Chiefs gear up for big month ahead
By Mark Stevens
7/3/18
Tomas Francis says confidence is high within the Exeter Chiefs camp as they gear themselves up for a crucial block of the season.
Buoyed by last Sunday’s home win over Saracens that put them seven points clear at the top of the Aviva Premiership, Rob Baxter’s side are now gearing themselves up for a huge encounter this Sunday against Newcastle Falcons in the Anglo-Welsh Cup semi-final (1pm).
Just one game away from securing a potential fourth successive Anglo-Welsh Cup final appearance, Francis will watch on with interest as his club-mates look to overcome the in-form Falcons at Sandy Park this weekend.
Although part of the successful Chiefs side that saw off Saracens 24-12 in Round 17, the 25-year-old tight-head prop will this weekend be part of Wales’ squad for their latest NatWest Six Nations Championship clash with Italy in Cardiff.
However, the York-born forward believes his team-mates have what it takes to not only advance past the Falcons, but ultimately go on to lift the trophy they won in 2014.Following that, Francis should be back in harness for what will be a crucial Westcountry derby with Bath in the Premiership on Friday, March 23.
“As Rob said we’ve got a big three weeks coming up,” said Francis following the Saracens win. “We’ve got the semi-final this week, hopefully a final after that, then we’ll be getting ready for Bath. We’ve got a deep squad, which is sure to be tested, but everyone seems to be up to speed for what is the business end of the season.
“If you have 35 players, all of them ready to step up when needed, then it’s a great position to be in to challenge for the top.”
Certainly, it appears the Chiefs have rediscovered their winning formula in recent weeks, claiming win over both Northampton and Saracens, having previously slipped up against both Worcester Warriors and Wasps in successive weeks.
“The atmosphere is good,” added Francis. “We had a tough patch there a few weeks ago, but we turned it around in that last 20 against Northampton, got that monkey off our back, and in turn it’s allowed us a bit of freedom to go out there and put in what was a proper Exeter Chiefs performance.
“Now it’s all in our hands what we do. If we win every game between now and the end of the season with a bonus point, we’ll finish top and that’s how we want it.”
And whilst Francis will keep a close eye on developments at Sandy Park on Sunday, before then he will be hoping to play his part for Wales as they looked to bounce back from their defeat to Ireland with a big display against the Italians.
Asked how it was to switch between club and country, week by week, Francis replied: “I used to find it tough in the past, but this season I have coped a lot better. Both the Chiefs and Wales have basic game plans, so it’s just as case of focusing on them 100 per cent, then wherever you are on the Monday, just flicking the switch and going again.”