Spoke to soon.

The lineout goes wrong and Paul Brown-Bampoe, not for the first time today, looks to turn defence into attack.

The winger does brilliantly but the counter attack ends when fellow speedster Immanuel Feyi-Waboso knocks on.

Gareth Delve
Former Wales international on BBC Radio Wales

That was better by Cardiff, they were quicker with the ball, but Cardiff failed to clean that breakdown up.

They need to speed it up from the rucks.

Numerous forward carries from Cardiff with Taine Basham and Rory Thornton prominent.

Again there is no way through and Ioan Lloyd goes cross-field - with his kick inches away from finding Tom Bowen.

We come back for a penalty though and this is much, much better from Cardiff.

Scrum penalty for Cardiff and Ioan Lloyd finds a brilliant touch. The returning fly-half has had some promising moments today on his return from injury.

Cardiff have another lineout platform but come up against another Exeter wall.

Not the first time today, Cardiff run out of ideas and a Lloyd chip ahead comes to nothing.

Ioan Lloyd gets us back underway. You'd think his team would have had quite the team-talk at half-time.

But sure enough, it's Exeter soon back on the attack.

We mentioned Kane James in the build-up, and indeed, his early exit was cruel today.

There would have bene no shortage of intrigue from two international coaches over his display.

James, 20, was raised in Pembrokeshire before moving over the border and playing for England Under-20s.

However, he remains eligible to represent Wales at senior level, and head coach Steve Tandy is said to be assessing the back-row forward closely.

You can be rest assured England chief Steve Borthwick is doing similar, and fitness pending, don't be surprised if a race to cap the promising youngster soon materialises. Oh, and just to add more eligibility nuance, his mother is from Niue in the Pacific Islands.

James is part of quite the rugby family too. Father Chris represented Swansea RFC and his sister, Crystal, a Welsh international, plays for Trailfinders Women in England's top flight.

With a six-day turnaround in mind and his side already into the last-16, perhaps Corniel van Zyl opting to make 10 changes was understandable.

But his side have been truly outmuscled and outplayed here. Exeter have dominated up front and carry the greater threat out wide. Stephen Varney at number nine is having an armchair ride.

In the second half the visitors must find more intensity, and cohesion, to make any kind of game of this.

Gareth Delve
Former Wales international on BBC Radio Wales

Exeter are getting opportunities from Cardiff's ill-discipline.

Cardiff need to start moving the ball, it's very predictable for the Chiefs defence at the moment.

Ioan Lloyd decides Cardiff won't be messing about in their own 22 with the interval approaching.

He boots the ball into the stands to end a one-sided 40 minutes.

Image source, Getty Images

Right on cue Mr. Delve.

A huge hit in midfield from Ethan Roots forces a turnover and Exeter turn defence into attack.

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso breaks upfield but his chip ahead lacks control. Had he not miscued that - it was try time.

Cardiff are finally mustering a spell of pressure here but it has to come to something.

Cornel Smit carries hard at the Exeter defence only for the ball to go loose on the floor, but Harvey Skinner knocks on as he goes for the turnover.

Another Cardiff chance.

Gareth Delve
Former Wales international on BBC Radio Wales

Exeter are winning all the collisions and it's stopping Cardiff from being able to work through their phases.

I'm not saying it's cold in Devon, but the breath of the players is visible here.

Every scrum looks like it's clouded in smoke.

It's messy from Cardiff.

The lineout ball goes loose and then there's a fumble in midfield. Mercifully for them, play is called back for an Exeter offside and another lineout chance follows.

But, metres from the line, prop Danny Southworth knocks on and the moment is lost.

A brilliant kick from Johan Mulder finally has Exeter pinned in their own territory.

The hosts clear their lines but a Cardiff penalty soon sees Ioan Lloyd pump his side within 10 metres.

Their best chance yet...

It's relentless from Exeter as scrum half Stephen Varney turns defence into a attack with a raking clearance.

Cardiff desperately need a spell of possession here. Preferably away from their own line too.

Gareth Delve
Former Wales international on BBC Radio Wales

It's such a boost for the forwards when you've got someone with the boot of Henry Slade. He can get you down the pitch in one kick

Cardiff's maul defence was very good but with only 14 on the pitch Exeter make them pay.

Gareth Delve
Former Wales international on BBC Radio Wales

Not sure what angle the ref saw to change that decision, but the result is more points for Exeter and bigger mountain to climb for Cardiff.

Gareth Delve
Former Wales international on BBC Radio Wales

A bit of dark arts from Josh McNally to slow the ball down, and it's been costly. He didn't need to do that.