European challenge excites Ewers
By Mark Stevens
26/9/20
To many he appears quiet and rather unassuming, the bloke who doesn’t say too much. However, put him out on the field and this African-born ‘Raging Bull’ consistently wreaks havoc on the best laid plans of an opponent.
Part and parcel of the Exeter mix for over ten years now, Dave Ewers does his talking on the field, smashing rivals to a pulp and producing a ferocious focal point in the much-vaunted Chiefs pack of forwards.
Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Ewers and his family sadly became victims of the despotic regime of former President Robert Mugabe, whose murderous land reforms of the early 90s caused countless white farmers to flee.
Ewers can consider himself fortunate - and he does. In 2004, his mother and father escaped their homeland, setting up a new life here in Devon, where he himself attended Ivybridge Community College, before developing his rugby career and being accepted into the Chiefs Academy, where he excelled.
At 14 years of age, it was a new beginning for him and his family. However, the subsequent years have been good and as time has ticked by, so Ewers has continued to flourish, now establishing himself as a key component in the formidable Exeter eight.
This weekend, he will again be front and centre as the Chiefs prepare to enter into unchartered waters. Never before have Devon’s finest reached the last four of European Rugby’s top club competition, but this is a perfect opportunity for Ewers and his team-mates to showcase their worth.
Victory over Northampton Saints last weekend saw Rob Baxter’s side advance into the last four, where now they will tackle four-time European Kings, Toulouse for the first time.
“We’re all massively excited,” said Ewers. “In the past, we’ve kind of being guilty of coming up just short when it comes to Europe. We’ve had some good highs, some good wins, but we’ve not always been able to back it up. This season, there is definitely a different bite to us. Now, it’s up to us to drive it home this weekend.”
As Ewers quite rightly states, the Chiefs have produced some exquisite rugby in the Champions Cup this term, starting with their five-point victory at La Rochelle in Round One.
Since then, Gallagher Premiership rivals Sale Sharks were undone, both home and away, plus there were home victories over La Rochelle and Glasgow Warriors, the latter of whom they also drew with, ensuring they advanced out of Pool 5 with a near perfect record.
Last Sunday’s 38-15 success in the last eight advanced the Chiefs into the semi-finals, where they will face a Toulouse outfit, who themselves have been in impressive European form, including their own quarter-final triumph over Ulster.
“Beating La Rochelle in that first game gave us the perfect start - and then we beat Sale home and away - which cannot be under-estimated,” explained Ewers. “Our whole European campaign, though, has been tough, but very good at the same time.”
Now, the 29-year-old is banking on previous big-game experience to help the Chiefs overcome their star-studded visitors, who include the likes of Jerome Kaino, Antoine Dupoint, Romain Ntamack, Thomas Ramos and Cheslin Kolbie amongst their ranks.
“We’ve played in a few semi-finals and final for a while now,” added Ewers. “Obviously, we’ve had some good wins, but we’ve also experienced a few losses as well. That experience from playing in those games, though, is invaluable. I think if you spoke to any of the boys, we’ve all learnt so much from those games and it definitely helps you to get your mind-set ready for games like this weekend.”
Like with any game, the arm wrestle up front is sure to dictate the flow and tempo of the contest and Ewers says footage of the visitors in action underlines the threat they pose all over the field.
“Like any French side, the pack is massive and they’ve got some real flyers out wide,” he warned. “That battle up front is going to be huge, but we know we’re a strong pack ourselves and if we can get things right, like I know we can, then we give ourselves every opportunity.”
Once again, current Covid-19 restrictions mean Sandy Park will again be without fans in place, a scenario Ewers says it’s tough for everyone to take.
“It’s devastating not having anyone here,” he said. “Game days here, especially semi-finals, are massive occasions. The buzz and the feel you get on a match-day is just amazing and coming in like we are now, it’s just a totally different feel. As players, you live off the energy of the crowd, especially in the tough moments, so it’s just gutting that we won’t have them around again.”
Despite the lack of support, the Chiefs have more than demonstrated in recent weeks that they know how to get the job done. Seven out of eight victories underline that very point, particularly in the mind of Ewers, who has praised the collective effort of the Exeter squad as a whole since restart.
“It’s exciting for all of us,” he said. “As a squad, we came back from lockdown in a great place and we’ve all just knuckled down and done our bit. You only have to look at the wins at Bristol and Northampton, even though I didn’t play in those games, you couldn’t help but get emotionally involved watching and they were incredible results which gave us all the momentum we needed.
“As a squad, we’re all doing our bit. Everyone knows when they play, they have to perform, just because the strength in depth is phenomenal.”
And Ewers himself is in fine fettle, having overcome some lengthy injuries in the past.
“I’m in a good place mentally,” he added.“That’s probably down to learning from those hard battles you have to overcome when you are injured. I guess it makes you realise and enjoy how fortunate you are to be doing the job you do with the friends you have.
“For all of us, the last six months have made us all probably sit up and take stock of things a bit more. For me, I realise how lucky I am to be here playing games of rugby each week.
“When I look at the group we have, the position we are in, there is so much to be positive about. Now, we’ve just got to go out and show it at the weekend.”