Salvi targets big response

By Mark Stevens
23/3/17

Julian Salvi insists Exeter Chiefs will return “bigger and better” despite suffering final heartache in this season’s Anglo-Welsh Cup.

The Australian was speaking in the aftermath of his side’s narrow 16-12 defeat to former club Leicester Tigers at the Twickenham Stoop last Sunday.

Despite controlling territory and possession for much of the contest, the Chiefs could not make their dominance tell on the scoreboard and it was English rugby’s most decorated club side who took the spoils at the final whistle.

Although disappointed to have finished runners-up, the 32-year-old insisted the Anglo-Welsh Cup campaign had served a useful purpose for the Devon club and that the club as a whole would emerge stronger from the experiences gleaned.

“I’m very proud of the boys because they left everything out there,” said Salvi, who was skipper for the clash with the Tigers. “We gave ourselves the best shot to come back into the game in the second half, but we pulled up just short in the end.

“Sometimes that happens in rugby, but now we have to lift our heads and crack on with what is big end to the Premiership season.”

He added: “We created plenty of opportunities and we were probably guilty of leaving a few points out there, but at the same time you have to say fair play to Leicester, they put us under pressure, they defended very well and they turned us over at crucial times.”

Salvi admits it’s not vital that the Chiefs do not wallow in their own self-pity of losing the final and that they must instead react immediately, starting with a big home performance against visiting Sale Sharks in the Aviva Premiership this Saturday (3pm).

“Rob [Baxter] said in the changing rooms afterwards that we have to learn from the day, but that it must be a quick learn for all of us,” said Salvi. “Losing a final hurts, of course it does, but we know we have to learn from the whole experience and come back bigger and better.

“As I said, the competition has been a great development tool for the club and we’ve seen guys come through the system and not only play in the Cup itself, but go on and force themselves into the Premiership side. That’s what you want to see and hopefully we’ll be stronger in the long run.”