Townsend excited by European journey
By Mike Smith
20/1/20
Top of the Gallagher Premiership, a Premiership Rugby Cup semi-final next week, and now a home Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final looming on the horizon, life at Sandy Park is looking pretty good right now.
Saturday's 33-14 win over visiting La Rochelle not only ensured a successful and unbeaten conclusion to the pool stages for Exeter Chiefs, but it also guaranteed Rob Baxter's men of home advantage in the last eight, where they will now face Northampton Saints in early April.
In what has been a highly successful qualification period for the Devonians, their 27-point haul ensured they finished second in the list of top eight qualifiers, meaning should they overcome Northampton when the two sides meet, it will also ensure them of home country advantage in the last four.
Free-scoring No.8 Sam Simmonds and in-form hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie led the way for the Chiefs against the Frenchman, whilst there were further touchdowns for Dave Ewers and replacement Stu Townsend, the latter of whom has been itching to get involved in the action, following a lengthy 10-month spell on the sidelines with a serious knee injury.
"The boys have put in a hell of a shift over the six games, and what a way to finish it off against La Rochelle at home," he said. "To go into the quarter-finals and to get it here at Sandy Park, we're absolutely buzzing and hopefully, we can turn it on again then "
Saturday's success was Exeter's fifth victory out of six in Pool Two and came just a week after they had picked up a 31-31 draw away to Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun.
"First-half I don't think that we came out of the blocks firing," explained scrum-half Townsend. "It took us until half-time to really get going. We used the break to regroup a little and as a group we said to one another 'let's really have a go at them'. You saw in the second half the difference when we really put our foot down, because it opened up gaps and allowed us to create lots of opportunities. Even then, I still think we left a few tries out there, but it was a good finish in the end."
It has been a tough past few months for Townsend going through rehab, while his team-mates we're kicking off the season here at Sandy Park. However, he was rewarded for his efforts with not only some European game time, but also a try in the second half after a blitzing break by Ollie Devoto, who today was named as one of three Chiefs called up to the England squad ahead of the upcoming Guinness Six Nations Championship.
Townsend, 24 acknowledges the Chiefs have proved their worth within the Premiership in recent years, but it's their displays in Europe this season that is making rivals sit up and take note.
"We may have not done as well of the past few years in Europe, but this year I think we've really looked at it and targeted it," he continued. "Over the six games, the guys have really put in a shift. Rob said at half-time 'it's there for you, if you really go for it'. That really showed in the second half when we really put our foot down. Not only did we start to carry hard and cause them problems when we attacked, but in defence too we showed what we can do."
The Chiefs have made no secret of the fact that doing well and advancing in Europe is a key priority for them - and their endeavours so far in the competition underline that very point.
"We targeted going after the the six games and I think we will do exactly the same with the quarter-final," added Townsend. "We've got nothing to lose. It's a knock-out stage game, there is no other way of going about it, other than to really go after things. If we sit back and let them play, then we may not go through. However, if we come out like we have done and really go after it, like we have done today, then I believe we can go the whole way.
"Sandy Park is a mental place to play. It's why we love being at Exeter, it's the crowd getting behind you, and being the 16th man on the pitch that really helps drive you on."