Life as Pirate gave Stu taste for silverware
EXETER’S tyro scrumhalves are ready to come of age by carrying the club to league and cup glory, according to ultra-confident No.9 Stu Townsend.
Townsend, 21, and fellow pivot Jack Maunder, 19, are the last men standing following an injury crisis that has robbed the Chiefs of senior men Will Chudley (chest) and Dave Lewis (knee).
Experienced Welshman Martin Roberts has joined as cover but Exeter boss Rob Baxter is expected to show faith in his latest pair of academy products. Townsend told The
Rugby Paper: “With Will and Dave being injured long-term it gives us both opportunities now. Jack and I can fight it out and when Chudders comes back in April we’ll be looking to keep the pressure on him.
“The pressure’s on both of us now because we’re going really well in the Premiership and the AngloWelsh Cup.
“We don’t want to slip up because of a couple of injuries but I’m confident we can rise to the occasion and take us forward.”
In 2015, Townsend suffered the acute disappointment of having to pull Chiefs in January I felt ready to step up. Playing Champions Cup games against Ulster and Clermont was great, I’m featuring in the Premiership now and it’s a big period coming up now.”
Townsend, who models his game on Test stars Ben Youngs and Aaron Smith, added: “Both those guys are quality and I like to think I’ve got a good kicking and running game and am the sort of scrum-half who makes things happen.
“It’s an exciting time and I’m desperate to be part of it.” out of England U20s Junior World campaign early with a knee injury.
That set his career back but an 18-month spell on loan at the Cornish Pirates has readied him for his Premiership chance.
He said: “I went down to the Pirates a couple of years ago and their head coach Gavin Cattle has been really helpful. He was a No.9 himself so he’s helped hone my skills and game management and the Championship’s been very good.
“Pirates are going well and when I came back to