Mixed feelings for Hooley

By Mark Stevens

Will Hooley admitted to having mixed feelings after making his competitive debut for the Exeter Chiefs in last weekend’s European Champions Cup clash with Clermont Auvergne.

Whilst delighted to get his chance on the big stage for Rob Baxter’s side, it wasn’t quite the first outing the summer signing from Northampton Saints would have quite envisaged.

Brought on as a second half replacement for fellow fly-half Gareth Steenson, the Chiefs were unable to repeat their heroics of the previous week against the star-studded French outfit, going down 42-10 at the Stade Marcel Michelin.

The 22-year-old, though, did make his mark in the short time he was on the field, slotting the conversion to Tom Johnson’s late try.

Post-match, the young playmaker - who has settled well to life at Sandy Park - said: “It was not the result we wanted and at the end of the day it all comes down to the team,  so I am as gutted as anyone. That said, I am obviously very proud to make my Chiefs debut, but I didn’t quite think it was going to be in that fashion.

“It was nice for me to get out there on the pitch, but everyone is pretty gutted at the moment.”

Having seen off a star-studded Clermont with a bonus-point in their last outing at Sandy Park, it was a much different story across the Channel as the French club produced a powerful performance that yielded a similar five-point haul for themselves.

“We always knew going to Clermont was going to be a challenge but we really were relishing that challenge in the week,” added Hooley.

“Our disappointment was that our game-plan and everything we did right the previous week, we just didn’t do.

Credit to Clermont, they were very good, but I think in many respects we will look back and realise we made a few costly errors.

“You can’t do that against any side, but especially Clermont. At their own place, you could hear the place surge into noise and they got right behind them. They gained confidence and that left us up against it.”

The Chiefs, however, will be looking to get back on track at the first attempt this Saturday when they return to Aviva Premiership action against Sale Sharks (3pm).

“It is all about looking at the video, getting it done and dusted and making sure we look forward to Boxing Day and Sale at home,” continued Hooley.

“We need to get back on the horse and do better. Being Boxing Day everybody is going to want to be there and we should get a good atmosphere at Sandy Park.

“It is just about getting on with it. Clermont was disappointing but the great thing about sport is that you always get another opportunity. For us, that is on Boxing Day.”

Hooley is again expected to be part of the Chiefs squad for the festive fixture and he says experiences like that of last weekend will only help improve him and his team-mates moving forward.

He added: “I will learn massively from games like that. I came here to play and to play in big games. It was a privilege to wear the shirt and get out there, but I have come to here to do well, not just individually, but as a team and a collective.

“I think we are really building something special here at Exeter. Hopefully we can put Sunday’s result in the past, move on and continue to be successful.

“Personally, I am loving it here. The boys have really welcomed me and I feel I have been here for a while already, even though it has only been five or six months. I am enjoying it and excited about where we are going and hopefully we can push on and look ahead to more successful times.”