Five years ago Exeter were beating Toulouse en route to winning the Champions Cup and putting the seal on one of English team sport's great Cinderella tales. These days the gap between the teams is such a yawning chasm that the French visitors had a bonus point wrapped up after just 35 minutes.
To be fair to Exeter, the defending champions are in a sufficiently rich vein of form in this competition that it almost doesn't matter whom they are playing. Having topped 60 points at home to Ulster, Toulouse were once again in irresistible mood with the peerless Antoine Dupont pulling the strings in a 10-try masterclass.
Simply to watch Dupont play live is a privilege right now and, at times, he turned the Chiefs' players into virtual spectators as well. France's finest were 35-7 up by half-time, their dexterity a joy to behold.
Denne historien er fra December 16, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
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Denne historien er fra December 16, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
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