EX CERTIFICATE

Chiefs' painful last hurrah in France as departing stars face sad exit

- ALEX SPINK

EXETER faced up to the end of an era after their Champions Cup semifinal turned into a painful last hurrah.

Chiefs dared dream that a side about to be broken up could summon one final effort to bring down the might of La Rochelle.

That players who had made history by turning onetime Devon minnows into kings of the continent could sign off with a second European crown in four years.

It didn't work out at all that way at a seething Stade Matmut Atlantique, where the holders handed out a seven-try hammering.

Jack Nowell, Stuart Hogg, Sam Simmonds and brother Joe might have rejected last dance’ talk ahead of their summer departures. But it was beyond dispute long before the final whistle confirmed Ronan O’Garas side will face Leinster in a repeat of last year’s final.