Dynamic Dennis out to make big impact
VERSATILE Exeter forward Dave Dennis is ready to stamp his mark on Chiefs’ season after emerging from the lengthy shadow cast by fellow Antipodean Dean Mumm.
By his own admission, former Wallaby Dennis endured a slow start after arriving from the Waratahs in August, but he has now found his feet, along with the Chiefs, who have won five and drawn one of their last six Premiership matches to surge into third place.
Exeter head into today’s Champions Cup clash against Ulster looking to create momentum and Dennis, who will provide impact from the bench, cuts an increasingly confident figure around Sandy Park, where popular exskipper Mumm was revered as a cult hero. Dennis, 31, told The
Rugby Paper: “I had a good chat with Rob Baxter about that sort of stuff and Dean came to the club at a very different time with where the Chiefs were at.
“Dean had a huge impact on the team’s performance but I’m my own player and I’m trying to add my own touches. I probably had a slow start but I’m starting to feel a lot more confident around the field and I definitely feel part of this team now.
“Consistency is my big work on but I’ve come here to improve as a player, not for a holiday, and it’s a good challenge. I’m getting tested in a tough environment but everything about the culture and work ethos here has exceeded my expectations.”
While earlier Pool defeats mean European success now looks a distant dream, Exeter find themselves right in the thick of the Premiership title battle.
Pacesetters Wasps and Saracens are heavy favourites to contest May’s final in the eyes of most pundits, but Dennis believes the ambitious men of Exeter represent a growing force who have the ability and desire to upset the natural order.
He said: “People probably haven’t considered the Chiefs too much so we’re happy with that. Saracens had a few key players missing in last week’s draw, but we showed enough good qualities and are comfortable with where we’re at.
“If people think we’ve got no chance it might be good to sneak under the radar a bit. We’ve got Wasps to play at home next month and that will give us a test of where we are as a team, but we’re confident we can make the top two.
“I’d give our season a sixand-a-half or seven out of 10 so far but we’re showing up in games with a good attitude and are starting to get real momentum. If we keep performing and stay in the fight, there’s no reason why we can’t win it.”
Exeter talisman Jack Nowell makes a fourth successive start on the wing after injury and looks ready to light up England’s Six Nations campaign
Dennis said: “It’s been great to see Jack playing well again. He’s been a bit stop-start with injuries so it’s good to be out on the field with him, and for him to be man-of-the-match against Bath on Christmas Eve was a special performance.
“He scored a really good try at Saracens last week and was again very strong on the wing; he’s a key player for us and I’m sure if he performs well over the next couple of weeks in Europe, he’ll be back in that England team for the Six Nations.”
Rob Baxter has rung the changes with Ben Moon, Mitch Lees and Jonny Hill all returning to the Chiefs pack.
Dave Lewis comes in at scrum-half for Will Chudley, who is nursing a knock, and former Ulsterman Ian Whitten forms a new midfield partnership alongside Italy international Michele Campagnaro. Olly Woodburn gets the nod out wide ahead of James Short.
Les Kiss makes three changes to his side with Dave Shanahan making his first senior start. Charles Piutau and Pete Browne are also included.