Chiefs throw away a 14 point lead in Heineken Champions Cup clash

The start was fantastic, the middle more of a mixed bag, whilst the end was ultimately disappointing.

Exeter’s hopes of advancing in this season’s Heineken Champions Cup hang in the balance after they slipped to defeat against Castres.

This loss, coupled with last week’s home draw against Munster, mean Rob Baxter’s side currently sit bottom of Pool Two and facing an uphill struggle if they are to stand any chance of progression.

Devon’s finest will need to win at least three, if not all four of their remaining fixtures, to give themselves any hope of reaching the quarter-finals.

It will be a tall order for sure, but stranger things have happened.

Having opened up with a share of the spoils in Round One against Munster, the Chiefs landed in the South of France looking to inflict further European woe on their hosts, who themselves were beaten at Gloucester in their opening fixture.

Ahead of kick-off, Baxter was forced into change with Dave Dennis, Dave Ewers and Sam Skinner all ruled out having picked up injuries against the Irish province.Into the fray came Ollie Atkins, Wilhelm Van Der Sluys and Tom Lawday, the latter two making their first-ever European starts for the Devonians.

Castres, meanwhile, were at full-strength, welcoming back into their ranks Antoine Titchit and Daniel Kotze in the front-row, former Leicester Tiger Steve Mafi in the engine-room and Vaipulu at No.8.

However, their first actions were to try and repel the Chiefs, who started this encounter at a rate of knots. Keen to stamp their authority from the outset, it was a jet-propelled opening spell from Baxter’s side, who were looking to run their rivals ragged with a fast-tempo approach.

For the full match report go to Heineken Champions Cup