Euro test excites Skinner
By Mark Stevens
12/10/18
In life it's all about seizing the moment and making the most of opportunities afforded to you.
For Exeter Chiefs forward Sam Skinner, that very moment came in 2014 when he was approached about joining the club's academy set-up. Until that point, he had set his sights on travelling the world on a gap year, that was until a late growth spurt encouraged him to give rugby one more chance, and he subsequently joined National League Two side Taunton.
With the Titans he quickly flourished, producing a series of eye-catching performances that brought him onto the radar of the Chiefs. The Devon club clearly like what that saw of the youngster and wasted little time in offering him the chance to be part of things here at Sandy Park.
Although a relative rookie in terms of senior rugby, it wasn't long before Skinner was handed his first-team debut, featuring in an LV= Cup encounter at home to Gloucester in November 2014. A few months later and he was charging onto the turf for his Premiership debut against Northampton Saints.
Combining training at the Chiefs with academic life at Exeter University, whom he captained to BUCS glory at Twickenham in 2016, Skinner was rapidly rising the rugby ladder and forging a significant name for himself.
Always keen to seek the advice of his peers - Dean Mumm, Geoff Parling and Damian Welch - were among those he would pick the brains of in his fledgling years, Skinner has continued to develop within himself, establishing him as not only a smart, but confident leader with the much-heralded Exeter eight.
“When I was younger I’d often come and support the team,” said Skinner. “Never did I think at that time that a few years down the line, I’d be one of those players running out on a match-day. Being a local lad, it is special for me, and it does gives me that extra enjoyment of playing for my hometown club.
“Being here at the Chiefs, playing rugby with your mates, it’s a great feeling. The last two seasons especially I’ve really enjoyed it. I’ve been able to put University to one side now and just focus all my energy in one area. Every day I feel very lucky to be part of such a successful side, but I also know I have to work incredibly hard to be part of it all.”
Hard work, however, is something that appears to come easy for the 23-year-old, whose appetite for graft is insatiable and has helped drive him to some notable displays for the Chiefs.
This Saturday, Skinner will be looking to play his part as Devon's finest embark on their latest European adventure. Up against two-time Champions Cup winners Munster, it's a mouth-watering Pool 2 match-up that the Chiefs are certainly looking forward to tucking into.
"We've had a great start to the season in terms of the Premiership, but now we're really excited about this next challenge," said Skinner. "For these next few weeks we can put the league to bed and get stuck into Europe, starting with Munster at the weekend.
"As a team we've been building nicely over these last few weeks. Our performances haven't always been perfect, but overall we are happy with where we are at."
Having accrued 29 out of a possible 30 points in the Premiership to date, it's perhaps an indication of how the Chiefs now judge themselves that such a return is still met with a 'can-do-better' attitude from the squad as a whole.
"We have huge expectations from within," added Skinner. "Obviously we want to be winning every game we play and we expect ourselves to perform to a high standard every week.As I said, we've started the season well and we've picked up some good wins, but we still feel there is more to come from us and hopefully these first two European rounds will help bring that out of us."
Indeed, up against Europe's elite, the Chiefs could not ask for a better stage in which to deliver a show-stopping performance.
"It will be different, not just because it's different teams and different referees, but because it will be another step up in terms of intensity and standard. Looking at Munster we've identified they've got threats all over the pitch.They're a big European side, well known, and with a big history in this competition behind them.
"I've no doubt they'll be coming here looking to get after us, so we have to meet them head on. We know we not only have to stop them and their momentum players, but when we get the ball ourselves we got to put our attack and our game plan onto them.
"In games like this you have to take your opportunities. In Europe you're always going to get those big moments in matches, so we've got to take hold of them and play with real confidence. We know from past experience what it takes to win big games, so it's up to us to make sure we stick in there for the full 80 minutes and stay true to ourselves."
