Chiefs won't let up - Armand

By Mark Stevens

Don Armand says there will be no let-up from the Exeter Chiefs as they swap the rigours of the Aviva Premiership for European and LV= Cup action over the next month.

Having kicked off the new season with four wins out of a possible six, the third-placed Chiefs switch their attentions from domestic duties to that of the European Rugby Challenge Cup this weekend and a testing trip to Top14 side Bayonne on Saturday night (8pm).

Armand hopes to be part of the Chiefs travelling squad for their European opener, having produced a man of the match display in last weekend's 44-24 league win over visiting London Irish.

He claimed one of Exeter's five tries in that game and hopes are high within the Sandy Park ranks that Rob Baxter's side can continue their fine form across the Channel.

“We don't want to think just because we are in different competitions that we are going to take a different route towards how we play," said Armand. "The cup games will be just as important as Premiership games for us - and it's vital that we keep things rolling over the next four weeks, so that when the Premiership comes around, we need to be on the front foot again.”

Now into his second season at the Devon club, Harare-born Armand believes it's key the Chiefs use the experience of the last two years in the Heineken Cup as a preparation tool for their visit to the Stade Jean Dauger.

"We have learned a lot from playing in Europe in the past and it is something we all enjoy, including all the supporters," added Armand. "Away in France is quite a long way and a new experience for us. We'll have guys in the squad who have not done it before, so it will be a good experience for them, but we'll also have those who have been there before, so it's a good time for them to show their experience."

With head coach Baxter already indicating that he will use the next month to utilise his whole first team squad to the maximum, Armand knows it's a great time for players to stake their claim for a starting spot.

Certainly a number of the club's highly-rated youngsters will be looking to shine in Cup battle, but so too will others senior stars on the fringe of the action.

"The youngsters get a lot of credit here, but the older guys need some as well," said Armand. "People like Thomas Waldrom coming in this season have really added something and it's awesome for those youngsters to look up to someone like him.

"Also, people like Damian Welch (pictured), it's his third season in the Premiership, but people look to him as a calm head within the team. For me, it's great to have guys like that around the side because they help move the team in the right direction when things maybe go a bit haywire."

And it appears the squad is indeed learning all the time, a case underlined in the way they bounced back against Irish following their narrow defeat to Newcastle Falcons the week previous.

Armand continued: “It was a big performance against London Irish, they came at us but we managed to keep the pressure on the whole way through. You have to give the whole team, and the supporters as well, a lot of credit.

"To be in the top three is a wonderful feeling. We set ourselves a target at the beginning of the season, and that certainly helped us."
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