Devoto hails 'fighting spirit' of Chiefs
By Mark Stevens
20/11/18
Ollie Devoto hailed the ‘fighting spirit’ of the Exeter Chiefs as they maintained their 100 per cent record in this season’s Gallagher Premiership with a 31-29 victory over the Bristol Bears on Sunday.
Entering into the final quarter of the contest at Ashton Gate, the Devonians were staring defeat in the face as they trailed 24-12 to last season’s Championship winners.
However, the visitors produced a remarkable fightback, sealing all five points to keep them at the summit of the table thanks to scores from Santiago Cordero, Jack Yeandle and a Penalty Try with the very last play of the game.
With the Bears furious at the award of the last score, the Chiefs merely lapped up their latest league success - one which ensured both they and Saracens remain 11 points clear of third-placed Gloucester, who this Saturday provide Exeter’s next opposition at Sandy Park on Saturday (1pm).
Having taken the decision to rest a large number of his frontline stars during the recent Premiership Rugby Cup block, Chiefs’ Director of Rugby Rob Baxter admitted pre-match that it was a potential gamble he was taking as he looked more to the bigger picture later in the season.
The gamble, however, paid dividends and Devoto was quick to praise the contribution put in by the Chiefs on their latest away day.
“It’s a big win for us in a very close game,” said the England international post-match. “Full credit to Bristol, they took us all the way out there.It shows with us being top of the table, teams are going to come after us and look to play their best rugby.Thankfully, we showed good fighting spirit out there to get the result.”
In what was a 23-man effort from the Chiefs squad, Devoto acknowledged the parts played by everyone to eventually down the hungry Bears, who themselves had countered with tries from Luke Morahan and Charles Piutau, as well as 19 points from the boot of fly-half Callum Sheedy.
“We spoke after about the little mistakes we can put right,” added Devoto. “A few of the boys have not played for a few weeks, so there is plenty to work on, but the main aim is to get back to the levels we were at before the break.
“What was good, though, was that we never gave in and we kept going right until the very end. The bench, I though, made a real impact. There were a couple of boys on there who were making their debut at this level, but all of them gave us real energy going into that last ten in particular.
“There will be some who say we got away with it today, but that was a real test, which we rose to and we got the result and the five points, which is all you can ask for at the end of the day.
“It was a full-blooded encounter with some big collisions out there. Both sides I’m sure will have a few aching bodies, but we’ll rest up now and then we’ll come in ready to prepare for next week’s game.”
Indeed, the rest period is short and sharp for the Chiefs, who must now ready themselves for the first of three upcoming fixtures against Gloucester in the next month. Saturday’s Premiership encounter kicks things off, before the two meet again on successive weekends in December in Rounds 3 & 4 of the Heineken Champions Cup.
The Cherry & Whites warmed up for their visit to Sandy Park by brushing aside the attentions of Leicester Tigers last Friday night - and Devoto is aware of the threat they will pose to Exeter’s impressive home record.
“Gloucester are bang on form,” warned the centre. “They played very well against Leicester and they’ll come down to us with real confidence. We’ll obviously have a close look at them over the next few days and then focus fully on the game itself.”