Moon lifted by Falcons win

By Mark Stevens

Prop Ben Moon says last Saturday's 16-3 victory over Newcastle Falcons has given the Exeter Chiefs the ideal lift heading into this weekend's crunch Aviva Premiership encounter with Harlequins.

After a run of five successive league and cup defeats, the Chiefs rediscovered their winning touch thanks to a Haydn Thomas try and 11 points from the boot of leading points-scorer Gareth Steenson.

The victory - Exeter's sixth in the top flight this season - helped Rob Baxter's side rise to fifth in the standings, just a point adrift of Harlequins, who provide the latest hurdle for the Devon club to overcome.

A capacity crowd of 80,000 is expected to descend on Twickenham Stadium for Saturday's 'Big Game 6' and Moon says the Chiefs will travel in confidence after seeing off the Falcons.

"We said before the game that we needed to get a victory," said Moon, who claimed the man of the match award on his 100th appearance for the Chiefs. "Whether it was pretty or not, we didn't really care too much. The most important thing was the four points and that's what we got.

"The boys have been playing well recently, but we've come up short in a few games, so it was a bit of a sweetener to get those points."

And having tackled the likes of Bath, Saracens, Toulon and Newcastle in recent weeks, Moon says the relentless on-field challenges continue with Harlequins next up.

"It was only a few years ago that we were playing the likes of Doncaster, yet now we're playing the likes of Toulon," explained Moon. "Sometimes it is a pinch yourself moment to think how far we have come, but we're all enjoying every minute of it.

"It's been another big year for the club and as players we're loving being part of it all. We've got Harlequins this weekend and we know that will be another big test for us. They're a great side and a team who like to attack you from all over. We know we have to be on top of our game and ready to stop them from minute one."

Certainly the inward pressure being applied amongst the Chiefs squad as a whole is helping to keep standards high in the Exeter camp as the season hits the halfway point.

"Everyone is working very hard," added Moon. "Everyone wants to start and be playing games, so we're all driving each other in every position. Having that battle for places is bringing the best out of all of us, so that can only be a good thing in the long run."