Red-hot Woodburn keeps Chiefs alive
CHANTS of ‘Olé, olé, olé, olé’ echoed through the West Country last night, as Olly Woodburn kept alive Exeter’s European campaign.
The uncapped winger scored twice to help secure a bonuspoint victory which gives the Chiefs a fighting chance of reaching the quarter-finals if they beat Glasgow next week.
In doing so, the 26-year-old asserted himself as one of the best finishers in the country before Eddie Jones names his 33-man England squad for the Six Nations on Thursday.
In contrast to the bigspending approach of Montpellier, Woodburn is a prime example of Exeter’s bargainbasement shopping.
His quickfire tries ended the French resistance, with the second executed majestically as he slipped through the tackles of Gabriel Ngandebe and Joe Tomane.
‘There were a couple of fantastic finishes,’ said Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter. ‘He’s got remarkable strength on the ball — I don’t think I have seen a better finisher in tight spots than Woody.
‘He’s doing what he needs to do and keeping his name out there for England inclusion.’
Woodburn (pictured above) added the sparkle to a victory which started up front. Early on, Ben Moon, Luke CowanDickie and Harry Williams sent the Montpellier pack marching backwards. Few front rowers get the better of Mikheil Nariashvili and Bismarck du Plessis but the Exeter pack brought physicality that allowed the hosts to go into half-time with a narrow lead. A wayward kick by Aaron Cruden landed in Woodburn’s path and Exeter capitalised in the 28th minute. Lock Mitch Lees galloped through a hole and, after several phases of power play, Dave Ewers scored the half’s only try.
Exeter turned the screw with five tries in 19 minutes.
Woodburn’s double was sandwiched by close-range tries from Sam Simmonds and Nic White, before Armand finished the six-try rout.
‘Tactically and emotionally we got it right,’ Baxter said. ‘We’ve got something to fight for.’
The Chiefs, however, are unlikely to have winger Jack Nowell back for the Scotstoun trip due to an ankle injury.