Armands predicts big future at Chiefs

Exeter Chiefs flanker Don Armand believes his club’s LV= Cup victory will see them recognised as one of the teams to beat over the coming years.

The Devon club won their first major piece of silverware since promotion to the Premiership in 2010 by beating Northampton Saints on Sunday.

Armand, 25, who joined Chiefs from Super 15 side Stormers last summer, was a second-half replacement in their 15-8 win at Sandy Park.

He said: “It’s still only my first year at the club, so I only understand a portion of what it means to the guys who have been here nine or ten years. From the club’s point of view, it gives us great momentum. We have won some silverware and it puts us on the map as a side to contend with.

“It’s a great mental shift for the guys as well to get a successful final under their belts. We have lost some big games over the past five or six weeks in the Premiership, so this is a great achievement. No one will take us lightly this season and for the seasons to come.”

Chiefs’ success completes a memorable couple of weeks for Armand, who got married back home in South Africa the week before picking up an LV= Cup winner’s medal.

Armand was allowed to take a week off following Chiefs’ Premiership win over London Irish and missed his side’s semi-final win over Bath.

An injury to James Hanks then meant he was straight back on the replacements bench on his return to the club.

“It has been an amazing week and everyone has been commenting about it,” he said. “I don’t think I could have asked for anything better.

“I was sat on the edge of my seat last week, looking at the Twitter feed because it wasn’t on TV back home. It was amazing to know the boys had pulled through.”

Chiefs had to show some nerve against Saints. They led for almost the entire game and scored two tries through Chris Whitehead and Dean Mumm. But a late score for Saints made the final few minutes tense.

Armand said: “It was a tough game, I think it kept people on the edge of their seats. We scored the points and then they managed to get one and made the last ten minutes a very exciting game.

“Luckily we managed to keep them out, they put in some good sets of attack but we stuck to it and didn’t give away silly penalties. It was awesome.

“It is always special at Sandy Park. Normally it is just full of Chiefs fans but you could hear the Saints supporters, it was an amazing atmosphere and it was great to be a part of it.”