Woodburn more motivated than ever
By Mike Smith
20/9/19
Months of behind-the-scenes planning are at last over and it's down to business for Exeter Chiefs as they prepare to kick-off their 2019/20 campaign tomorrow at Sandy Park (3pm).
Running out for their 10th year as a top-flight club, Rob Baxter's side will play host to local rivals Bath in their seasonal opener.
It's been four months since Chiefs winger Olly Woodburn last pulled on a match jersey, but frustration at not being a part of the Gallagher Premiership Final squad which narrowly missed on a second league crown to Saracens, has provoked the Exeter speedster to propel himself back into Baxter's starting line-up for this weekend's clash against his former club.
"Unlike the previous year, it was a different experience for me not being involved in the final in June," he said. "Compared to this time last year, I have a different hurt in that this year I'm motivated because I want to be in the team at the end of the year. I feel for the boys going through defeat, but I've got my own chip on my shoulder about being in that squad at the tail end of the season."
With some of the clubs other wingers either missing through injury or Rugby World Cup call-ups, Woodburn is fired up and ready to stake his claim in the starting line-up over the next month at least.
"I'm happy to see the back of pre-season, but then I'm happy in a sense that I'm fitter than I have been in a long time what with pre-season being so much longer," he added. "Having not missed any of the pre-season, I'm really excited to get going."
Set to face his former club once again, Woodburn doesn't seem to think of it as a big deal playing against his old team-mates four years after leaving the Recreation Ground.
"I've played them a few times now, so there's not really the excitement about playing my old team. I'll just be treating it as business as usual this weekend."
Woodburn is part of a side made up of some of the younger players in the squad, as well as experience being added by the likes of Gareth Steenson and James Short, of which he will be expected to play a guiding role in the early stages of the Premiership Cup competition.
"I'm in a mix that has some senior players, but it's mostly younger players and I'm going to have to be one of those guys who's got to be more vocal than usual," added Woodburn. "I'll need to show the others what it's like to be a Chief at Sandy Park. It definitely benefits us having the first game of the season at home because we get to set our stall out and show the crowd what we're going to bring this year.
"It's been so long since we've played rugby. The sun is out, so I think it's going to be a good game this weekend."