Exeter Chiefs
The Season Ahead - Part 1
Celebrations
By ShoutsLoudlyInRain
July 28 2013
Shouts Loudly looks ahead to what Chiefs fans have in store.
The Coming Season
Part 1
So with the new season not far away now, thought I would just put together a little Preview for discussion, the last two seasons will be hard to beat having finished 5th and 6th respectively and qualifying for the second year on the trot to take part in the Heineken cup amongst Europe’s elite. Rob has added a few new names to the squad and we also saw during the summer that we have some very good youngsters coming through who I will expect to feature more this year. There has been a lot of talk about the lack of star names but we have Squad of very good players who continue to improve. As can be seen elsewhere Star names can be disruptive and detract from the rest of the team.
All the fixtures have been announced with the Chiefs again find themselves drawn in a group with the reigning Heineken cup Champions Toulon but before that we have a block of Premier fixtures to take care of.
We have some interesting Pre-season matches with a trip to Scarletts who were in our group for last year’s Heineken cup before Glasgow come to Sandy Park who have been drawn in our group for This year’s Cup and our other Pre-season visitors are Bristol I still have fond memories of our last match against them as I suspect many of you do.
Getting to the Serious stuff First up is a trip Franklins Gardens which I must admit is a ground that I enjoy visiting they have a good set of supporters and facilities. In the past seasons we have had some good tussles with the saints and not expecting this trip to be much different. It has not been a happy hunting ground for us having lost all 3 visits but we have picked up 2 losing bonus points. I think this year could be our First Victory at the Gardens. Remember Chiefs have won all of their opening Day fixtures since being promoted.
Our First Home game of the season will be London Wasps who we have had a great deal of success against winning 5 out of our 6 games the only defeat coming in our first visit to Adams Park and I expect us to make that 6 from 7 as Rob and the boys have worked out how to contain the lightning back line that wasps have by keeping hold of the ball.
Chiefs have done the double over wasps the last 2 seasons.
Next up is London Irish at the mad stad I must admit this is not one of my favorite grounds always seems soulless but the trip is always enhanced by the Irish fans. Honors even at 3 a piece Irish were looking to be a bogey team with them winning the first 3 encounters since then we have won the last 3 encounters doing the double over them last season. Irish are a side in transition and I think they will struggle again this season so think we will get another win here.
Sorry to say it but I think Irish could end up at the wrong end of the table again this season
Our first televised game of the season will be against the Champions at Sandy Park this will as usual be a very close affair last year’s this one is difficult to call and could depend on the weather , Home advantage will also help. I am going to sit on the fence here at not give an opinion on the result Heart says win but head says Draw or LBP
Sunday Kick off and Televised.
The Chiefs Last Away trip before cup action will be my favorite trip when we visit Kingsholm well what can you say about our games with Gloucester firstly neither team has done the double over each other , they were our first Premier opponents and our First Premier Win, we narrowly lost there last year and I think it will be another very close game which could be won by the boot of Steeno or Burns I am going for a LBP but think we could nick it with a last minute Kick we all remember the last game of the season.
If you have not been to an Away match I recommend a trip Kingsholm. This match is also on a Sunday and Televised but believe me when I say that the Atmosphere will be similar to that at Sandy Park at the end of the season.
Small Break in the Premier League for a little bit of Heineken cup action with Cardiff Blues Traveling to Sandy Park Cardiff are a bit of unknown Quantity to me but not to many of our team and in particular two of our new signings who were playing there last year it is a home game and I think that will make the difference and chiefs will pick up points early in the competition.
A weekend trip to Scotland follows as we head to Glasgow we have met Glasgow before in pre-season with a good away win for the chiefs running out 15 – 3 winners and we will also have a better idea of how both teams have done in pre-season with a meeting at Sandy Park for me if we can get a win against Cardiff the momentum could make it 2 from 2 but there is never an easy away game in Europe so going to sit on the fence here. Whatever the result I suspect those of us travelling to Glasgow will have a very good weekend.
After the Small distraction of the Heineken Cup we are back to the Premier League when Worcester visit Sandy Park Over the years we have met 17 times with Worcester winning 10 of them but Worcester have not won against us in the Premier League and I think that will continue with chiefs winning this, Worcester have a new coaching setup with Dean Ryan and I think that he will consolidate this year before recruiting his own team as he has largely inherited Richard Hills squad.
