White backing club-mates for Cup glory
By Mark Stevens & Toby McLuskie
1/11/19
Nic White may have seen his own Rugby World Cup dream end in disappointment, but the Exeter Chiefs scrum-half will be an honorary Englishman as he prepares to cheer on two of his club-mates in tomorrow’s Final against South Africa in Yokohama.
The 29-year-old featured in all five games for Australia as they reached the quarter-finals of the tournament, eventually bowing out to Eddie Jones’ England side 40-16 in Oita. However, this weekend he will be throwing his support behind Luke Cowan-Dickie, Henry Slade and Jack Nowell as they bid to become world champions.
Cowan-Dickie and Slade have both been named in England’s match-day 23, whilst Nowell will be watching on from the sidelines.
White, meanwhile, will be sat down with his Exeter team-mates at Sandy Park to watch the clash with the Springboks, before then readying himself for a return to club duty this weekend when the Chiefs travel to Worcester Warriors in Round Three of this season’s Gallagher Premiership on Sunday (3pm).
Reflecting on his World Cup experience, White said: “Growing up, you always have aspirations of playing for your country and going to play at a World Cup. I’m quite proud to say I’ve been to one now. Obviously, it wasn’t as successful as I would have liked, but nonetheless, it meant a lot to me and my family.
“It was an incredible experience for me to go back home, playing in the Championship initially, then heading to the World Cup. For that I have to say a big thanks to the club for allowing me to do that, they have been unbelievable, and I will always be grateful to them for that. Now, though, I’m back and I’m looking forward to getting stuck back into the Premiership.”
Although White and the Wallabies did their best to succeed at the World Cup, it was England who ultimately ended their dream in their last eight showdown, much to the disappointment of the live-wire half-back.
“I caught up briefly with the boys in the week before the game,” said White. “But once it came down to the game itself, we all wanted to win and for that 80 minutes you go to war. As with any game there has to be a winner and in this case it wasn’t us. Once the game was over, the boys came into the sheds and they made sure they saw me before they headed off. I wished them them the best of luck, then told them to make sure they go on and win it.”
But whilst the England trio have their own job to do this weekend, White will be going all out to help Rob Baxter’s Chiefs side return to winning ways after they came unstuck last weekend away to Westcountry rivals Bath.
“As I said, it was incredible experience to play at the World Cup, but as that was over I want to get back here and stuck into the action again,” added White, who will leave Sandy Park at the end of the season to take up a contract with former club, the Brumbies.
“As this is my last season, I want to make the most of it and do everything I can to make us successful. For me there’s business to be done. Last season still hurts and I’ve thought about it quite a bit since we lost the final [in June]. I love playing for the Chiefs and to be back here now, I want to make every second count.”
First up for White on his return will be Sunday’s showdown against the Warriors, who like the Chiefs won their seasonal opener, but then came unstuck last weekend.
White knows from past experience that the Midlanders are no mugs on home soil and says he and his team-mates will need to be at their best when they take to the field.
“It will be tough up there, but so too has been training this week for us,” he warned. “Reviews after a loss are never easy and the vibe I’ve been getting from the boys is that they’ve not been too pleased with their performances so far. That said, to get a win and a bonus point away from home, most people would say that’s not too bad. The boys, though, aren’t happy and we’re working hard behind the scenes to right the wrongs of last week. This weekend provides us with a great opportunity.”