Exeter (United Kingdom) (AFP)

There will be no 100% French final in the European Rugby Cup after the defeat (28-18) at Exeter de Toulouse, mercilessly punished on each occasion by the English, Saturday in the semi-final.

The Chiefs will play the first European final in their history against Racing, which had the best of the title holders, the Saracens (19-15), a little earlier.

Toulouse had started in the best way, however, holding the ball and occupying the field to put the English under pressure.

Finalists in the last four championships in England, but crowned only in 2017, the Chiefs seemed almost in their little shoes for their first semi-final in the "big" European Cup.

For 20 minutes, they did not really see the light of day, multiplying the approximations in the passes and the avoidable faults which returned balls to Toulouse and offered points to the boot of Thomas Ramos (0-6, 14th).

Toulouse could even regret not having hit the nail on the head when Yoann Huget was pushed in touch just around the corner of the goal line after a long streak of 15 phases of play (19th).

The Toulouse test in the first act came from a somewhat similar action, but where the gap found at the end of the line had allowed Alban Palcines - who had replaced Rory Arnold ten minutes earlier - to flatten corner (7-11, 34th).

But after these promising first 20 minutes, the purple machine got under way.

As soon as they got closer to 5 meters and the supports arrived at the right time, the steamroller inexorably grabbed the space up to the line (7-6, 32nd).

- The Merciless Chiefs -

Just before the break, led by 4 points, the Chiefs even refused to take the points on a penalty against the posts to impose a new fatal showdown on the Reds and take the lead at the break (14-11, 40th).

The second half resembled the first, minus the English clumsiness and indiscipline.

Well organized, ready to run and suffer, the Chiefs have turned their backs, watching for the slightest opening.

It came just before the hour of play on a superb inspiration of Stuart Hogg who again set fire to the Toulouse rearguard.

The defense of the Reds was heroic, but for his 5th entry into the opposing 22 meters since the start of the match, Exeter offered himself a third test in strength, the second of the very shaggy but very powerful pillar Harry Williams.

The transformation from the sideline of Joe Simmonds who created the first significant gap of the match (21-11) on the hour mark.

To further drive the point home, Toulouse wasted a new opportunity a few minutes later one meter from the line, to yield again eight minutes from the end on a magnificent interval after a fake pass from opener Joe Simmonds , man of the match with 13 points.

Five minutes from the end, the French saved the honor with a good try from Matthis Lebel (28-18, 76th).

But the match will leave an ambiguous taste to Toulouse - and unfortunately too well known after the Franco-English confrontations - between lost opportunities and ruthless realism of their opponents.

© 2020 AFP