Holmes targets more success
By Mark Stevens
4/4/18
Greg Holmes says Exeter Chiefs must use their Anglo-Welsh Cup triumph as the launchpad for a big end to the season.
Having helped the Chiefs to secure the first silverware of this term with a 28-11 victory over Bath at Kingsholm, the Aussie international now has his sights set firmly on helping the Devon club to retain their Aviva Premiership crown.
Sunday’s visit of Gloucester to Sandy Park provides the next hurdle for Rob Baxter’s side, who currently sit seven points clear at the top of the Premiership with just four rounds of the regular season remaining.
Holmes says he is determined to play his part against the Cherry & Whites, who themselves are in buoyant mood having secured a European Challenge Cup semi-final spot last weekend with victory over Connacht in Galway.
“To play in any Cup Final is always special,” said the 34-year-old. “This was a competition the club put a lot of time and effort in to, so to come out on top is great. Now, we have to use this success a launchpad for the rest of the season. It has helped put us in the box seats to win the Premiership again – and that’s the ultimate goal for us at this point.”
The experienced prop is now into his second season with the Chiefs, having joined in the summer of 2016 having spent over ten years playing Super Rugby with the Queensland Reds.
He admits he has settled well to life in the Westcountry, even if it’s a little colder than what he had been previously used to back home in Brisbane, and he has been suitably impressed with the talent that exists within the title-winning Chiefs squad.
“We’ve seen over the last few weeks the strength in depth we have within the squad,” added Holmes. “We’ve played Bath on consecutive weekends and we’ve put out two totally, yet very competitive teams, both of which have won the game.
“Coming in last year and being part of the side that won the Premiership for the first time was very special. The talent we have within the squad, whether it be the crop of young players or that sprinkling of us old heads, it’s a good mix. Everyone gets on well and it’s helped to breed a very good culture here, which I am proud to be part of.
“As I said, some of the young guys are phenomenal talents. You only have to look at the Simmonds brothers, they can do anything in the next few years, and I’m sure they’ll get to play in lots of tests and I assume a lot more finals.
“The club as a whole, though, are in a great place and over the next two, three, four years, this team is going to be very competitive not just across Europe, but also in the Premiership where they are going to be very hard to beat.”
And Holmes himself aims to be part of the Chiefs rise, this after he penned a new two-year deal with the club back in January.
“It’s a great club to be part of, both on and off the field,” he continued. “Obviously winning games and winning trophies helps, but you can see the togetherness of the squad after the final. We’re all in this as one and for guys like Kai [Horstmann] to get his hands on some silverware in what is his final year is fantastic for him.”
Hopefully, Holmes and Horstmann have further reason to celebrate come next month.