Scays set for Sarries battle

 

By Mark Stevens

Fresh from agreeing a new contract with the Exeter Chiefs, flanker James Scaysbrook has quickly set his sights on this Saturday's Aviva Premiership trip to Saracens.

With a new two-year deal signed and sealed, the 30-year-old forward is hoping to lead the charge in the first-ever top flight fixture to be staged at the new Allianz Park.

Undone 21-16 at Sale Sharks last Friday night, the Devon club want a swift riposte to that setback and are hoping a big display against Sarries - who they beat earlier in the season 14-12 at Sandy Park - will help reignite their quest to get back amongst the Premiership's top six.

"We we're disappointed with the Sale game, but we've talked about it a lot this week and we've just gone back to working on our basics," explained Scaysbrook. "There were a couple of things lacking up at Sale - and we were guilty of not finishing off some of our opportunties - but that's something we've looked to address in training this week."

Although Saracens will be minus a number of their international stars due to recent Six Nations involvement, Scaysbrook knows the Londoners will still pose a considerable test on their new 4G playing surface in Barnet.

"They maybe missing a few, but they are still a very strong squad," warned the Exeter open-side. "If you look at their forward pack, it's not massively different from week to week. We know going up there will be a big test for us and that they are going to have 15 quality players playing for them. We are, however, looking forward to the game and seeing what we can get from it."

Earlier this week Scaysbrook, along with hooker Jack Yeandle, became the latest members of Rob Baxter's squad to pledge their immediate futures to the club.

Although linked in the media with a number of rivals Premiership teams, Scaysbrook - who joined the Chiefs in 2009 from Bath - says he is "really pleased" to prolong his stay in the Westcountry for another two years.

"I'm really pleased to have sorted out my future," he said. "I've been here a few years now and I've really enjoyed myself."

As well as helping the Chiefs to rise out of the Championship, Scaysbrook has also been instrumental in not only helping the Chiefs establish themselves as a Premiership force, but also as one of European rugby's elite with qualification for the first time into the Heineken Cup.

"I was happy to commit again for another two years," he added. "You can see there is a really bright future for the club and it's exciting being part of that. Obviously one of the highlights for mewas the Championship year, simply because it was such a big challenge. We had set ourselves a target at the start of the year and we achieved it. Since then we've obviously been through a lot of other things as well, but that Championship year certainly ranks right up there."

Fast closing in on 100 appearances for the Chiefs, Scaysbrook is one of a number of current Exeter players who were part of that promotion-winning side at Bristol - and the experienced forward says keeping that collective group together has played a large part in the club's recent success.

"It's always nice to keep a squad together, we've come a long way over the last few years and experienced so much," he said. "As I said, the club is building for the future and moving forward it's good to keep that group together."