Williams targets Kingsholm response

By Mark Stevens
13/4/2016

Exeter Chiefs prop Harry Williams insists a line has been drawn under last weekend’s European Champions Cup exit at the hands of Wasps – and the focus is now solely on this Friday’s Aviva Premiership trip to Gloucester.

In an enthralling encounter at the Ricoh Arena, the Chiefs saw their hopes of advancing into the last four of Europe’s top club competition ended when fly-half Jimmy Gopperth plundered a dramatic 80th minute conversion.

The New Zealander’s kick ensured the two-time European champions advanced into a semi-final showdown against Saracens later this month, while Rob Baxter’s Chiefs were left to reflect on what might have been.

However, in the aftermath of the 25-24 loss, Baxter said it was imperative his players did not wallow in the disappointment of defeat for too long. Instead, he called for an immediate response this week against the Cherry & Whites at Kingsholm.

And hoping to help lift the Devon club out of the doldrums will be Williams, who has impressed many since making his switch last summer from Championship outfit Jersey.

“With all the reviews and what have you, it was a case of ‘full stop’ and putting it all to bed as quickly as possible,” said the 24-year-old tight-head prop. “Now, it is a case of putting our best foot forward and thankfully, we have got other stuff down the line that we can be striving for, so everything is set on that now.

“It’s the old cliché that it is the business end of the season, but we can’t be thinking two games ahead. The focus is on Friday night now and after that, we will reassess and go from there.

“We haven’t got a game after that, so we have a bit of time [to recover] so there will be a lot of energy going into this week.”

Indeed, the Chiefs know they are within touching distance of booking their place in the Premiership play-offs for the first time and a victory against Gloucester would edge them ever close to securing crucial home advantage in the last four.

Like the Chiefs, though, Gloucester are themselves licking their wounds after their defence of the European Challenge Cup was ended surprisingly on home soil by the Dragons last weekend.

A response of sorts will be craved from the notorious ‘Shed’ – so Williams and his fellow Chiefs will need to be ready for what lies in store in this latest away-day assignment.

He added: “I have never played at Kingsholm personally, but every report I have heard says it is a bit of a bear pit and the crowd get into you a lot and make donkey noises at you and stuff when you drop the ball!

“I am really excited to be honest with you and I really like to play night games because it seems there is an extra edge about it when you get there with all the lights and that kind of thing.”

Certainly Williams is making the most of the opportunity afforded to him at Sandy Park and says occasions like that of last weekend are helping to bring the best out of him.

“I am not really pinching myself, but I am grateful for the opportunity to be involved,” said the London-born forward. “It has come along fairly methodically to be honest with a few benches and then it has come on from there with a few starts.

“When you are on the pitch, it is the same as any game. It is just the external things like the stadium and the build up around it which is bigger. For me, it will just be another game.”