Euro clash excites Atkins
By Mark Stevens
14/10/17
Ollie Atkins insists there is genuine excitement around the Exeter Chiefs camp as they prepare to kick-off their European Champions Cup campaign against Glasgow Warriors at Sandy Park tonight (7:45pm).
After six weeks of battle in their title defence in the Aviva Premiership, it will be a change of scene and opposition for Rob Baxter’s side as they prepare to welcome an in-form Warriors to the Westcountry.
The visitors will arrive in Devon sporting an unblemished six-game winning streak, having brushed aside all in front of them during an impressive start to their Guinness Pro14 season.
However, they can expect a stern test against the English champions, who themselves come into the game sitting second in the Premiership and fresh from a 34-24 victory over Newcastle Falcons last time out.
“Coming into a new competition there is a fresh vibe around the group,” said the Australian lock. “We’re all really excited about playing in Europe and regardless of who we are playing, we want to kick on and do well. If we’re being honest, we’ve not really been at our strongest in the last couple of years when it comes to Round One, so we’re hoping to rectify that on Saturday.”
Having himself played in Scotland with Edinburgh in the past, Atkins needs no reminding of the threat the Warriors will pose, adding: “You never get a mug team in the Champions Cup, every team is strong and capable of causing problems. Looking at Glasgow, they look a dangerous side, they are going well, and we know we are going to have be at our best to knock over a class side.
“They play a lot of free-flowing rugby, they have a hard edge to them, and they have a good set-piece, so we know we’re going to have to match them in all those areas, as well as impose our own game on them. As I said, though, it’s a challenge we relish and we can’t wait to get out there.”
But as much as the Chiefs will be aware of the Glasgow threat, so the home side need to stick to what they do best, especially on home soil.
Atkins continued: “Sometimes in the past we’ve been guilty of trying to change things up, just because we were playing in Europe. As a team, though, we don’t need to do that. In the past we’ve beaten Clermont here, we’ve beat the two-time European champions Saracens in a semi-final, but on both occasions we played the ‘Exeter Way’. That is what suits us, so we don’t need to move away from that.”
Equally, Atkins is hoping a bumper home crowd can also play their part in helping the Chiefs to success. With over 10,000 expected to pack into Sandy Park this evening, the home side should not be short of support from the sidelines.
“If you saw the Premiership semi-final last season against Saracens, that was an amazing atmosphere,” continued Atkins. “As seasons build, so the atmosphere gets even greater. The noise the fans make here is unbelievable.
“Just like it is for us as players, it’s a new competition for the fans, we’ve got a new kit, so there is plenty to get excited about.”