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          European Rugby Champions Cup 2018
          Exeter ChiefsExeter ChiefsEXE
          8
          11/12FT
          18
          LeinsterLeinsterLEI
          • James Short(54')
          • Gareth Steenson(25')
          • Johnny Sexton(21')
          • Jack Conan(71')
          • Isa Nacewa(72')
          • Johnny Sexton(32')
          • Isa Nacewa(62')
          • SummarySummary
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          • Player StatsPlayer Stats
          • LineupsLineups
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          Leinster out muscle the Chiefs at Sandy Park to take control of Pool 3

          Sean O'Brien of Leinster is tackled by Jonny Hill and Jack Yeandle. Dan Mullan/Getty Images
          • PA Sport
          Multiple Authors
          Dec 11, 2017, 06:57 AM
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          Leinster took a firm grip on Pool 3 of the European Champions Cup as they inflicted a first home defeat in 12 months on Aviva Premiership champions Exeter.

          The Irish province moved six points clear at the top of the group by producing the sort of performance that won them three European crowns.

          The Chiefs, however, will point to a hugely controversial moment early in the second half, when they felt they should have had a penalty try that would have put them 10-8 ahead after Leinster hooker Sean Cronin was sin-binned for a high, try-saving tackle on Jack Nowell.

          Leinster dominated the opening quarter of the game and will have been annoyed to reach the midway point of the half still pointless.

          Excellent scrum-half Luke McGrath had a try in the corner chalked off after a foot in touch by Johnny Sexton, who also missed a 45-metre penalty chance.

          Giant lock Devin Toner also had a possible score disallowed, when referee Romain Poite overruled television match official Eric Gonthier because the video footage failed to show a clear grounding of the ball.

          Exeter's England prop Harry Williams was sin-binned in the 17th minute for collapsing three successive five-metre scrums, but the Chiefs' decision to keep eight forwards in the pack proved a wise move as they destroyed Leinster at the next scrum and another chance for the visitors went begging.

          However, three minutes later, they capitalised on their one-man advantage when Sexton's cross-field kick found skipper Isa Nacewa lurking on the wing, and, when the ball was recycled, Sexton crossed wide out to break the deadlock.

          Exeter responded with a Gareth Steenson penalty after 25 minutes, but Sexton kicked a simple one of his own when Chiefs' Australian scrum-half Nic White was penalised for a no-arms tackle to make it 8-3 to the visitors.

          The hosts threw everything at Leinster in the closing stages of the half, but they were thwarted by some outstanding defence.

          Exeter failed to take advantage of Cronin's sin-binning in the second half, but, almost as soon as Leinster were back up to their full complement, Exeter finally found the key to unlock the visiting defence. Lovely hands by the back division saw Olly Woodburn put fellow winger James Short over in the corner, but Steenson just failed to find the target with the touchline conversion, so it remained level at 8-8.

          Leinster piled on the pressure as they responded well to that setback, but they had to settle for a penalty after some more tremendous work by the Exeter rearguard, and it was slotted by Nacewa, as Sexton was still recovering from a knock, to nudge them back in front.

          A try by No.8 Jack Conan 10 minutes from time, converted by Nacewa, after they had gone through numerous phases in attack, gave the visitors some breathing space, and they cleverly saw the game out to deny Exeter even a losing bonus point.

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          Standings

          Pool 1
          RTeamGPPDP
          1GLA4+4920
          2STA4+9412
          3SAL4-3811
          4SAR4+1310
          5SHA4-1010
          6ASM4-1080
          Pool 2
          RTeamGPPDP
          1BAT4+9116
          2RC4+1714
          3CAS4-810
          4EDI4-7110
          5MUN4-28
          6GLO4-276
          Pool 3
          RTeamGPPDP
          1LEI4+3518
          2HAR4+9815
          3STO4-814
          4LEI4+36
          5STA4-136
          6BAY4-1150
          Pool 4
          RTeamGPPDP
          1UNI4+7620
          2NOR4+4616
          3BRI4+5014
          4BUL4-687
          5SEC4-506
          6SCA4-543
          Full Table

          European Rugby Champions Cup 2018 News

          • Champions Cup match delayed after parachutist stuck on roof

            A Champions Cup rugby game between Toulouse and Sale was delayed for about half an hour on Sunday when a parachutist in a pre-match display was caught on the roof of the Stadium de Toulouse.

          • Parachutist trapped on roof before Toulouse v Sale game

            A Champions Cup rugby game was delayed for about half an hour on Sunday when a parachutist in a pre-match display was caught on the roof.

          • Toulouse win Champions Cup in thrilling final against Leinster

            Toulouse won a record-extending sixth European Champions Cup when a Matthis Lebel try helped them beat Leinster 31-22 after extra-time on Saturday.

          • Rugby Club World Cup set to be launched in 2028 - sources

            Plans for a rugby Club World Cup where the best northern and southern hemisphere club sides will compete against each other are in the offing, sources have told ESPN, with the tournament set to launch in 2028.

          • La Rochelle edge Leinster again to win back-to-back European crowns

            La Rochelle became the fifth team to win back-to-back European Champions Cups on Saturday when they clawed back a 17-point deficit to beat Leinster 27-26 at the Aviva Stadium in another breathless final between the sides.

          • Campo's call: Koroibete can get better still, Suaalii approach sends wrong message

            Wallabies great David Campese says Marika Koroibete is yet to hit the ceiling of his rugby talents, but the man who made the gold No. 11 jersey famous is displeased by talk Rugby Australia is lining up a mega-rich offer to teen sensation Joseph Suaali'i.