Performance will be key, insists Hill

By Mark Stevens

If Exeter Chiefs are to record a first-ever Aviva Premiership win against Bath, producing an 80-minute performance will be imperative, says young centre Sam Hill.

The two rivals are poised to lock horns for the 10th time in the top flight at a packed out Sandy Park on Saturday - and it’s the visitors who clearly hold the upper hand ahead of kick-off, having amassed an impressive eight victories and a draw in previous meetings.

Indeed, the closest the Chiefs have ever come to toppling the men from the Roman City was in 2012 when a late penalty try, converted by Tom Heathcote, allowed them to escape Devon with a share of the spoils in a 12-all draw.

Exeter have since overcome part of the so-called ‘Bath hoodoo’ with successive victories in the LV= Cup, but it’s in the league where they now crave the ultimate success.

Hill and his team-mates know as much, but even though the visitors are minus a number of their top line stars due to the current Six Nations this weekend, he has warned Bath will arrive with an array of talent more than capable of maintaining their unbeaten tag.

The two sides last clashed in December when Bath ran out 31-14 victors, this despite the scores being locked at 14-14 at one stage in the second half.

“I think we have to stick to our own game-plan. The first half [of the game in December] was pretty tight, but they managed to creep over in the last 20,” said the 21-year-old back. “We just need to stick to our game plan for the whole 80 and keep believing in what we do.

“They have a solid back three, good centres and a big pack. We have got a strong pack and I think that is where the game could be won. Both packs will be strong and it will be a really good test for both teams. They have got strengths all over the place. I know they have a few guys missing, but they have such strength in depth.”

Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter, who has seen his side win their last two Premiership games against Newcastle Falcons and Harlequins, claimed Hill was the “forgotten man” of Exeter’s midfield due to the unnoticed hard work he puts in for the side.

His contributions this season, alongside the likes of Henry Slade and Jack Nowell, have seen him flourish and there have even been calls for the young back to be called up by England head coach Stuart Lancaster.

Hill, as ever, remains modest in his own assessment of the season to date, insisting that performing well for his club is his main priority and if anything follows from that, all the better for him in the long run.

“I just have to play as well as I can for my club and that is how you get higher – by getting noticed for your club,” said Hill. “That is how you do it. The last few weeks have been really good. The last two games [against Newcastle and Harlequins] were really tough games.

“We lost to Newcastle earlier in the season but got a result against them this time, and we put in a good performance at the weekend in a really tough game [against Harlequins] and we came through and won it. It has been enjoyable.”