O'Flaherty aims to end year on a high note
By Mark Stevens
26/12/20
Let’s be honest…….it has been a challenging year for all of us!
However, as we look to bring the curtain down on 2020, Exeter Chiefs winger Tom O’Flaherty says there is a ‘real desire’ amongst him and his team-mates to put on a grand performance to help lift the mood of everyone.
With the daily headlines so often dominated by the doom and gloom created by the outbreak of Covid-19 around the world, there have at least been those occasional moments of joy that have brought happiness to many.
In the case of the Chiefs – and for their supporters – they have been lucky in that respect, celebrating a historic double triumph, together with a continuation of their impressive form in this new campaign.
At the heart of that success has been London-born flyer O’Flaherty, whose silky skills and lightning turn of speed has helped to illuminate the darkest of days.
“It’s been a tough year,” admitted the 26-year-old. “It was all going fine, then all of a sudden Covid came along and everything stopped. As players, all we could do was wait and see how things developed.”
As it turned out, detailed training plans helped to alleviate much of lockdown life for the Chiefs squad, but O’Flaherty – along with team-mate Jack Maunder – took on the role of delivery men, helping Jack’s father Andy, himself a former Exeter player, to deliver meat from the family butcher’s shop.
He added: “As a group, we all worked incredibly hard during that period, so when we did come back, we hit the ground running and we were able to get what we wanted out of the season. Obviously, winning the two trophies was the highlight for the hard work we put in, but it’s good that we’ve also been able to carry that form into this season as well.”
Indeed, Rob Baxter’s squad have picked up from where they left off, producing a flawless start to their Gallagher Premiership title defence, as well as an equally impressive opening fixture in the Heineken Champions Cup against Glasgow Warriors.
The 42-0 drubbing of the Scotsmen underlined the vision of the Chiefs to replicate their efforts of last term. However, an outbreak of Covid-19 in the Exeter camp this month meant they were forced to concede their much-anticipated match-up against Toulouse last weekend.
“That was frustrating, but there is not a lot we could do about it,” continued O’Flaherty. “The virus has been spreading for a while and it was just unfortunate it came about in what was a big week for us. As a club, we have to take it on the chin and move on as best we can. What we have to do now is make of these Premiership games coming up, then worry about Europe when it comes around again.”
And first on the agenda is the visit of Gloucester to Sandy Park this afternoon.
In what will only be the second fixture of having a section of supporters back inside the stadium, O’Flaherty is looking forward to running out and feeling the famous match-day buzz.
“I got goosebumps on the Glasgow game,” he said. “I had got so used to running out with no fans that it was weird when we came out for the warm-up and everyone starting clapping and cheering. It was a great feeling and although there were only 2,000 fans in, it definitely felt like more.
“As players, you forget what the fans bring on a game-day and it definitely makes you feel more appreciative of them. Hopefully, come the New Year, things will improve and we can start to get more of them back in.”
For now, though, a different 2,000 will get the chance to see the Chiefs in action against a Gloucester outfit, who will be brimming with confidence following their Champions Cup victory over Ulster last weekend.
O’Flaherty knows from past experience the threat posed by today’s visitors. He added: “They’re a good side and always put up a great fight against us. Defensively, they are very strong and in attack they’ve got some really dangerous runners. As I said, it will be a good test for us, because we know they won’t want to lie down.
“There is, however, a real desire within this group to do well and it’s another game we are relishing.”