Challenge Cup 2025/26 · Round of 16
Exeter Chiefs
Munster
Sandy Park, Exeter
Championship Standings
No pool standings apply – this is a knockout match. Domestically, Exeter sit 4th in the Premiership (P12 W8 D1 L3, +129 PD) and firmly in the playoff hunt. Munster are 7th in the URC (P14 W8 L6, −25 PD) – inside the playoff places but with a negative points difference that tells its own story.
| Pos | Team | P | W | L | PD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Northampton Saints | 12 | 10 | 1 | +113 | 52 |
| 2 |  Bath | 12 | 10 | 2 | +158 | 51 |
| 3 |  Leicester Tigers | 12 | 9 | 3 | +96 | 46 |
| 4 | Exeter Chiefs | 12 | 8 | 3 | +129 | 45 |
| 5 |  Bristol Bears | 12 | 8 | 4 | +37 | 38 |
| 6 |  Saracens | 12 | 5 | 7 | +84 | 33 |
| 7 |  Sale Sharks | 12 | 3 | 9 | −29 | 22 |
| 8 |  Gloucester | 12 | 2 | 10 | −133 | 16 |
| 9 |  Harlequins | 12 | 3 | 9 | −158 | 15 |
| 10 |  Newcastle Red Bulls | 12 | 1 | 11 | −297 | 7 |
Exeter Chiefs
W2, D1, L1Exeter topped their Challenge Cup pool with a comfortable home record – a 42–12 demolition of the Cheetahs and a 31–0 shutout of Cardiff at Sandy Park. The only blemish was a narrow 27–25 loss at Stade Francais, and even the 31–31 draw away to Racing 92 showed resilience. At Sandy Park, Exeter have been ruthless in this competition – 73 points scored, zero conceded across two home pool games.
Munster
W0, L2Munster dropped from the Champions Cup into the Challenge Cup after a miserable pool stage – hammered 40–14 at Bath and edged 27–25 at Toulon. Both defeats came away from home, which is a recurring theme for this Munster side. They scored just 39 points across their two pool losses and looked outclassed against quality opposition in hostile environments.
Head-to-Head at Sandy Park
2 – 1 – 0
Exeter wins · Draws · Munster wins (3 meetings, all at Sandy Park)
Exeter Chiefs (2)Munster have never beaten Exeter at Sandy Park. All three meetings have come in European competition, and Exeter have won the two decisive encounters – 32–24 in December 2023 and 13–8 in April 2022. The only non-win was a 10–10 draw in October 2018. Sandy Park's tight confines and Exeter's set-piece dominance at home have consistently troubled Munster.
Recent Results
| Date | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 2023 | Champions Cup | Exeter Chiefs 32–24 Munster |
| Apr 2022 | Champions Cup | Exeter Chiefs 13–8 Munster |
| Oct 2018 | Champions Cup | Exeter Chiefs 10–10 Munster |
Average score in the last 6 meetings: Exeter 18 – Munster 14. Three tight, attritional contests at Sandy Park with Exeter edging the margins each time.
Extended Form
Exeter Chiefs10W, 1D, 4L (last 12 months)
Premiership: W 38–15 v Newcastle, W 38–0 v Harlequins, W 39–12 v Gloucester, W 24–10 v Leicester, W 26–14 v Sale, W 38–14 @ Newcastle, W 42–14 v Northampton, D 33–33 @ Northampton. L 26–33 @ Bath, L 3–8 v Bristol, L 22–24 @ Harlequins, L 26–30 v Sale. Challenge Cup: W 42–12 v Cheetahs, W 31–0 v Cardiff, D 31–31 @ Racing 92, L 25–27 @ Stade Francais.
Exeter's home form has been the foundation of their season – dominant at Sandy Park with huge margins against weaker opposition. Their only Premiership home loss was a tight 3–8 defeat to Bristol. Under Rob Baxter, they've rediscovered the forward-heavy, set-piece-driven identity that defined their Premiership title years. The 38–0 hammering of Harlequins and 39–12 win over Gloucester show a side capable of ruthless attacking rugby at home.
Munster5W, 3L (last 12 months across all comps)
URC: L 31–34 @ Bulls, L 0–45 @ Sharks, L 22–31 @ Glasgow, L 3–28 @ Ulster, W 26–10 @ Ospreys, W 31–14 @ Leinster, W 34–21 @ Scarlets, W 30–24 @ Connacht. Champions Cup: L 14–40 @ Bath, L 25–27 @ Toulon, W 25–24 @ La Rochelle.
Munster's away record is deeply concerning. Two back-to-back URC defeats on South African tour – 0–45 at the Sharks and 31–34 at the Bulls – exposed defensive fragilities. The 3–28 shellacking at Ulster and 22–31 loss at Glasgow tell a similar story. The bright spots – a 31–14 upset of Leinster and a 25–24 thriller at La Rochelle – show Munster can raise their game for big occasions, but consistency on the road is non-existent.
Exeter Chiefs XV
Lineups have not yet been announced for this fixture. Exeter are expected to field a strong side given it's a European knockout match at Sandy Park. Rob Baxter typically leans on his experienced Premiership starters for big European occasions. England wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso is a major asset in the squad.
Munster XV
Lineups have not yet been announced. Munster will be concerned about the toll of their South African URC tour – a 0–45 loss to the Sharks and a 31–34 defeat at the Bulls in back-to-back weeks. Jack Crowley's availability and form at fly-half will be crucial. Expect a strong selection given the prize of a Challenge Cup quarter-final.
Key Matchups
Exeter's driving maul and set-piece dominance at Sandy Park will be the decisive battleground. Baxter's side have built their season around forward physicality – 336 points scored in 12 Premiership games, with the +129 points difference reflecting a side that grinds opponents down. Munster's advantage lies in their halfbacks – Jack Crowley's international class and Craig Casey's tempo could unlock Exeter's rush defence. But Munster must first survive the set piece, and their away record suggests they won't.
Match Forecast
The scorecard yields a net +10 from the home perspective – driven by Sandy Park's fortress record, Exeter's set-piece dominance, and the H2H advantage. Exeter's Challenge Cup pool record at home is perfect (73 points scored, 0 conceded in two games), and their Premiership form of W4 in 5 shows a side in rhythm. Munster's away record is the killer stat – they've lost at Glasgow, Ulster, Bath, Toulon, Sharks, and Bulls in recent months. Only the upset at Leinster and the thriller at La Rochelle offer hope.
The risk for Exeter is Munster's ability to rise for knockout European occasions – this is a club with three Heineken Cup titles and deep European DNA. Jack Crowley at 10 gives Munster the ability to control territory and tempo in ways that could negate Exeter's driving game. But Sandy Park's tight confines, the hostile atmosphere, and the toll of Munster's South African tour all tilt this firmly toward the home side. Exeter to win, but Munster will make them work for it.
Exeter's set piece and Sandy Park fortress to prove decisive – a hard-fought win by 10 points, with Munster's away-day frailties ultimately telling.