EUROPEAN CUP RUGBY: Ulster bound Charles Piutau scores brace of tries in thrilling win over Exeter

Jimmy Gopperth landed a nerveless match-winning conversion with the final kick of an epic European Champions Cup quarter-final to break Exeter’s hearts at the Ricoh Arena.

Gopperth added the touchline extras to full-back Charles Piutau’s second try of the match as Wasps edged through 25-24 before a crowd of 23,866.

Piutau is due to join Ulster over the summer.

Try machine Thomas Waldrom looked to have stung Wasps for a second time this season as Exeter built a commanding lead midway through the second-half.

Waldrom, who scored a hat-trick of tries when Exeter beat Wasps in an Aviva Premiership encounter four months ago, struck with two more touchdowns, while substitute prop Harry Williams also scored, with skipper Gareth Steenson kicking all three conversions before adding a penalty.

But Wasps were not to be denied, as Pituau struck in the dying seconds following a relentless spell of Wasps pressure that Exeter looked to have repelled through some sustained, heroic defending.

It followed the full-back’s earlier score, while wing Frank Halai also touched down, with Gopperth adding two penalties and two conversions to book a semi-final appointment with Saracens or Northampton at Reading’s Madejski Stadium on April 23.