 19-7. Bayonne added the bonus point through Victor Hannoun, but the away side scored two quick tries in the second half through Dafydd ­Jenkins and Rus Tuima to cut the deficit to 26-17.

Despite Callandret being shown a yellow card, Bayonne’s resolute defence withstood Exeter’s pressure and the hosts scored a try of their own through Federico Mori in the 65th minute.

Yellow cards for Jenkins and Jack Yeandle, either side of Mori’s second try of the game, ended the visitors’ hopes of a win. Exeter lost another player in the closing stages as Joe Hawkins was shown a straight red for a head-on-head collision.