Clermont clocked six tries for the second week running as they opened up a two-point lead at the top of Pool 5 thanks to Heineken Man of the Match Julien Bonnaire andSitiveni Sivivatu and a brace apiece from Wesley Fofana and Napolioni Nalaga.

Only one of those scores arrived in the first half, however, as Exeter opened up a 12-10 lead at the break.

The Chiefs were unlucky to lose 9-6 to Leinster at the RDS in Round 1 and they set about showing that performance was far from a fluke with a fine first-half display.

Four Gareth Steenson penalties cancelled out Nalaga's 17th-minute score to see Exeter 12-7 in front after 25 minutes but only Clermont troubled the scoreboard from there on in.

Morgan Parra's first successful penalty four minutes before the end of the half cut the gap to two points with Exeter's Richard Baxter in the bin and the visitors' extensive European experience and their power up front and class out wide saw them stun the home support in the final 40.

Parra had Clermont in front shortly after the interval before tries from Fofana and Bonnaire in the space of three minutes established a 13-point gap at 25-12 with just shy of half an hour remaining.

Exeter's defensive line stayed solid for the next 20 minutes but Sivivatu crossed for the bonus-point score with nine minutes left, before Fofana touched down two minutes later and Nalaga completed the rout with the final play.