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Exeter fell to a 14-man Champions Cup defeat 43-40 Toulouse despite Zack Wimbush scoring a hat trick.
An exciting start saw Wimbush cross for Bosses just a minute into the match and Henry Slade adds the extras. Ange Capuozzo soon scored for the hosts, but Romain Ntamack was unable to convert before they took the penalty.
A frenetic seven-minute spell saw Chiefs full-back Sam Harris sent to the sin bin before Toulouse prop Rodrigue Netti was red-carded for a high tackle and Exeter pounced as Wimbush crossed again with Slade’s header.
Toulouse responded with a converted Joshua Brennan try and a Teddy Thomas try but the latter was shown a yellow card which allowed Exeter to regain control as Jack Yeandle and Stephen Varney crossed and Slade could only convert the latter to lead 26-24 at the break.
They increased their lead shortly after the restart when Will Butt touched down and Slade converted, but they continued to be tested by Toulouse, who pushed forward as Matias Remue and Ntamack both scored in quick succession, the fly-half converting both.
Wimbush completed his hat-trick and Slade’s conversion put Exeter back in front, but Ben Hammersley was then booked and Toulouse tapped through Remue’s effort to take the lead. In a dramatic finish, Slade scored a penalty in the last moments, while Toulouse narrowly won.
Toulouse: 15 Matias Remue; 14 Teddy Thomas, 13 Gourgues, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Ange Capuozzo; 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont (c); 1 Rodrigue Netti, 2 Lacombre, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 4 Joshua Brennan, 5 Joel Merkler, 6 François Cros, 7 Elias, 8 Théo Ntamack.
Replacements: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Bertrand, 18 Georges-Henri Colombe, 19 Martin-Bonnard, 20 Anthony Jelonch, 21 Kouassi, 22 Paul Graou, 23 Tommaso Menoncello.
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Sam Harris; 14 Zack Wimbush, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Will Butt, 11 Tommy Wyatt; 10 Harvey Skinner, 9 Stephen Varney; 1 Will Goodrick-Clarke, 2 Jack Yeandle, 3 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 4 Tom Hooper, 5 Dafydd Jenkins (c), 6 Ethan Roots, 7 Ross Vincent, 8 Greg Fisilau.
Replacements: 16 Louie Gulley, 17 Ethan Burger, 18 Jimmy Roots, 19 Harry Wilson, 20 Kane James, 21 Sam Wolstenholme, 22 Will Haydon-Wood, 23 Ben Hammersley.