Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
THE EXET DOOR AWAITS UNLESS WE FRONT UP..
Exeter Chief Leinster
v
Saturday, 5.30pm
BY MICHAEL SCULLY
TADHG FURLONG predicts Leinster must use brains and brawn to down the reigning European champions at their Sandy Park fortress.
The Blues star knows Exeter Chiefs are a more
formidable side than the one Leinster beat back to back in the group stages on their way to Champions Cup glory three seasons ago.
While Leinster were stopped at this quarterfinal stage last term, Exeter marched on to their first ever
Champions Cup triumph, beating Racing 92 in the final.
“I look back to that 2018 home and away and it was tough rugby,” said Furlong. “We luckily came out on the right side of the results both times.
“Since then they’ve come on and last year doubled up with the Premiership as well (as the Champions Cup) so are obviously a quality team. Sandy Park is a fortress for them – we definitely have a big task on our hands.
“They’re not different to us – when they get to that 5-10 metres out from the line where they go into those pick-anddrives.
“They’re probably the originals at it, and do it so effectively. Their maul into their pick-and-go game, you really get a sense of inevitability about it when they get in there.
“Brains and brawn is the solution. Trying to stop a team going through multi-phase when they’re trying to make it from five metres is very hard.
“You have to front up, and have to be smart, fill areas so you’re not getting that 2-on-1 or 3-on-2. You have to number up and win the collisions.”
Furlong is certain that this Exeter side, having lifted the trophy last October, will be hungry for more of the same – just as Leinster are going all out to win it for the fifth time.
“I think so, once you have tasted success (you want more),” he said.
“Sometimes it goes either way for teams. They lay back on their laurels and expect it to happen and forget all the hurt that they have had over the years.
“Or it goes the other way where it gets so pent up and they want it so much and they go back and attack it again. I certainly think Exeter are in the latter camp.
“When I joined Leinster, they had that period of sustained success, they had the three stars at that stage when I started playing first-team rugby and then we went off the boil for a few years.
“There were some lads in the dressing room with three medals, they knew what it took. Then there was a bunch of younger lads with no medals.
“It’s such a barometer of where we’re at, there’s so much emphasis on it, because of our history it means so much to players. You want to be part of a group that challenges and tries to win more trophies.
“The legacy is there and you want to write it into our future as well.”