In Dublin's Fair City
Chiefs
By WOODBURYCHEF
October 10 2012
Matt cooks up a preview for Exeter Chiefs first foray into the Heineken Cup at Leinster
I thought that I’d take a quick look at the up coming fixture with a club I’ve heard scarcley anthing about before, they go by the name of Leinster?
Full of internationals and stars applenty. Remind you of anyone? The chiefs seem to pay very little attention to the names & hype of the big clubs these days and simply play each game as the XV on XV affair that it is, fearing no one.
So I thought a brief look at Leinsters season is in order, which by their monumental standards is probabally falling slightly short of expectations. But with injuries to key players and a few signs of defensive frailities they have still come out of the first block of fixtures just 1 point off thrid place in the league.
Their most recent game resulted in a win over Munster at home infront of 46280 fans (wow) but it came off the back of a lack luster loss at Connaught where the Dubliners picked up several big name injuries. Including Gordon D'Arcy, Quinn Roux and Rob Kearney.The game eventually finishing 34-6.
Following the Conaught game the Leinster forum had a clear tone regarding the standards & expectations of the boys in blue.
Not good enough. Not even close. Leinster's performance last week against Connacht was simply unacceptable on every level. The scale of the defeat (their heaviest in the league for five years) and manner of the performance was frankly shocking
Every player who puts on a Leinster jersey makes a commitment to maintain a certain standard. That commitment is that, win or lose, they will go down fighting, but that Leinster side hardly swung a punch all night.
And that commitment certainly came to the fore against Munster as the boys from the banks of the Liffey came out on top 30-21 in this “bragging rights” battle, of the great Irish Provinces. Again picking up injuries along the way. This time to Kevin McLaughlin, Isa Nacewa, Brian O’Driscoll, Andrew Conway. Although the most of the above are expected to be back in contention for the Chiefs visit.
Following the return to winning ways the Blues hooker Richardt Strauss had these ominous words to say just one week ahead of the clash with Devon’s finest;
"We're looking to improve every week and that's a step in the right direction. Obviously it's not exactly where we want to be, but at least we are going in the right direction.”
"I think our defense wasn't as good as it ought to have been. We gave Munster loads of momentum and that's something we'll have to look at during the week to try and fix.”
Their defense is of note as prior to the Munster game they carry a record of conceding a staggering 18 tries in only five games, three more than winless bottom-of-the-table Zebre and are nursing a point’s difference of -17. That has to be encouraging news to Exeter. In a season that as yet we have managed our biggest premiership win to date against the yet to gel mercenaries of the Sharks, out worked and out witted the strong defensive structure of Sarries and smashed in 5 tries against the Aviva champions Quins. We currently sit second in the “try’s scored” table with an exceptional 18 (well done Mr Hepher & Co), and second in the “points for” table. Second only to Quins in both instances. Very positive indeed.
With a few injury woes of our own, Baxter’s Exeter’s 2012/13 squad is really looking the part, (despite ITV remarks that we need to purchase some gloss to have some fun!) admittedly a few players were being asked big questions recently and intern coming up with all the answers. Of note Rimmer has been a fan favourite with his work rate and commitment, Ben White now has 2 try’s in 2 games and provides so much energy and versatility to Baxter’s selection process, Steeno took the opportunity to remind us of his class and ability and of course the long awaited Dean Mumm who was given two A league games and then asked to take on 80 minutes with the Aviva champs, I think we’ll all agree he passed the test with flying colours.
The momentum and belief that the win at the weekend has given the whole of Exeter is incredible. Us week in week out fans know what the Chiefs are all about and share the players “bring on anybody” attitude. But big wins like that catch the eye of the casuals & of course that of the overseas teams and rightly so. The lads have received many great plaudits & applause from everyone in the rugby world this week. Its easy to get swept away with the majesty and history of Leinster but in reality they are beatable, they have weaknesses and at the end of the day its simply XV on XV. If the Chiefs can carry that momentum & physicality we witnessed Saturday over the Irish Sea we are in for a real treat on the BIGGEST stage of all.
So to the “Fair City” we go, boarding cards printed, pink shirts at the ready and more inflatable Tomahawks than you can shake a stick at. I’ve struggled to concentrate on anything for the last 2 weeks, and being this close to the off is killing me. (I hope the boys are a tad calmer and collected than we are). It’s the nearest I can remember feeling to Christmas Eve as a kid.
Wishing everyone a very safe and enjoyable journey over, and look forward to sampling many many tasters of the Liffey water with the tribe, the best fans in rugby.
#LetsHearTheTomahawkChopByTheLiffey
Ps a reminder to the Travelling Tribe;
Let’s all try and stay in touch with each other, it would be easy to end up scattered all over the city, Myra has kindly put her mobile number on the supporters site, which by the way you should defiantly join if you’re not already a member.
Thursday evening is music & food at Lansdowne Hotel www.lansdownehotel.ie
The main gathering before the game will be a march from Bewleys Hotel www.bewleyshotels.com to the Stadium, complete with flags, drums, warpaint etc. As the RDS opens 90 minutes before KO, we will be leaving the hotel between 13.30pm and 13.45pm for the 10-15 minute walk to the Stadium – KO 15.40pm.
Matthew Pickett
Head Chef
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![[:wor kid:]](/phorum-5.1.15/mods/smileys/images/13.gif "[:wor kid:]")
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Time for a pipe of Old Toby!
Quote:Devon Andy
Sporting Bet has odds of 12/1 that we'll win at the weekend if anyone fancies a flutter (not that I encourage gambling
there are worse bets this weekend. Try the ht exeter/ft leinster at a whopping 8/1. At least if exeter lose after a good start, you'll have a jingle in your pocket
Went around a few of the tourist venues and got quite merry in some of them.
I also got a qualification from the Jamesons Museum that apparently makes me a certified "whiskey taster" as I can tell the difference between Bourbon, Scotch, and Irish whiskey.. Quite possibly the easiest qualification I have ever obtained..
I told them I needed a few glasses to be certain of which was the Scotch and which was the Irish whiskey..
.. Anyhoo
Iam sure the members of the Tribe will have, and have had a great time in Dublin heres (
) to a safe journey home.Time for a pipe of Old Toby!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:10:14:07:12:42 by Kernowbabs.