Chiefs are learning, says Mumm

By Mark Stevens

Captain Dean Mumm believes Exeter Chiefs will learn from their latest European escapades against reigning Heineken Cup champions RC Toulon.

In the competition's traditional back-to-back December fixtures, the Chiefs saw their hopes of qualifying for the latter stages dealt an untimely blow as they first slipped to a 14-9 loss at Sandy Park, before enduring another setback at the weekend as Toulon won 32-20 at the Stade Felix Mayol.

On both occasions the Chiefs played their part in two absorbing contests, but were ultimately undone as the star-studded Frenchman displayed a clinical edge to send them clear at the top of Pool Two.

Aussie star Mumm was full of praise for the performance put in by his team-mates, but quickly highlighted that to succeed fully at the top end of the game, chances made in games like these must be taken with regularity.

“I’m extremely proud of the boys. It is a good effort to go to Toulon and be in touch with 20 minutes to go,” said the 29-year-old forward. “I thought that, if we could do that, the pressure would mount on Toulon as there was an expectation for them to get five points out of the game.

“As it was, they did manage that, but I think the difference was they finished every opportunity they made, and whereas we traded a certain number of opportunities, we just didn’t finish some of them, and that is a really key learn for us coming out of the game.

“Over the last three or four weeks, we have learned as a team the importance of taking your opportunities. We had chances and you have got to take them all the time, because when you play these top games, it really is a fine margin between winning and losing, and a lot of that comes down to capitalising on every chance you get.”

And just like last season when the Chiefs tackled the likes of Leinster, Clermont Auvergne and Scarlets, Mumm insists the experience of coming up against Europe's elite clubs will only help in the development of Devon's finest.

“For the boys, and particularly the younger guys, playing Toulon home and away is as close as you can get in club rugby to playing Test rugby,” added Mumm.

“They have shown they are more than capable of it in these matches, and it is a huge learn for us, and I suppose the challenge going forward for us now is to maintain the intensity level we have played at in recent weeks, because if we can do that, it will set us up well in the Premiership.”

Not just against Toulon, but in earlier Premiership games against Saracens and Bath, Rob Baxter's side have engaged in some scintillating on-field rugby. However, results have not matched their endeavours and the Chiefs are currently on a five-game losing streak.

It is a statistic the Chiefs need to rectify quickly and they have the ideal opportunity this weekend when Newcastle Falcons visit in the top flight.

Second-row Mumm knows the importance of the game, but has also warned of the threat posed by the North East club.

“In some ways, it is a high-risk game for us,” explained Mumm. “There is a great incentive to play against the top teams and it is easy to get yourself up for it, but, no disrespect to Newcastle, they have come up from the Championship, and we have to play them with a shorter turnaround, so that is a real challenge for us, to keep backing ourselves and maintain the intensity level we have played at.”