Versatile Don fits the bill - Baxter

By Mark Stevens

Versatility is a trait Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter often looks for in his players - and newcomer Don Armand fits the bill perfectly according to his new leader.

The 24-year-old forward, who is Baxter's sixth new capture of the summer, jetted into Sandy Park this week on a two-year deal from South African Super XV outfit the Stormers.

Adept at playing either in the back-row or second row, Harare-born Armand certainly offers Baxter plenty of options ahead of the new 2013/14 season which will see the Chiefs again competing in the Aviva Premiership and Heineken Cup.

Armand's arrival in the Westcountry could prove timely for the Chiefs, especially as Baxter has this week lost lock James Hanks to a broken collarbone and club captain Tom Hayes is continuing his rehabilitation following a back operation.

Baxter said: "Don's arrival is pretty timely and he will probably slot right in there in the lock option rather than the back row option for us at the moment.

"He has been involved with a very good side that has a lot of very good back-five forwards. He gets into the 23-man squad and the fact that he starts games in South Africa at lock and back row shows how good he is.

"He has also started a lot of Currie Cup games for Western Province in the second row and we have got exactly what we want. He may not be an out-and-out second row and he may not be an out-and-out back row but he can play across the back five, is mobile and is a good stopper and a good defender. He has a high work rate and work ethic and all of those things mean he fits into what you would describe as the back five of our scrum."

Now he is in Devon, the 6ft 3ins forward will have a few days to acclimatise before joining in fully with pre-season training next week.

"We expect him to be pretty full-on by the start of next week – he is pretty much good to go," added Baxter. "He is match fit now and played a full game a couple of weeks ago. He was involved from the bench at the weekend so he is right up there and is ready to play.

"We will have to monitor him a little bit but, after speaking to him, he is ready for it and raring to go."

Also keeping a close eye on Armand will be Exeter's assistant forwards coach Rob Hunter who, like Baxter, is relishing working with the Maritzburg College product.

"He's a great signing for us and he come to us with a great deal of experience," said Hunter. "He's also coming to us on the back of a very good season in South Africa, so he's in a good position where he doesn't have to catch up too much in training and he can look forward to the start of the games next month.

"We know we are getting a proven player who has played at a top level. Rob always does a lot of homework on the guys he brings into the club and I've no doubt he will fit the bill very well for us.

"Also the fact he is versatile in terms of positions is key as well. Having that versatility is becoming more and more important these days, especially in the back five. You still get those out and out locks, the really big guys - and we've got a few here ourselves - but you also get others that are very mobile and can rotate their positions and can fit into the style of rugby we like to play. As I said, that's important in the modern-day game and we'll look to make the most of the options we have available to us."