Innard: Chiefs can will the lot

JACK Innard has fond memories of the Premiership Cup. He scored two tries in Exeter’s last appearance in the final when they defeated Bath at Kingsholm in 2018.

Exeter’s side that day included Joe Simmonds and Tom O’Flaherty who were to start the Champions Cup final against Racing 92 two years later and it was the second time they had lifted the trophy.

“It was a muddy pitch and a hard slog,” recalled Innard, right, who will lead Exeter in today’s final from hooker. “The match was rearranged because of snow and I was lucky enough to score a couple of tries. It was a good day and a fun night out.

“We said before our first Premiership Cup match at Bristol this season that we wanted to win the competition. We have developed as a team and we are raring to go. It is a chance to impress the coaches at a time when the club is fighting on three fronts.”

It has not been a vintage season for the Chiefs, but they are very much in contention for the play-offs, although three of their final four matches are away, and they host Montpellier in the last 16 of the Champions Cup at the beginning of next month.

“There is no reason why we cannot win all three,” said Innard, who has started Exeter’s last three league matches as well as the Champions Cup victory over Castres at Sandy Park.

“We are building nicely and have been working on a few things. The league table is tight in a season that has been exciting for the neutral because it has been hard to pick winners and there is a lot to play for. “Irish play a good brand of rugby and we are going to have to be on it for the whole 80 minutes. They chuck the ball around but they also have a good set-piece. “They will have the crowd behind them but I don’t think that will be a big factor. We have to keep their fans quiet and it is about making the most of the occasion and not leaving anything to chance.

“We have fantastic youngsters coming through and the Premiership Cup has always been a stepping stone here. The likes of Henry Slade, Jack Nowell and Luke Cowan-Dickie all came through it and there is no reason why the current crop cannot.”

Exeter have a good record against Irish in the Premiership, winning 14 of the 21 matches between the sides, and they will be returning to the Gtech at the beginning of May in the final round of league matches.

“We know we are going to have to be at our best to beat them,” said Innard. “We have been focusing on ourselves and we have progressed each game in this competition.

“I have enjoyed leading the side. We have a number of players leaving at the end of the season and we want to make sure that they go out on a high.”