Dewi Morris: Challenge Cup glory is the next step for Exeter Chiefs
Thursday 16 April 2015 09:55, UK
Victory in the Challenge Cup would represent another step up the ladder for Exeter Chiefs, says Dewi Morris...
Good sides turn into great ones when they start winning trophies, and I see Exeter as being at the start of that progression.
Last year’s LV= Cup triumph was Exeter’s biggest in the professional era and a Challenge Cup success would top that. The Chiefs travel up to Kingsholm for Saturday’s semi-final and after their dominant win over Northampton last weekend, they are favourites to progress.
Live European Rugby Challenge Cup
It has been an amazing success story down at Sandy Park. This is only Exeter’s fifth year in the top flight yet they’re on course for a top-four finish in the Premiership, are in a European semi-final and were runners-up in the LV= Cup. Rob Baxter just seems to be building layer upon layer.
I remember when Rob took over at Exeter. Rather than commuting down to Devon he insisted that his coaching staff and players buy or rent houses in the area and commit themselves to the club. He got the right people involved, led them out of the Championship, and they are now an established Premiership side. It shows what can be done when you get the right people in the right positions.
Exeter are on the right road and it’s not even that steep a road anymore. The coaches and players know that this could just be the start of something great. They don’t want to just be a flash in the pan. They’ve developed Sandy Park into a fine stadium with a great atmosphere, and the pasties are also fantastic!
Wherewithal
Baxter could possibly be a future England coach. He is well spoken and is very analytical, and he seems to have the wherewithal to handle every possible scenario. He has been with Exeter almost man and boy. It’s something I touched on a few weeks back but I’d hate to see promotion and relegation scrapped. If the Premiership had been ring-fenced five years ago we wouldn’t have this great story unfolding in the south west.
Baxter is of the opinion that if you’re good enough, you’re old enough. Henry Slade has made a huge impression and it’s a case of when, not if, he’ll play for England. Sam Hill is another talented youngster, and their prop Thomas Francis has already caught the eye of Wales.
This is only Exeter’s fifth year in the top flight yet they’re on course for a top-four finish in the Premiership, are in a European semi-final and were runners-up in the LV= Cup. Rob Baxter just seems to be building layer upon layer.
You need big squads in England and teams like Exeter are making the more astute signings, while also bringing through young talent. That’s what’s generating the feel-good factor down there. Leicester were made to let Thomas Waldrom go but their loss has been Exeter’s gain. Dean Mumm announces he’s leaving, in comes Geoff Parling, and I understand some other big names will be also arriving in the summer.
Don’t get me wrong, Exeter are not the Harlem Globetrotters. Only Saracens kick the ball more than they do in the Premiership, so there is a pragmatism about them, but at certain times in games they can turn it on and produce some spellbinding rugby. They are learning how to win games in the hothouse that is the Premiership.
Exeter dismantled a poor Newcastle side in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals and probably held a bit back ahead of their game with Northampton, who they also despatched with aplomb. They move on to Kingsholm to face a Gloucester side whose form in Europe has been good, but they have been very shaky in the Premiership.
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David Humphreys has done a good job since taking over at Gloucester. We were all slightly surprised to see him leave the comforts of Ulster but he wanted to challenge himself and maybe go further up the ladder.
There have been a lot of comings and goings and it has been a transitional year for the Cherry and Whites. Humphreys won’t be afforded many of those though! If you don’t deliver you’ll be out the door and next year will be a critical one for Gloucester.
Gloucester have nothing left to play for in the Premiership so this is a big game for Humphreys’ side. The likes of Charlie Sharples and Jonny May will want to prove a point to Stuart Lancaster, while Matt Kvesic also needs to kick on. They’ve got quality all over the pitch but it’s all about the collectiveness and the ability to string performances together.
Gloucester may have home advantage but given their inconsistencies this season, coupled with Exeter’s win over Northampton, the Chiefs deserve to be favourites.
Exeter will kick the ball a lot but with Sharples and May in the back three, their kicking must be accurate or they’ll cause damage. The Chiefs have beaten Gloucester at Kingsholm already this season and I think they will repeat the trick and go onto to lift the Challenge Cup. It’s going to be incredibly tough but they have got the ability, structure and skill to do that.
It’s probably a little too early for Exeter to be thinking about winning the Premiership but they are certainly in with a shout. It’s one of the true success stories of the Premiership and home-grown talent, and they are just getting started.
Watch Gloucester v Exeter Chiefs live on Sky Sports 3 on Saturday from 7pm
