Chiefs Women to face Saracens
By Harry Scott-Munro
6/5/22
Two weeks on from claiming their first major piece of silverware, Exeter Chiefs Women know that the next fortnight will go a long way to determining whether that cup success can transfer over into further reward in the Allianz Premier 15s.
What has been a marathon of a season, now all comes down to a sprint to the finish line, with table-toppers Saracens representing the first of two seismic clashes to finish the season (12.30pm).
A win against either Saracens or Bristol Bears the following week will mathematically secure a first-ever league semi-final berth for the Chiefs and, with the roar of the Sandy Park crowd behind them, assistant coach Steve Salvin is adamant that the roar of the Exeter faithful can be like a sixteenth man for his side.
“They are just unbelievable. It’s not just the sound of the crowd, it’s the noise that they make. I’m sure lots of people know the feeling of sitting in a full stadium and it feeling a bit lifeless, but in the final it was anything but. To have over 2,000 people in itself was incredible but the noise they made was what made it so special personally.”
The Allianz Cup final against Harlequins marked a significant milestone in the relatively short history of Exeter Chiefs Women and whilst Salvin admitted that certain things had fallen the way of his side during the cup run, he felt that that shouldn’t detract from what his side had achieved.
“It was a special day for the club and for the staff and the girls. We know that we were fortunate in terms of how our selections went over the course of the cup. We had certain players away at certain times and we were conscious that other clubs had some players missing in the Six Nations,” he acknowledged. “But we looked at it as something that was out of our control. We could only play what was in front of us and we wanted to win the cup.”
Whilst it was ‘a special day’ for the group, attention is now firmly back on league proceedings, although Salvin is hoping that his side can transfer their second half performances from the cup into the league.
“Fair play to the girls, their approach to training was brilliant, as was the performance in the second half in the final and the semi-final. It's nice to have a bit of silverware, but it’s been put to bed. It’s about looking forward to the last two league games and all being well, a semi-final as well.”
Whilst Saracens are runaway league leaders and have already confirmed their position as table-toppers for another season, Bristol, Exeter and Harlequins are all still scrapping over second place. Wasps and Loughborough Lightning could still mathematically pip Salvin’s side to a play-off berth, the Chiefs know that back-to-back victories over Saracens and Bristol could secure them a home semi-final.
Salvin admits that the Londoners pose ‘a significant challenge’ for his side tomorrow and, whilst well aware of Saracens’ capabilities, he still feels that his side have to view it as ‘just another game.’
“Broadly speaking, it’s just another game. But it’s the most important game because it’s the next game. That’s how we have to view it. We’re not blind to the fact that Saracens are top of the table and have only lost once all season. They’ve got several players coming back who have just won a Grand Slam, so it’s a significant challenge. But the target for the next two weeks is to focus. Hopefully, this will take us forward into the knockouts.”
This fixture last season was of huge significance for the Chiefs, as they ended Saracens’ 33-match unbeaten run in a 22-14 victory that firmly announced their arrival in the Allianz Premier 15s.
A defeat to Alex Austerberry’s side back in round five this season was a bitter pill to swallow for the Chiefs and Salvin feels that the detail within the performance will be the most important factor in avenging that defeat.
“The importance of that detail has been quite evident. That in itself would suggest that we’re in a really good place going into Saturday. This weekend is a real significant challenge, but one that we are really going to embrace.”
Whilst Saracens will likely welcome back many of their Six Nations stars for this fixture, Exeter are able to do the same, with Irish captain Nichola Fryday and Welsh fullback Niamh Terry returning amongst the replacements.
Full-back Merryn Doidge continues her record of appearing in every match for Exeter Chiefs Women, having made her England 7s debut in Langford last weekend. In the pack, there is a timely return from injury for back-row Rachel Johnson, who comes into the side at openside flanker, with Canadian trio Emily Tuttosi, DaLeaka Menin and McKinley Hunt all returning to the starting XV.
With competition for places stronger than ever, Salvin feels that his side have been in the zone in their application to training this week.
“I’m not exaggerating when I say that I think this week is the best that we’ve trained. There’s been a real intent throughout, especially with the analysis that we’ve done and the application of those little bits and pieces.”
With performances on the field getting stronger and stronger each week, so have the matchday attendances.
For every milestone that Chiefs Women are reaching, more and more fans are coming to watch women’s rugby for the first time. Salvin also recalled a conversation he had with a fan prior to the Allianz Cup final, which only served to highlight just how quickly the interest in the game was growing in Exeter.
“Before the final, I sat with someone in the stand, and he just introduced himself to me off the cuff. I explained who I was, and he said that it was his first-ever women’s game. That’s what is so special, that people were making the effort to come and watch. It’s fair to say that the girls repaid the support in the final and, if we keep doing what we’re doing on the field, that crowd will continue to come.”
Tickets are still available for tomorrow’s clash with Saracens, with the match also being streamed on Premier15s.com for those unable to make it to Sandy Park.
