Simmonds urges Exeter fans to start believing again after return to form
Sam Simmonds explained what a virtually full Sandy Park meant after a convincing victory over Worcester capped a dream week for him.
The 26-year-old Exeter back rower, who became a father seven days previously when partner Emily gave birth to baby girl Billie, celebrated with two tries on his return to action after touring South Africa with the British and Irish Lions.
It was a perfect way to begin the defence of his Premiership top tryscorer of the season crown as Exeter firmly dispelled any early-season doubts about them with an impressive all-round display.
“This is my first time being in front of a full crowd since Covid began, and to be playing in front of 12,500 Chiefs fans is amazing and that just helps us and our performance when it gets tough,” explained the No8, recently named in Eddie Jones’s England training squad. “To be able to actually celebrate with people when you score is amazing, because it was tough without fans.”
Looking back on his time in South Africa, Simmonds said: “It was one of the best experiences of my career. It was a shame about the result in the last Test, but to gain new friends with people who you hadn’t met
before and had only played against was a dream come true.”
Simmonds, Luke Cowan-dickie and Jonny Hill all returned from Lions duty for Exeter on Saturday (Stuart Hogg came back the week before), and it is no coincidence that their return has coincided with the club achieving back-to-back wins after losing their first two games of the campaign.
“We needed a performance like this,” said Simmonds, who was joined on the try-scoring list by his brother Joe, Facundo Cordero (2) and Dave Ewers.
“Last time at home against Northampton, there were bits and pieces where we looked a bit like Exeter
Chiefs, but it was not enough. It was more of a complete performance today, and hopefully the crowd saw that and they really got behind us, and if we believe we can go places again this season, then hopefully they can believe it as well.”
Jonathan Thomas, the Worcester head coach, said his side – who scored a late consolation try through Justin Clegg – were a work in progress and it would take time to bed in their summer signings.
“The game is about combinations and chemistry, time together and 15 players working as one, and we had lots of new partnerships out there today, and that was probably reflected in how we played,” he said.