Our next trip is to Sale it will be interesting to see how they get on at the beginning of the season once again they have recruited heavily which again begs the question is it too many changes in personal we have had the record of beating them in all games until are last visit to Salford stadium where we lost in a game which disappointed many with numerous chances going begging first half and then letting Sale back into the game Second with a string of penalties. I am not going to call this one until the season has started and I see if all the new signings are playing as a team and also if the management have sorted themselves out.
Another Break in proceeding for the little value cup, It will be interesting to see how this approached by some teams we have always used it in the spirit of the competition as a development platform but some teams such as Sale and Bath put out full sides due to the Heineken cup spot dangled in front of the winners. The interesting thing is the Carrot may no longer be there if the changes proposed by the English and French are adopted it certainly won’t be as the Heineken cup will be 20 teams with top 6 from all 3 leagues plus the winners of Amlin and Heineken cups so may be these teams will play it in the spirit it is intended and indeed publicized by LV and Premier Rugby as a development tournament
Anyway First up we are at home to Quins who ran out winners last season disposing of Sales and Baths first teams on the way to victory, I think our young guns have a good chance in this competition and expect a win at home.
Next up in this odd formatted cup we travel to wait for it Bath who if past competitions are to go by will put out there first team so not expecting a win but I am sure our youngster’s will give them a run for their money
Ok micky mouse tournament done for now back to the real stuff with a visit from Sarries head to head we have played 6 won 2 so Sarries have the upper hand we worked a good win last season in a close game but I think that we may stumble here but if a good crowd turns out and gets behind the boys we could get a narrow win.
Our next away trip is to our nemesis bath there is no doubt that the traveling fans will celebrate long and hard if we beat bath at the Wreck it will make the trip to the worst stadium in the league very palatable for me bath have made some good signings and their owner and coaches are talking a good game but we will have to see for me hand on heart and nothing to with sentiment we will win with a try bonus point breaking the 100 points barrier In the process.
Bath have made some good signings but as has been seen already they have to fit into the team which is easier said than done for some.
So After 9 Rounds we are Top of the league unbeaten in all competitions, and it is now time for another 2 match break with a small double header with the Heineken cup reigning Champions Toulon coming to Sandy Park Toulon bring a very physical game to the table who thrive on their opponents indiscipline with the one and only Johnny Wilkinson kicking them to victory. However we have are very own Gareth Steenson who knows the Sandy Park wind. For me I hope for a fast dry track so we can play our normal game a home win will be massive and I see Steeno showing the master the way in the last minute with a drop goal from half way. Really looking to forward to see this battle of the 10’s the Master who’s done it all against the young apprentice who is improving game after game
Home Win just because I am a chiefs Supporter.
Next we travel to the south of France for the second leg of this double header with what already appears to be a large contingent of chief’s fans doing the same and making a weekend of it traveling by Plane , Train and automobile I think another chiefs party is on the line. Toulon have a proud home record at the Stade Mayol and their supporters our loud and proud , it will be a tough ask but the boys don’t do just turn up and make up the numbers so they will give their all I think that we will get a LBP to leave us topping the group at Christmas.
Back to reality after two very tough cup fixtures with a visit to Sandy Park of newly promoted Newcastle have seen them a few times in the Championship and on each of those occasions they won but did look fairly similar to the side that struggled in the Prem I can see nothing but a chiefs win.
I also feel that may well struggle start of season particularly with the loss of Gopperth’s Boot but will survive thanks to London Irish.
The final round of the first half of the season sees the Chief’s travel to Quins but not the site of our famous victory last season the stoop but to Big Twickers or HQ as it is known across the road I must admit when this was announced a few weeks ago it brought a huge smile to my face the powers of B at Quins had decide that little old Exeter should be Part of Big game 6 , I have no idea why but can speculate to the atmosphere in all meetings previously or they decide they can’t beat at little Twickers so they’d try Big Twickers instead. If you are planning one Away trip this has to be the one the chiefs back at Twickenham in what will be a practice for later in the season when we qualify for the final. The result is difficult since are first season beating at the stoop we have more than held are own against them and last season rob seems to have worked out a way to beat them firstly with the Home thriller and then the away second half display This will be close, Win would be Nice LBP will do and a party at HQ thrown in as a special Christmas present.
That concludes Part one of the season, remember to get behind the boys win or lose and don’t set your expectations to high as it is a tough league.
For me Top of the League and Groups in LV and Heineken cup will do nicely oh and top of the A league thrown in for good measure so no pressure boys.
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28/07/2013 19:13
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can't wait... 
Time for a pipe of Old Toby!
