Western Morning News (Saturday)
Hepher in derby day warning
Chiefs must be ‘on the money from minute one’ against Bath, says coach
ALI Hepher has challenged his Exeter Chiefs side to finish this latest four-game block in the Gallagher Premiership on a high note with victory over visiting Bath at Sandy Park today (2.30pm).
Having accrued decent victories over Gloucester and Northampton Saints, the table-topping Chiefs were beaten 34-30 by Harlequins last weekend, courtesy of a penalty try deep into added time.
Despite the defeat, the Chiefs still lead the way after 12 rounds of battle and head coach Hepher is hoping that lofty position remains firmly in place following their West Country showdown against fifth-placed Bath.
“Look, it’s always exciting when it’s a local derby,” said Hepher. “It is one of those games in the season that you really look forward to. But, like any Premiership game, it’s going to be tough and it’s going to be a tight old battle, just as we found out last week. What we have to make sure is that we are on the money from minute one.”
The Chiefs will be looking to replicate their last home showing, when they swept aside the challenge of Northampton Saints, scoring eight tries in a 57-7 victory.
Hepher admitted that a detailed debrief had taken place – as it always does – in the wake of last weekend’s loss, and that he was expecting to see a response of sorts from his squad.
“We’ve looked at last weekend in detail and we’ve picked out clear opportunities where we could have not only taken charge of the game, but also kept the opposition at bay,” he said. “I guess our issue was we didn’t take those opportunities at the right time. We gave away too many penalties in the middle third, which in turn allowed them to push us back in our 22 and then put pressure on us. Had we been a little more disciplined and a little stronger mentally in those areas, then we could easily have got more from the game.
“What we need to do now is regroup and look to return to producing another good performance. It was only a few weeks’ ago that we put in a cracking performance here against Northampton, so let’s not get carried away, let’s reset ourselves, and let’s be prepared to work hard.”
Standing in the way of the Chiefs, however, will be a Bath outfit, who, although defeated on home turf by arch rivals Bristol Bears last Sunday, had won their three previous league fixtures. Add into the mix that they also turned the Devonians over in Round Two of this year’s competition, it’s little wonder that Hepher has spent much of the week outlining the threat posed to his side.
“Bath are a very good side and they’ve won a lot of games this year,” he warned. “As always, we expect a tough game, a physical game, and they’ll be really confrontational. What we have to do is not only match them in all those areas, but better them.”
Heading up the Chiefs once more will be young fly-half Joe Simmonds, who takes on the role of lead playmaker as well as captain.
Simmonds lines up tomorrow in an unchanged Exeter back division, but there are changes up front with England international Harry Williams returning at tight-head in place of Enrique Pieretto, while Jonny Hill returns to the starting line-up with Sam Skinner away on international duty with Scotland.
Pieretto is added to the bench, alongside fellow prop Ben Moon, while summer signing Will Witty offers back-up to the Exeter engine room. The only other change sees England and British Lions back Jack Nowell figure in a Chiefs squad for the first time since mid-January.