'Let's build on wins' - Cuthbert
By Mark Stevens
13/9/18
Alex Cuthbert says last week’s victory over Wasps underlined what he expected from his first taste of life in the Gallagher Premiership with new club Exeter Chiefs.
The Wales and British Lions winger was used as a second half replacement at the Ricoh Arena, helping the Chiefs make it two wins from two at the start of the season with a 41-32 victory.
In what was a nip-and-tuck encounter throughout, it was not until Don Armand’s last-gasp try that the Devon visitors were finally able to breath easy, having been given a stiff examination by Dai Young’s side.
A crucial turnover late on in the game from Cuthbert was a key moment in the latter stages - and the 28-year-old back admitted he was delighted to be part of a 23-man squad effort that secured only Exeter’s second-ever win in Coventry.
“It was a big win for us, especially with it being away from home,” said Cuthbert, who joined the Chiefs this summer from the Cardiff Blues on a three-year deal. “We had talked in the week about how we had not win here for a while, but we implemented our game plan on them early and come the end we’ve come with the right result and the bonus point.
“When I came on the game was still very tight, but it was great to be out there and part of a very good win. Games like this is what the Premiership is all about and it’s one of the reasons why I decided to come here. Every team plays for the full 80 minutes and there are no easy wins.
“Personally, I like these pressure games, which it was at the weekend, and thankfully we came with the win.”
England stars Sam Simmonds and Henry Slade both bagged two tries each in the victory, while there was a maiden Premiership score for Argentinian winger Santiago Cordero.
Exeter’s victory came just a week after the Chiefs opened up their seasonal account with a highly impressive 40-6 victory over Leicester Tigers at Sandy Park.
The two results have not only ensured maximum reward for Rob Baxter’s side, but they have put last season’s beaten finalists top of the tree and in the firing line for rivals to shoot them down in the coming weeks.
Next up for Cuthbert and his team-mates is Saturday’s visit of Sale Sharks, who having lost to Harlequins in Round One, bounced back with a 21-15 success over Worcester Warriors a week later.
Cuthbert knows the Sharks pack a potentially deadly bite and has warned the Chiefs will need to be at their best again this weekend to ensure they maintain their impressive start to the season.
“Sale will be another tough game,” he said. “That said, we’ve got them at home, which is an advantage, but they’ll want to come down here and make their mark. With us winning our first two games, we’re the team to beat, so they’ll come down all guns blazing and we have to be ready for that.”