White aims to repay the faith
By Mark Stevens
3/12/19
Sadly, the countdown clock is ticking down for Nic White and his time here in Devon.
The affable Aussie will bid a fond farewell to Exeter and the Westcountry at the end of the current campaign, bringing to a close a satisfying and successful three-year stint with the Chiefs.
The 29-year-old is set to return back Down Under to rejoin the Brumbies, the club who gave him his first introduction to life at senior level back in 2011.
It’s part of an agreement White, the Chiefs, the Brumbies and Rugby Australia brokered to ensure the gifted scrum-half could feature for his country in this year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan.
However, before White departs Devon, the Scone-born star is determined to play his part as the Chiefs look to fulfil their seasonal goal of delivering more silverware back to Sandy Park.
Having twice tasted defeat to Saracens in the end of season Premiership Final, White admits the pain of those losses is helping to drive him forward this season.
“Last season loss was definitely harder,” he admitted. “The year before I kind of accepted we weren’t the better side, they wiped the floor with us a bit, and they deserved their win. Last season, it was really tough, simply because we know we had them and we played the better rugby for a lot of the game.
“The disappointing thing is we let them off the hook and it’s not until after that it makes you think ‘what if I did this or what if I did that?’ I think between us all, we all had those feelings and it definitely hurt.”
Not that White had long to ponder his latest Twickenham torment. Instead, he was jetting back home to Australia, answering the call of Wallabies head coach Michael Cheika to be part of his training squad ahead of the World Cup.
At that stage White was unsure if he would actually make the plane to Japan, but his determination and desire to succeed was clear to see – and it came as little surprise that Cheika opted for the Chiefs man to be part of his 31-man squad.
Battling it out alongside the experienced Will Genia for the Wallabies No.9 jersey, White certainly played his part for his country during the tournament. He produced some notable displays along the way but, for some unknown reason, he didn’t start the quarter-final clash against England.
Pundits across the board found Cheika’s decision baffling, particularly given White’s earlier displays and his ability to bring real tempo to his fellow backs. He was introduced later in that game, but by then England were already heading towards the last four.
Again, it was a tough defeat to take for White, but he was quick to acknowledge that the better side had won on the day.
“I hate losing at any time, but you do find it easier in some respects if you know you’ve lost to a better side,” he added. “England were certainly better on the day and once they lost, I just wanted them to go on and win it – especially as they had the three boys from here in their team.
“For me, though, playing in the Rugby World Cup was a dream come true. It was a very proud moment, not just for myself, but for my whole family. As I said, we didn’t quite achieve what we wanted in Japan, but I can say I’ve played in a World Cup.”
Achieving that feat is something White admits is something he thought had passed him by, especially being on the other side of the world, playing for the Chiefs and before that, French side Montpellier.
“Nobody was looking at me in Montpellier, I was dead and buried for sure at that stage,” he continued. “Even for a time here I thought the same, I remember talking to Mel, my wife, and saying ‘I may never play Test rugby again’. Ironically, though, it was a few weeks later I got the call saying they were interested.”
And it’s what followed that White will forever be grateful for to the Chiefs.
“I owe the club so much,” he said. “They took a risk on me coming here, but I can honestly say since I’ve been here they’ve made a better player and a better person. My best years of playing have been here and I’m so grateful to the club for allowing me to have that opportunity to go to a World Cup.”
Now, White wants to help repay that show of faith in what he believes will be a big final few months for him at Sandy Park.
“When we got knocked out, I had 24, 48 hours to decompress a little and then I wanted to be back here. I loved my whole World Cup experience, but at the same time there was a little part of me that wanted to be here, back at the Chiefs, looking to write some wrongs. As I said, I’m still not over that final and I’m still hurting, I want to put things right before I leave.
“I know it sounds clichéd, but I want us to win everything. We’ve got the squad good enough to do it, now it’s up to us to show it. For me, I don’t mind what part of the puzzle I am within the club, but as long as we are winning and we’re successful, I’ll always feel part of the Chiefs family.”
