Chiefs side to face Toulon

Pictures: Exeter Rugby Club/Pinnacle Photo Agency

Pictures: Exeter Rugby Club/Pinnacle Photo Agency

 

By Mark Stevens

Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter has described his side's Heineken Cup campaign as similar to that of a 200m race.

After a flying start against Cardiff Blues, a slender dip against Glasgow Warriors, Devon's finest are now bracing themselves for the middle part of the race against defending European champions Toulon.

Tackling the cream of Europe over the next fortnight - both home and away - will certainly challenge Baxter's side to the hilt, but the Chiefs leader feels if his side can produce two high quality performances, it will offer them the perfect opportunity for a sprint finish.

"With every competition we play in, we look tokeep everything alive for as long as we can," said Baxter. "From the first whistle, we look to get after it all. I often say we tend to look at all competition as 200m sprints where we try and fly out of the blocks, hold on in the middle and then try to finish strong.

"I think that is where we are with the Heineken Cup this year. We started well with Cardiff, Glasgow away was difficult, yet we still put in a performance, and now we are in this middle stretch and taking the bend to see what we can get out of it before for the home strecth. Our aim over these next two games is to make sure our last two games mean something, so I don't care how we get points over these next few games, we'll fight sand scrap whatever we can to get those points."

With a sell-out Sandy Park crowd behind them, excitement has been building all week in and around Sandy Park for what is arguably one of the biggest fixtures in the club's history.

Baxter knows the importance of the game and is equally excited by the challenge that lies ahead.

"I'll be honest, we very much look at the Premiership as our bread and butter," added Baxter. "In some ways, they are almost the pressure games and the games that get the pulse racing. However, this one is different, the Heineken Cup is just about pure excitement and really testing yourselves, so I really look forward to them.

"Over the last couple of seasons we have tended to show our best qualities in the Heineken and that is why I like it so much. It's very important to the players to play at the highest level possible and it's a great chance for them to perform against the best players in Europe. It's also very important to our supporters that because we have worked very hard to get into this competition, now we have show ourselves as the best we can be.

"The key thing always in big games is that you take a full part in the whole game. You have to make sure you are a better player and we are a better club because we have come out the other side having been right in the thck of battle. That hasn't changed for us, that has always been our mantra ever since we got into the Amlin, the Premiership and the Heineken, and it's very much what we will take into this game."

With Jonny Wilkinson the spearhead of the Toulon side, the wealth of talent, experience and international caps alongside the English talisman is something to truly behold. However, the Chiefs - as Baxter said - are relishing pitting themselves against the very best that Europe has to offer.

"We know Toulon are a very good side, but we are a good side and we are showing that," continued Baxter. "Over the last few games we haven't quite been able to drive home a couple of results, which has disaappointed us a little bit, but we do feel we are on good form.

"At home, we know we are a very good and stromg side to beat. We have also have very passionate support, who like to get themselves hard. As a club I'd like to say we are a little bit crazy at times - and I don't mind that - and I think our supporters embody that as well. For me it's great when supporters can show their emotions like they do here at Sandy Park. However, the important thing for us this weekend is to make sure we do stuff on the field that helps to really bring them into the game.

"I'm confident our guys will rise to the challenge and give the fans plenty to shout about, so all in all it's should not only be a fantastic game of rugby, but a fantastic atmopshere and another reason why we play the game."

Team news for the Chiefs sees Baxter stick with the same starting line-up that was narrowly defeated in last weekend's Premiership derby at Bath. The sole change to personnel comes on the bench where long-serving lock James Hanks comes in for Don Armand.

CHIEFS SIDE TO FACE TOULON

15 Luke Arscott
14 Jack Nowell
13 Phil Dollman
12 Jason Shoemark
11 Matt Jess
10 Gareth Steenson
9 Dave Lewis
1 Ben Moon
2 Jack Yeandle
3 Hoani Tui
4 Dean Mumm (capt)
5 Damian Welch
6 Tom Johnson
7 Ben White
8 Dave Ewers

16 Chris Whitehead
17 Brett Sturgess
18 Alex Brown
19 James Hanks
20 Kai Horstmann
21 Haydn Thomas
22 Henry Slade
23 Ian Whitten