Exeter Chiefs: European Champions

Hats off to Exeter Chiefs.

Yes, they rode their luck at times against Racing 92 in Saturday’s Champions Cup Final and got the rub of the green with a couple of Nigel Owen decisions, but it was sheer bloody-minded resilience that got them over the line in the end and they deserve huge credit for that.

Before the game I thought that Racing’s previous experience of having been in two European finals would  give them the edge but Exeter were dominant in the first half and had just enough to hang on at the end. Why Racing didn’t consider going for a drop goal when camped on the Exeter line in the last 5 minutes is, however, anyone’s guess.

Unlike many who are quick to label the Exeter style as boring – just because so many of their tries are scored from forward drives within 5 metres of the line – I am a big admirer of how they almost always convert territory into points and, besides, they do play plenty of good running rugby to get themselves into those scoring positions.

Rob Baxter has done a fantastic job down at Sandy Park, taking the club up from the Championship to the Premiership in his first season as head coach, establishing Exeter as a leading Premiership team and, 10 years on, seeing his team crowned champions of Europe. Some achievement.

Having said that, there really is no excuse for that truly horrible lilac kit…

Total Flanker – the older I get, the better I was