Williams targets fast start

By Mark Stevens
21/9/18

Defeat at Kingston Park last season was one of just a handful of setbacks for Exeter Chiefs last season in the Gallagher Premiership.

A 28-20 success for hosts Newcastle Falcons in the first game of 2018 still remains a sore point for Rob Baxter’s side, even though they won the three other fixtures played between the two clubs last term.

The most significant of those victories remains May’s Premiership semi-final win at Sandy Park, a result which ensured the Chiefs returned to Twickenham for a third successive season.

Tonight, however, the slate has been wiped clear once more and Chiefs prop Harry Williams knows the Falcons will be primed and ready to not only repeat last season’s success, but also inflict a first blemish of the season on Baxter’s table-toppers.

“It’s an easy game to motivate yourself for,” said the England international ahead of kick-off. “As a side we didn’t play well up there last season. That’s not to discredit from what Newcastle did on the day, they had a decent game plan and they put us to the sword, but we know we underperformed that day.

“They are a dangerous side, especially at home, so we have to get up there, start fast and look to execute our game plan on them.”

The Chiefs arrive in the North East, however, brimming with confidence after securing maximum hauls from their three opening fixtures against Leicester Tigers, Wasps and, more recently, Sale Sharks.

“It’s been a good start, but I don’t think any of us are getting too carried away,” added Williams. “There is still lots to play for and lots of areas for us to work on. Last week [against Sale] we didn’t exactly start as fast as we could. Our early work could have been a lot better, but we came through strongly as the game went on.”

Now, Williams - who was one of three Chiefs named in Eddie Jones’ England training squad this week - will be hoping for more of the same this evening. He lines-up in an Exeter side which shows four changes to the Sharks game.

In the pack, Matt Kvesic and Sam Simmonds both return in the back-row having missed out last weekend because of illness, while behind Ian Whitten starts in the centre, while summer signing Alex Cuthbert gets his first start on the left wing.