Christ Tshiunza on penultimate Chiefs home game

Sat in the main grandstand, looking out over the Sandy Park pitch after a lengthy training day, you could forgive Christ Tshiunza for being sentimental as he prepared to play his penultimate home game as an Exeter Chief.

Tshiunza chuckles good-naturedly: “I don't think I think like that. I genuinely believe all good things must come to an end eventually. I'm very much a cup's half full type of person. I think I'll miss the group of boys, but then again, you'll always make friends elsewhere.”

The 6ft 6ins Welsh international will make the move to Sale Sharks this summer after six seasons in Devon, having originally impressed in early games for EURFC.

Does the run-in to the end of this season feel different to others then? Does Tshiunza feel he maybe wants it more than in previous seasons?

He said: “It’s not so much that I want it in a different way. I've gotten close to a couple of trophies here, I’ve played in a couple European semi-finals, so I know the feeling of being close to winning a trophy. I've still got that same feeling.

“You always want to win a trophy every season. But this year, especially because I'm leaving, it would be nice to leave on a good note. It almost feels like there's no second chances now to end things well as a chief so, like I said, this is make or break. It'd be good to finish on a high, to close that door with a smile on my face.”

Despite spending a good chunk of the season in the rehab room, or ‘the dungeon’ as the players refer to it, Tshiunza has kept a smile upon his face. He credits this to the strength of unity shared amongst the current squad.

He said: “I would say, in all my seasons here, this year has definitely been my favourite, even though I haven't been playing. That just goes to show how well we all get on with each other off the pitch.

“I think our closeness and success is a multifaceted thing. It’s from boys like Daf [Dafydd Jenkins] and Rootsy [Ethan Roots] stepping up. Then also from the boys Rob's brought in, like Hoops [Tom Hooper] and Julian [Heaven] or Lenny [Ikitau], we've all just got this big bubble of friends here.

“Every time the weather's been good, lads like Ethan and Jimmy [the Roots brothers], they always have boys over at their house, whether that's for a barbeque, or we get the partners around, we've done a lot of stuff off the pitch, and we've actually come together as a group. So just little things like that goes a long way, really.

“That's probably been the best part, the camaraderie. We're all willing to fight for each other on the pitch, and I think everyone can see that.”

This weekend will be an almighty fight, kicking off a four-week run of games that will be critical to the overall success of the Chiefs season. Second-placed Bath Rugby visit Sandy Park this weekend before, sandwiched between this test and a final home game against Saracens, Chiefs go on the road to Harlequins and Leicester Tigers.

How are the squad feeling about the prospect of such a physical run-in to the end of the campaign?

Tshiunza smiles: “It's pretty exciting. Every game now is like a final. As a professional, these big games are what you hope to play in. The competitive side of you just comes to life because every game is make or break, so it's very exciting. These are the games that you all look forward to playing, the ones where everything's on the line.”

Johann van Graan’s men arrive with a fully loaded line-up, front-rower Francois van Wyk winning his 50th club cap as centre Cameron Redpath prepares to gain his 100th from the bench. Thus, it promises to be an intensely physical fixture.

Tshiunza said: “I think they want it just as much as us. It's a battle of the top four. I think whoever turns up on the day wins game. I'm hoping that's us but they're where they are on the table for a reason.

“We have to respect them as an opponent, but this is our home patch, so I'm expecting the boys to make them fight for every single blade of grass on the pitch and whoever wants to stick in the longest wins, I think.”

All of that will be playing out in front of the Sandy Park crowd for the penultimate home game of the season, meaning Tshiunza may only have one more chance to run out in front of the Devon stands.

He said: “One of the big things I will miss is running out at this stadium. We’ve got a good fan base, a very loyal fan base. They love this club and we owe it to them really. If not for ourselves, we owe it to them and the history of this club and everything that has come before.”

This interview featured in yesterday’s programme. Read the rest of it here.