Chiefs ace set for Saints test

By Mark Stevens
22/2/18

Luke Cowan-Dickie says Exeter Chiefs are determined to get their Aviva Premiership campaign back on track after suffering three successive league defeats.

Top of the standings at the turn of the year with a ten-point cushion, the reigning champions have slipped back to second after going down to Newcastle Falcons, Worcester Warriors and, most recently, Wasps.

This Saturday, however, Rob Baxter's side have the ideal opportunity to end that sequence when they play host to Northampton Saints at Sandy Park (2pm).

"We're looking forward to the weekend," said the England hooker. "Back to back losses is never good for any side, especially when you're chasing being in the top four and a home semi-final. Our performances recently have been disappointing, especially the last home game against Worcester.

"We definitely showed improvement against Wasps. The energy was up there, both in attack and defence, and in the end we came away with a losing bonus point against another contender at the top. Most sides would be happy with that, but we set ourselves high standards and we've not hit those standards in recent games.

"Northampton, we know, are a good side and they'll be tough opposition, but we've trained well this week and hopefully we can go out at the weekend and put on a good show."

Certainly, the Chiefs will be hoping home advantage can help spur them to success, particularly as they look to repay those in the home faitfhul who were left disappointed after seeing their lengthy unbeaten home record in the Premiership fall at the wayside against the Warriors.

"We owe it, not only to ourselves, but also the crowd, to put in a big home performance this week," added Cowan-Dickie. "After the last home game, there were fans leaving early and that's not something you usually see with an Exeter Chiefs performance.

"As I said, we were definitely below par that day and although we were better last week, we know we can improve a lot more over these next few weeks."

Cowan-Dickie is expected to pack down in a Chiefs side that will be largely unchanged from that which took to the field at the Ricoh Arena, meaning fellow Cornishman Jack Innard will again offer back-up to the 24-year-old at hooker.

Innard made his Premiership debut coming off the bench against Wasps - and Cowan-Dickie was suitably impressed by the efforts of his front-row team-mate.

"I thought he went well," he said. "It's a tough game to come in for your first Prem appearance, but he was pretty solid in all that he did. I remember my first few games were tough, what with the nerves and the occasion, but he put his hand up and he'll definitely be better having got through it."