Chiefs Women to face Saracens
By Harry Scott-Munro
2/6/22
Months and months of work on and off the field and now it all comes down to this.
On Jubilee Weekend, Exeter Chiefs and Saracens clash in the Allianz Premier 15s final, knowing that the victor shall reign as the best in the land (3pm).
Forget pleasantries and street parties, this one is set to be a full-blooded affair from the first minute to the last. The Chiefs have designs on becoming ‘Queens of England’ for their first time in their history, whilst for Saracens, the goal is to reclaim the title they relinquished last season.
This has been a landmark season for the Chiefs and, after tasting Allianz Cup success earlier in the season, the hunger that drove them to that triumph still remains, as they go in search of an unprecedented double.
“Everyone is really looking forward to the occasion,” said head coach Susie Appleby. “The prep has been good and we haven’t picked up any injuries which is good. We’re just looking forward to getting going.”
Appleby and her coaching staff have hailed a complete squad effort, with 45 players having run out in Chiefs colours in both league and cup this season. Whilst 23 will run out into the thick of the action tomorrow afternoon, they will do so knowing that it has been the efforts of the whole squad that has propelled them to these heights.
“It’s the work ethic. Everyone works really hard here, with that desire to learn and get better day in day out. No matter whether you’re a Patricia Garcia, a Kate Zackary or just beginning the game, everyone helps each other,” beamed Appleby.
Selection wise, it’s a case of as you were for the Chiefs, with the same 23 that propelled them into their first Premier15s final continuing in the shirt this weekend.
Whatever the outcome, it will be an emotional afternoon for Spanish icon Patricia Garcia, as she prepares to play her final game of professional rugby. Garcia has played across the backline this season for the Chiefs and will be determined to go out on a high.
It’s players like Garcia that have helped build an unmistakable synergy with the fanbase in Exeter this season, with record attendances becoming a staple of Sandy Park matches. Appleby has been thrilled with the role the fans have played throughout the season and hoped that they would be out in force for the final.
“It will be really nice to get Sixways full of Chiefs flags flying. They will bring lots of noise. There’s been some really good relationships built,” she mused. “They love the players, and the players love them. They are our sixteenth player. Saracens will bring numbers as well, but I hope the stand is full and that it’s a good representation of who we are as a league.”
Much has been made of the last meeting between the two sides, as Exeter handed the Londoners a record defeat. Whilst there has been a school of thought that Saracens had taken their foot of the gas, Appleby instead made sure to highlight the work ethic and performance of her side in their 54-12 victory.
“They’d already made the home semi at that stage. However, it doesn’t matter what Saracens shirt is in front of you, there were lots of very good Saracens players on the field that day and we played really well. That was inspired some confidence. We’ve since played some really tough games against Bristol and now we’re really for the top of the league side.”
Undoubtedly, the Allianz Cup final triumph was a huge moment in the short history of the side and, one that has generated significant momentum into the latter third of the campaign.
For Appleby though, this has been a continued journey, with the coach noting how the narrow defeat away to Loughborough proved to be a turning point for her side.
“Loughborough away, we could have secured top four there and then, but we didn’t. That meant that we had to go away and work a bit harder. We had to find a way to right the wrongs and I think we did that. I’m not saying we’re complete. There will be mistakes in the game but it’s how you react to the mistakes and how you move forward. That’s what is so pleasing about our squad.”
Appleby has challenged her side to ‘not miss the moment’ when they take to the field for the final and pinpointing the clarity of thinking against Bristol in the semi-final as a crucial component of her side’s DNA.
“They never say die. Against Bristol, last five minutes of the game and down behind the sticks, there wasn’t any panic or being desperate. It was right, this is what we’re going to do, and they went and did it.”
In the last week, a lot of the focus has been on this being the first league final in the history of Chiefs Women. It has been the recent consistency of performance though, that has allowed Exeter to mount their title challenge.
“Did we anticipate we’d be in a final this year? We thought we might make it, but the challenge now is about improving every single time. Especially in the last couple of months, we’ve been stringing good performances together. That’s what has got us here.”
Looking ahead to what is set to be a full-on royal rumble of a final, Appleby has every faith in her side that they can deliver on the biggest stage of all. She is all too aware of the challenges a major final can bring, but pressed the point that she wanted her side to simply be themselves.
“We’re good enough to win it. Saracens are an excellent team and finals can throw up anything, but we’ve talked about being Chiefs and being who we are and representing ourselves the best we can. It brings confidence but not overconfidence.”
For Appleby, she wants her side to enjoy every moment on Friday afternoon and firmly believes that her side should be true to themselves in pursuit of the title.
“You work hard for a final. Let’s go for it! Let’s get out there, let’s be ourselves and let’s see where it takes us.”
