Simmonds targets rapid response
By Mark Stevens
4/9/17
Sam Simmonds says he and his Exeter Chiefs team-mates will use the weekend to focus their minds ahead of Saturday’s Aviva Premiership home clash with London Irish at Sandy Park (3pm).
Despite scoring two first half tries at Kingsholm, the young forward found himself on the losing side as Gloucester nabbed a last-gasp 28-21 victory against the defending champions in their seasonal opener.
Jason Woodward’s dramatic scored not only gifted the Cherry & Whites all five points on the night, but denied the Chiefs the chance of a record-breaking 18 games unbeaten in English rugby’s top flight.
Not since they lost to Bath last October at Sandy Park - again by a dramatic stoppage time score from winger Semesa Rokodoguni - had the Chiefs suffered the bitter taste of defeat.
“It’s a tough defeat,” said the 22-year-old. “We felt we put a lot out there and anyone watching would have seen how much it meant to use when we were scoring. Obviously it’s disappointing to lose out in the last minute, but overall I think there were plenty of positives to take from the game.
“We spoke in the changing room afterwards and said we will take each day as it comes. We’ve got a weekend to think things over, then Monday we need to come back in and do the things which will make us better players, a better team, and right the wrongs of today.”
Having impressed many during the club’s pre-season build-up, it did not take Simmonds long to make his mark against Gloucester. He opened his account for the season after just five minutes, finishing off a pass inside from Henry Slade; before doubling his tally just before the break when he burst through the heart of the home defence to score under the posts.
The Teignmouth youngster acknowledged it has been a positive start personally, but he knows the Chiefs must look to respond immediately this weekend against the visiting Exiles, who marked their return to the Premiership after a year out by sinking Harlequins in the second game of the London Double Header at Twickenham.
“If you are playing well as an individual, then obviously you’re helping the squad,” added Simmonds, who is the older brother of Exeter’s young playmaker, Joe Simmonds. “The key is, however, to have all the squad playing well. If you do that, then most of the time you’ll come away with a victory.
“As I said, we put it all out there against Gloucester, but a couple of little mistakes and a few times where we didn’t do what we should do as Chiefs, came back to hurt us. It’s nothing major, we know that, but we’ve got to use next week to put these things right and then fire into London Irish.”
