Lessons learnt after defeat - Steenson

By Mark Stevens
9/2/16

Exeter Chiefs star Gareth Steenson says lessons will be learnt in the aftermath of Sunday's Aviva Premiership defeat at home to Saracens.

The Devon club saw their 13-month long unbeaten home record ended when the league leaders edged a hard-fought encounter at Sandy Park 14-11.

Disappointed to see the record fall by the wayside, Irishman Steenson refused to get too downbeat at the final whistle, insisting that his focus was already turned on to this Saturday's trip to Sale Sharks.

"We're obviously disappointed we have lost at home and the record is gone, but if we're honest with ourselves I think we got what we deserved," admitted the fly-half. "You can't afford to give five or six penalties away against a side like Saracens and expect to come out on the right side.

"Our season won't be defined by this game - we've lost a game by three points against a team who are going very well in all competitions. Yes, we'll take it on the chin, we'll learn from it and we'll move on to what will be a big game at Sale."

Having already defeated the Sharks 33-17 already this season, Steenson knows the Chiefs will face a much tougher examination at the AJ Bell Stadium, where the Sharks have not lost in all competitions since Harlequins won there last April.

"Every fixture is important, but especially at this time of year when teams have guys away on international duty during the Six Nations," continued Steenson. "You want to pick up as many points as you can.

"That said, if you'd have given me second place in the table at the halfway stage of the season, I would have bitten your arm off."

Certainly the Chiefs know the importance of keeping their lofty status in the coming weeks and their star playmaker is confident Rob Baxter's side can continue to deliver with successive away days next on the agenda.

"It's a big few weeks coming up for us," added Steenson. "Sale away, then Irish away, they are big games for us before we face Bath down here. As always, though, you just have to take each week as it comes and for us that means the sole focus has to be on Sale this weekend."