Let's make history - Mumm

By Mark Stevens

Dean Mumm says the current Exeter Chiefs squad are determined to write new chapters in the history of the Devon club - and Saturday’s impressive 48-13 victory over Newcastle Falcons was another telling line.

Rob Baxter’s side booked a first-ever European Challenge Cup semi-final spot by crushing their Aviva Premiership counterparts with a six-try demolition at Sandy Park.

Dave Ewers and a Penalty Try helped to give the hosts a 17-6 lead at the turn, before Thomas Waldrom, Byron McGuigan, Sam Hill and Mumm himself got in on the scoring act in a one-sided second period.

Henry Slade and Gareth Steenson shared the remainder of the points for the Chiefs, whilst a Chris Harris try and eight points from the boot of Tom Catterick was all that the Falcons could muster on another tough night in the Westcountry.

Exeter’s win ensured they will now face more Premiership opposition, Gloucester Rugby, in the last four on Saturday, April 18 at Kingsholm (7:45pm).

“We did speak about history – we have never played in a semi in Europe before and we often speak of this being an ambitious club and that is what we wanted to do,” said Mumm. “It’s another big opportunity for us against Gloucester and for us it’s all about moving forward.”

With little to choose between the two sides for the first half on Saturday night, it was the Chiefs who kicked into overdrive after the break as they produced a powerful brand of rugby that the Falcons struggled to contain.

“I think we probably won it with the elements of the game that don’t require talent – the attitude and our defence were very good - so we’re pleased with that and it moves on to another big game next week [against Northampton],” said the 31-year-old Australian international.

“The tempo we played with was good, Newcastle are a quality side and we knew they would come at as us hard because they had talked about that earlier in the week.

“Certainly they lived up to that and we had some key moments deep inside our own half where we put in good defensive sets and didn’t give them a way into the game. Like any game, if you can do that and convert your opportunities, which were lucky enough to do, then you can start to build a reasonable score and that’s how we did it.”

Indeed, such was the desire of the Chiefs to succeed in their latest Cup quest that it was summed up in the final minute when four players raced back to cover a late counter-attack from the Falcons.

It was a point Mumm was quick to highlight post-match, adding: “We work quite hard on our fitness but our attitude too and the things that matter when people aren’t really watching and that is how to win big games.

“I think we understand that here and they are the elements that will continue to give us opportunities and allow us to be there or thereabouts in the big games – and that is really important.”

Although a crunch Premiership encounter against Northampton awaits next for the Chiefs, Mumm admits he and his team-mates will be relishing the Gloucester clash when it comes round.

“I am sure the Shed will be rocking and rolling and they will be pleased to have a home semi-final,” he continued. ‘We know Kingsholm is a tough place to go, so if that makes us a little bit of underdogs going into that, we’re happy with that tag.

“That game, though, is still a couple of weeks away and we’ll deal with that when it comes along. Right now we’re excited about the opportunity that presents itself.”

Also excited will have been Exeter’s young back-row forward Sam Skinner (pictured), who was given a last-minute European outing when Damian Welch pulled up with an ankle injury in the warm-up.

The England Under-20s starlet was at the time being paraded through the club’s various corporate lounges, before he was summonsed to the changing rooms and given a place on the bench.

And Mumm was quick to praise the contribution of Skinner, saying: “I can’t imagine when he woke up or finished doing corporate stuff that he thought he would be playing and I think that is his first European game, so that is pretty impressive from him to be honest.

“He did pretty well and even chopped Sinoti on a cover line, so he’s a quality player and it’s good to see him up there. It isn’t how you imagine it but I remember that’s how Adam Ashley-Cooper got his Test debut and he ended up getting 100, so let’s see if Sam’s got another 100 games in him.”