Half century up for Jefferies
By James Fowler
10/12/22
Exeter Chiefs Women’s flanker Ebony Jefferies has certainly been a crucial cog in the team since its beginnings just two seasons ago - and she along with full-back Merryn Doidge, and captain Poppy Leitch will become the first players to make their 50th appearance for the club when they face Loughborough Lightning today (11.30pm).
The typically selfless Jefferies, who hails from the Cornish capital Truro, was keen to praise the whole squad performance following the fantastic 62-18 victory over the Worcester Warriors last Saturday at Sandy Park.
“I think we knew that Worcester were going to be a really tough side to play against,” she said. “They’ve had a few great results, so I think actually putting a whole squad performance out there was really big for us to kick start our season, and it was really positive.”
The Chiefs attack over the last couple of rounds has at times been irresistible, with the 62 points racked up last weekend coming hot on the heels of the 95 points scored at the DMP Sharks in Round Two of the Allianz Premier 15s.
Looking ahead to today’s match against the Loughborough Lightning, Jefferies was to keen to emphasise that the message has very much been ‘more of the same’.
“I think we’re confident in what we have done up to this point and we know that when we get it right, we get it really right and actually we play some really good rugby. So, I think just continuity and just keep going and keep striving forward.”
Jefferies was however wary of the ‘huge physicality’ that Loughborough Lightning will bring to the table, especially having lost the corresponding fixture last season in the final few minutes of the game.
“I think as a team we’re expecting huge physicality, it was a hugely physical game there last year and obviously we lost in the final few minutes.”
With all the Chiefs World Cup stars now having returned, and with plenty of new faces also arriving into the fold, Jefferies was keen to highlight what a boost this has provided to the squad.
“It’s massive for the culture having everyone back. We’ve got lots of new faces in there as well which I think is always nice, it kind of boosts the squad, but yeah everyone’s come back really well and fitting right back in.”
“I think if we continue the same trajectory that we’re going on I think we’ll have a good performance this weekend.”