Whitten aware of Gloucester threat

By Jamie Hawkins
4/5/17

Ian Whitten says Exeter Chiefs will have to be at their best if they are to continue their record-breaking form at Gloucester on Saturday.

Chiefs set a new record last weekend after winning seven-straight bonus-point Premiership matches in a row, and will be looking to secure a home semi-final in the play-offs, although Whitten says Gloucester will be a tough test.

The centre said: "It's a very hard place. We've had tough losses up there before, and we know they're a very good and dangerous side, so it's really important that we don't get too far ahead of ourselves. We've got a really tough game this week, but it's in our hands if we can do it.

"To be honest I think they're a good team that's underachieved this year. (They have) some really talented players and it will be a really tough test, and they have a proud record at home. It's a tough test up there. We know that from previous years, and we'll have to be at our very best to win it."

The Devon side could still finish top of the Premiership, and Whitten says the advantage of a home semi-final is a significant one.

He said: "It's an exciting time for us. We're second in the Premiership, looking forward to a semi-final. But it's obviously a big game for us this weekend, and we are trying to push on and get that home semi if we can.

"We've given ourselves a chance at it. That's all you can do. If we win it's in our hands, so that's the challenge in front of us. Home makes the difference. Teams at home have a better chance, so it's a big deal for us to win this game. The chance to finish top of the league at the end of the season is a big thing for the club when you think about the journey it's come on."

It's been an impressive turnaround by the Chiefs after a slow start to the season, and Whitten says the hard work the team have put in off the field has paid off for them.

"We weren't really happy at the start of the year" said the Irishman. "It was difficult, things weren't going our way. But we kept battling, kept working hard. The training and intensity kept going up and up. We just focused really hard on our training. Wins help. Tries help, and confidence just gradually started to come back, and we're on a good run now."