Chiefs will learn from final experience

By Jess Bassett
6/6/2016

Dave Lewis believes Exeter Chiefs will learn from their Twickenham torment to become even stronger ahead of the new 2016/17 season.

Rob Baxter’s side will report back in a month’s time for pre-season determined to build on what was the club’s most successful ever campaign in the Aviva Premiership.

Lewis, 23, was part of a Chiefs outfit that narrowly went down to eventual champions Saracens 28-20 in the end of season showpiece at English rugby’s HQ.

Having trailed 23-6 at the interval, Exeter produced a much improved display in the second half, fighting back with converted scores from Jack Yeandle and Jack Nowell to reduce the deficit to three points with just over five minutes remaining.

Exeter’s hopes of a stunning victory, though, were crushed moments later when England international Alex Goode powered his way over the line to deliver a crushing blow to Lewis and his Chiefs colleagues.

“Obviously we’re gutted to lose, but at the same time it’s a big step forward from last year and previous years,” said Lewis, who moved to the Chiefs in 2013 from top flight rivals Gloucester. “What we want to do now is go on and be even better next year.”

As well as reaching the Premiership final for the first time, Lewis was also part of a Chiefs squad that also reached the last eight of the European Champions Cup for the first time.

Lewis feels the strides made by the ambitious Westcountry club in recent times are an indication of the hard work being put in – on and off the field – to help establish the Chiefs as a growing force within the modern-day game.

They will, however, have to step up their standards even further to challenge the likes of Saracens, who also added the Champions Cup crown to go alongside their second successive Premiership title.

“Saracens are a great side, but we know that we can compete and beat them,” added Lewis. “I think we showed that in the second half, but what we’ve got to work on is doing that for the whole 80 minutes.

“We can take a lot of confidence that what we are doing works and if we stick to our guns for a little bit longer than we will get results.

“I think the one thing this experience will do for us is it will kick us on and boys will want to get back to this stage again and go one better, so I’m sure by the time we all report back for pre-season training everyone will be raring to go again.”