Hard work starts here, insists White
By Mark Stevens
30/4/18
Nic White says he wants to help write another successful chapter in the history of Exeter Rugby Club after he helped the Chiefs to secure top spot in this season’s Aviva Premiership.
The Australian international scored the first of four tries for the defending champions in their 34-19 victory over Sale Sharks at a packed out Sandy Park.
The scrum-half darted over from close range and he was followed over the whitewash by team-mates Lachie Turner, Jack Yeandle and Greg Holmes as Rob Baxter’s side notched up their 16th Premiership win of the season.
Additional kicks from the boots of Joe Simmonds and Gareth Steenson helped to put the seal on the home side’s win with still one round of the regular season to play at Harlequins this Saturday.
For White, though, his debut season in English rugby appears to be progressing nicely and his second touchdown of the season was one of the key highlights in another impressive display from the Devonians.
“It’s a great achievement to finish top, but to do it at a packed out Sandy Park was obviously very special,” said the 27-year-old. “It means we didn’t have to leave until the last round, but each game we play at home is a chance to go out and show the supporters how much they mean to us.
“Sale came down and they threw everything at us, but these are the kind of tests we need at this stage of the season. We train hard and every day is a chance for us to get better, but seeing how we react in those moments will help us in those games coming up.
“They tested us in a number of areas and at times we weren’t as good as we would have liked. Against the better sides we know we need to be better. You can’t afford to give up easy possession or easy territory because they’ll make you hurt. As a team we have to stay sharp and stay in the moment for the full 80 minutes. Today we switched off a couple of times and Sale made us hurt.”
It is, however, the standards that the Chiefs have set themselves that even a maximum haul return is still met with intense scrutiny by the whole squad and the coaching staff.
That said, White - who joined last summer from French outfit Montpellier - says confidence is high within the Exeter ranks and that he himself is loving life in the Westcountry.
“Already it’s probably exceeded the expectations I had before I came here,” he continued. “I knew I was coming into a group that had already won something last season and that it would be an interesting year, but credit to the boys they’ve gone hammer and tong at it again from week one.
“We’ve put ourselves in a good position and now it’s about building momentum and trying to create something special again this year. I’m glad to be part of it all and to have my role within the team.”
Not that White is taking his place for granted, the 22-capped Wallaby admits he’s never experienced such a competitive squad, where places for a role on match-day are keenly contested by so many players.
“The competition here is just red hot, literally no position is guaranteed for anyone,” he warned. “As I said, every day is a chance to get better, but at the same time you have be on your A game all the time. There are blokes pushing you everywhere to hit new levels.
“Personally, I’d hate to be Rob Baxter when it comes to that semi-final because everyone is putting their hands up. It also means that if you do get a chance, you have to make the most of it, not just in games, but in training as well because the coaches are literally watching everything.”