The fans went wild... it gives you the shivers
EXETER’S YOUNG No 8 SAM SIMMONDS ON SCORING THE CHIEFS’ ICONIC TRY...
SAM SIMMONDS is recalling the iconic try in Exeter Chiefs’ history. On the pitch at Sandy Park, he is transported back to May 20 and the 68th minute of Exeter versus Saracens in the Aviva Premiership semi-final.
Simmonds is there stewing, sitting on the bench, with the Chiefs ahead 13-11. Then the call comes. He’s on at No 8 for Thomas Waldrom.
‘When they say you are going on you get a bit jittery and the heart starts pumping — they are good nerves,’ he says. Four minutes from time Saracens edge ahead 16-13. ‘ Ian Whitten and Gareth Steenson pull us together under the posts and say, “Look, the game is not over. We know what we can do in four minutes”,’ continues Simmonds.
Cut to two minutes left and Saracens knock on. From the scrum 15 metres into Exeter’s half referee Wayne Barnes awards them a penalty.
‘Our rolling maul is a big part of our game. People fear it. We are hoping to get within range to set up one of those driving mauls we have done all year round,’ says Simmonds.
Henry Slade, with the help of a swirling Devon wind, wallops the ball 65 metres and it lands in touch, five out from the European champions’ try-line.
‘It almost shocked Saracens,’ says Simmonds, now standing on the spot where club captain Jack Yeandle threw the ball into the line-out. ‘Geoff Parling pulled the forwards together and called the line- out. He says, “We have scored in these areas before, we know teams fear it. Saracens won’t stop us”.
‘The crowd are going absolutely mental. There are 30 seconds left on the clock and we have to give it everything.’
What followed will live with a 22year- old lad from Teignmouth for ever. ‘Dave Dennis goes up to catch the line- out and I am on the ball when it comes down. At one point, as we speed through it kind of opens up for me to break off.
‘It looks like I could dive over. Luckily I’m pulled through by Tomas Francis and Geoff — I just hold on to them and the backs pile in.’ Simmonds is at the bottom of it all as the Chiefs storm over the line in full battle cry. Try. Clock dead. Simmonds extricates himself from the melee and roars to his crowd. None of them yet knows he’s the scorer, as he is the first to surface. No-one is too bothered. The game is won. ‘I look around and pints are going, drinks everywhere, everyone is throwing stuff,’ he laughs, back in the present, looking now at the Eastern Terrace where a thousand dreams became reality. ‘I don’t think anyone cared at that point! The fans in there are the diehards, they were going mental. When you are on the pitch it gives you shivers. It makes you feel like you have done an awesome job.
‘Then it hit me, next week we are going to Twickenham to do it all again.’
It took extra time, but the Chiefs beat Wasps 23-20 to win their first ever Premiership title just seven summers after promotion from the Championship. Simmonds played the last 40 minutes — 20 of which were the added extras.
He then lifted the cup to end a fairytale season which began with him on loan at Cornish Pirates, watching them beat Bedford Blues from the bench.
But that was then, this is now. With Wasps tomorrow’s visitors at Sandy Park, it is business time once more.
‘We know we are going to have to front up physically and mentally at home to get a result against a very strong side,’ says Simmonds.
Simmonds has started the season spectacularly. Only Lion Jack Nowell (16) and Harlequins’ Joe Marchant and Marland Yarde (15) have beaten more defenders than the 14 Simmonds has passed so far.
He has scored four tries in three starts from No 8 as a stocky, agile and elusive back-rower schooled in sevens and crowned the shorter form’s Premiership Player of the Year last May.
That was not enough to convince Eddie Jones to pick him in his Oxford training squad this weekend, but he has caught the England head coach’s eye.
‘He is a good young player and has done well,’ said Jones.
‘He has been impressive.’