Innard looks to build on Falcons win
By Mark Stevens
23/2/22
Jack Innard expects another fierce test for him and his Exeter Chiefs team-mates when they travel to Northampton Saints this Sunday in the Gallagher Premiership (3pm).
Fresh from victory at Newcastle Falcons last weekend, the Devonians take to the road again for what is another pivotal clash in their quest to remain amongst those vying for the four play-off spots.
Exeter's last-gasp success - courtesy of a penalty from skipper Joe Simmonds two minutes from time - moved them to within two points of the top four. However, that victory at Kingston Park was far from easy and the Cornish hooker is expecting more of the same against the Saints.
"It was a really important win, especially as Newcastle is a tough place to come and play," said Innard. "To get the four points is big, especially considering how tough the conditions were."
With the Chiefs having to battle it out amid the carnage caused by Storm Eunice, things were far from easy in the North East, particularly as the Falcons put aside the first half dismissal of captain Callum Chick to put in one of their best displays of the season so far.
Indeed, the Falcons led for much of the first half through Will Haydon-Wood's converted score, before the Chiefs countered either side of the break with tries from Patrick Schickerling and Innard to give themselves the lead for the first time.
The Falcons, though, would not lie down and when George McGuigan claimed their second converted score of the afternoon, there was a genuine belief that the hosts could cause an upset and inflict a rare league double on their rivals.
Thankfully, Rob Baxter's side regrouped well during the closing stages, claiming the all-important penalty that Simmonds was able to slot late on.
"Fair play to them, they just kept coming at us," added Innard. "Even though they were down a man for a lot of the game, they played with a lot of spirt and a lot of fight. We had to dig deep to get the result, but we did - and that's the most important thing."
Now the Chiefs must go again this Sunday against a Saints outfit still smarting from their own narrow home defeat to Sale Sharks last Saturday.
"We just have to take things one game at a time," continued Innard. "We'll go away from here and look to next week. I'm sure there are learns we can take from this game, so we will look at those and look to take them into the Northampton game.
"For us, the most important thing is focusing on the next game, picking up as many points as we can, and just challenging ourselves as best we can. If we do that, then we give ourselves every chance."
Ahead of kick-off, Baxter will assess the fitness of Dave Ewers, Jannes Kirsten and Josh Hodge, the latter two both having to be withdrawn against the Falcons after taking knocks to the head.