Burrows wants to taste more of the action
By Mark Stevens
16/11/21
Hooker Oli Burrows is hoping to use this season's Premiership Rugby Cup as the springboard for an exciting future ahead with the Exeter Chiefs.
Thrust into the action against Bristol Bears last Saturday, the young Welshman finally made his debut for the Devon club, featuring for almost an hour in their 33-27 defeat at Sandy Park.
Having been an unused replacement for Exeter's two previous Gallagher Premiership fixtures against Gloucester and Newcastle Falcons, the 19-year-old took centre stage as a youthful Chiefs outfit put up a creditable display in their opening fixture in this season's tournament.
Burrows was one of four debutants in the home starting line-up, but didn't look out of place as the Chiefs stormed into a 14-0 lead thanks to converted tries from James Kenny and Jack Walsh.
Bristol recovered from that early deficit to level things up by the break, but then fell further behind as Walsh claimed a second try of the afternoon, alongside a penalty from Josh Hodge as the Chiefs pulled ten points clear again.
The Bears, however, were not to be denied and with a more experienced line-up to call upon, they rallied during the final quarter to score tries of their own through Will Capon, Dan Thomas and Macenzzie Duncan to put them on course for victory.
Although disappointed with the final outcome, Burrows was still able to produce a beaming smile post-match as he celebrated his introduction to full senior level.
"I guess the over-riding feeling at the moment is a sense of relief," said the Wales Under-20s forward. "I was chucked into the mix for the last two weeks, but even though I didn't get on in those games, it was still good to be around the group. Today, getting that chance to step onto the pitch from the start was brilliant, especially in front of a home crowd, I couldn't have wished for more."
Burrows admitted having been part and parcel of the first-team squad previously had helped to settle the nerves in the build-up to the game.
"Those last few weeks have definitely helped," he added. "When I look back to pre-season, I'd never have dreamed of having those opportunities, but I've been thrown in at the deep end and it's just been a massive learning opportunity for me."
For large parts of Saturday's contest the Chiefs were the dominant force, but it was little moments - at crucial times - which came back to haunt them in the final shake-up.
"I don't think you can fault the effort and the work-rate of the boys," said Burrows, a product of Neath Athletic RFC as a youngster. "We talked all week about what we wanted to do - and for large parts of the game we did just that. It was just those final details that may have let us down.
"If I'm being honest, it feels right now like it's one of those results that has got away from us. Had we banged in a try or stopped one of the scores they put in, we could easily have been all smiles and having a few beers in the changing rooms."
Lining up alongside fellow Welshmen Dafydd Jenkins and Dan John, Burrows admitted it added to the occasion that he was able to perform alongside some of his closest mates in the game.
"Just having those boys in the team, it's a massive help," he said. "It's brilliant to be playing with your mates. From 1-23 though, everyone gets on so well and you can see that in our performances. People are willing to give everything for each other."
Next up for the Chiefs is this Saturday's trip to Kingsholm where Gloucester, who trounced Bath in their opening fixture, lie in wait.
"We're looking forward to it," said Burrows. "We went up there two weeks' ago and turned them over in the league, so there's no reason we can't go there and do the same again. It's a tough place to go and the atmosphere at Kingsholm is always great, but we'll go up there full of energy and desire and we'll see where it takes us."