Derby day excites White
By Mark Stevens
21/3/18
Nic White admits he is relishing stepping into the heat of derby day battle when Bath play host to Exeter Chiefs in Friday’s Aviva Premiership clash at the Recreation Ground (7:45pm).
The Aussie international is set to form part of the travelling Chiefs, who will descend on the Roman City for the sold-out Round 18 meeting between the Westcountry rivals.
With not only local bragging rights up for grabs, it’s crucial league points and the chance to stay amongst the division’s frontrunners that will be on offer for the two rivals as the season heads towards its business end.
Rob Baxter’s Chiefs will arrive in town not only buoyed by recent league wins over Northampton Saints and Saracens, but also top of the pile – seven points clear of next-best Wasps – and determined to all but cement their place within the play-off positions.
“It’s a big game and it’s important for us to keep our form going,” said White. “There’s not long left in the season, not that many minutes when you think about it, so we have to make the most of them. As a team we’re striving to get better all the time, so all our focus is on ourselves, finding new barriers to break and, ultimately, picking up results.
“We know Bath will be a good test for us this week. They have good ball-carriers across the field, they’re a big side, and they can really punish you if you’re not on your game. Like ourselves, they are still pushing hard, they play good footy and they’ll want to get into the play-offs, so we have to be on our guard against them.”
The two sides were due to meet last Sunday in the Anglo-Welsh Cup Final at Kingsholm, but the weekend snow meant the game was postponed and has allowed both clubs the chance to add in a bit more preparation time.
“We’ve done our homework on them,” added the 27-year-old scrum-half. “It’s the Premiership, everybody knows everybody. There’s no hiding place these days, every game is filmed and we do our analysis on them, the same as they will do it on us. At the end of the day, we have to go out there, play our game and look to execute our style on them as best as we can.
“Bath have their style, we have our style, but if we play the Chiefs way – like I know we can – then we have the game in place to challenge any side.”
The Chiefs will be boosted by the return of many of their international contingent for the fixture and White believes their inclusion in the travelling squad can add to their hopes of success.
“Having those guys back is definitely a boost for us,” said White, who signed for the Chiefs last summer from French side Montpellier. “Not only is it exciting for us, but they bring that touch of class as well. Although they’ve been away, I’m sure they will come back energised and keen to bring a few new ideas.
“As I said, they are special players for us and they can really lift the group with the things they do.”
But equally White himself is looking forward to running out at the Rec, a venue he says is steeped in tradition.
“I’m buzzing to get down there and play at the Rec,” he added. “It’s a venue I’ve looked at from afar and always wanted to play at. The history of the place, the fact it’s in the middle of the town, it looks like an amazing place. The fact it’s a derby game as well, I think will just add to the whole occasion.”
The Chiefs will confirm their line-up for Friday’s clash at lunchtime tomorrow.