Lewis says Chiefs are up for the fight
Picture: Exeter Rugby Club/Pinnacle Photo AgencyBy Mark Stevens
Frustrated Dave Lewis says he and his Exeter Chiefs team-mates are determined to get their Aviva Premiership campaign back on track at the first attempt this weekend.
Having slipped to a second successive loss at Sale Sharks on Saturday, the Chiefs will take to the road again on Sunday to face lowly London Irish at the Madejski Stadium.
Despite propping up the current standings, Lewis knows the Exiles - who beat Rob Baxter's side at the same venue last season - will be primed and ready for a battle royale.
"London Irish will be fighting for their lives, but that is what we have to do be doing when we go into these fixtures if we want to stay at the right end of the table," said Lewis, who scored Exeter's second try in Saturday's 23-17 loss at Sale Sharks.
"At the same time, we can only stay there if we keep winning so we want to improve on the Sale performance and go into Sunday's game with a better performance and get a good result."
Saturday's defeat at the AJ Bell Stadium meant the Chiefs tasted consecutive defeats for the first time this season. However, defeats for leaders Saracens at home to Wasps and third-placed Leicester Tigers losing at Newcastle Falcons meant the damage emerged relatively unscathed from Round 12.
For the Chiefs, much of their damage was inflicted during the first 40 minutes by the Sharks, who led 17-0 despite their Devon rivals enjoying their fair share of territory, possession and try-scoring opportunities.
However, sloppy errors in attack combined with Sale's cutting edge saw the hosts win it – despite something of a Chiefs comeback in the second period.
"We were 17-0 down at half-time and that didn't help, but in the second half there were a lot of positives to take," continued Lewis. "To be honest, I don't think we were too far off in the first half, just a few uncharacteristic errors maybe let us down at key times.
"If you work hard then you usually get your luck and Sale were good for their win, so we can't complain too much."