Lees ready for final push

By Mark Stevens

It wasn’t all that long ago that Mitch Lees was counting cash in a Sydney bank or getting his hands mucky as a rookie mechanic.

Today, however, he will pulling on an Exeter Chiefs jersey, determined to play his part as the Devon club look to seal a first-ever place in the Aviva Premiership play-offs.

With just one round of the scheduled season left to play, Rob Baxter’s side occupy fourth spot in the standings, one point behind rivals Leicester Tigers, who play host to Northampton Saints in the East Midlands - and level on points with fifth-placed Saracens, who travel to winless London Welsh.

Three into two simply doesn’t go and there will be one team who ultimately misses out in the final shake-up.

For the Chiefs, the maths are somewhat simple - win against Sale Sharks and win well - but even then it may not be enough given results elsewhere in the country.

Whatever the outcome, Aussie Lees admits it’s been an ‘amazing’ first year at Sandy Park and far exceeded anything he had envisaged going into the campaign following his move from London Welsh last summer.

“I’ve spoken to my parents back home and they’re as chuffed to bits for me,” he said. “I didn’t expect too much this year when I came over and I’m amazed with how much I’ve been playing and how happy I am down here.

“This weekend, it’s going to be huge for all of us. We already know it’s going to be a sell-out here at Sandy Park, the atmosphere is going to be amazing and we’re up against a team who have already beaten us this year, so we’ve really got a lot to prove.

“Yes, it’s exciting times, the top six was our goal at the start of the season, but now we’re in the hunt for the top four so this is added bonus. The team have been fighting well all year, so it’ll be a bit of a reward to get to the top four, so we’re all gunning for it.”

Certainly the Chiefs will come into the game buoyed by last weekend’s hard fought victory over play-off rivals Saracens - and Lees says it’s imperative Exeter look to match that same intensity against the visiting Sharks.

Last weekend was a brutal game,” added Lees. “But at the same time it was a great game for us. Beating Sarries home and away is a big thing for us and it was our first-ever win at Allianz Park. That said, it will mean nothing if we don’t back it up.

“Sale, we know, are a tough side. I wasn’t here the last time they came to Sandy Park, but apparently it was a pretty tough day for the boys. I did, however, play up in Manchester against them and I know they’ll be very physical coming down here.

“As we've said all week, though, we’re just focusing on ourselves and looking to give it our all. Hopefully results elsewhere can go our way, but whatever happens I think we can be proud of what we have done this year.”

Indeed, asked about life as a Chief, does the imposing Aussie sometime pinch himself at how far he has come in such a short space of time?

“Yes, it was only a few years ago I was in the bank and before that only a few years I was working with grease all over m hands and stuff, being a mechanic. So, yes, I pinch myself still – and if things go the right way for us, in three weeks’ time I could be playing at Twickenham.

“It would be the first time for me and it’s something I never would have dreamed of when I was a kid.”

And hoping to roar the Chiefs to victory will be the ever-vocal Tribe, who Lees ranks as the best in the top flight.

“Every big moment we have on the field, you hear the crowd behind you,” he said. “You hear them every scrum, every line-out, every drive, every penalty, every time we score a point. It’s amazing and it’s probably the best crowd in the Premiership.”