'Let's build on win' says Devoto
By Mark Stevens
5/9/18
Ollie Devoto says he's put the frustrations of last season firmly behind him and is hell-bent on driving the Exeter Chiefs forward on all fronts.
The England international was forced to miss out on much of the 2017/18 campaign through injury - and could do little to help his team-mates in their quest to back-up their title-winning season 12 months earlier.
Devoto was a key component in the Chiefs side that saw off Wasps to lift the Premiership title for the first time in 2017 - and it's that taste of glory that has helped to focus his mind during some tough times.
"Last year was really frustrating for me," said the 24-year-old centre. "Hopefully, that's all behind me now and I can just focus on this season and helping the team to do well. Not being involved last season, especially the big games, it was tough. The changing room after the final was a dark place, but as a team I think we've learnt a lot from that and we've tried to move forward."
Indeed, fighting-fit and back out on the field, Devoto has underlined through pre-season - and again last weekend in Exeter's impressive 40-6 victory over Leicester Tigers - that he's up for the challenge of helping the Chiefs to further glory.
"Today was a special day," said Devoto in the immediate aftermath of the Tigers win. "In the off season you kind of miss these days, so it was great to be back out there, playing in front of a packed crowd here at Sandy Park.
"It took a while for us to break them down, the first 20 minutes especially was very tough, but I think it set us up well for later in the game, where the bench came on and did very well."
Although not on the scoresheet in Exeter's six-try success, Devoto was again an influential figure in a powerful performance against the Tigers, who this week dispensed with the services of their Director of Rugby, Matt O'Connor.
This weekend, the Chiefs have an equally testing assignment when they travel to Coventry to face Wasps, who opened their season with a hard-fought victory away to Worcester Warriors.
Devoto knows from past experience the threat posed by the Midlanders, warning ahead of kick-off the danger offered by Dai Young's side.
"Wasps this week will be a huge test, a completely different game to Leicester," said Devoto. "For starters, we're away from home. Playing here [at Sandy Park] the crowd make it feel like we have an extra man, so we'll have to dig in and put in a big performance."
Not that the Chiefs were too shabby last weekend, six tries against English rugby's most decorated club side was a more than powerful statement of intent. However, Devoto feels there is still 'more to come' from him and his team-mates.
"It was a good performance and a good start to the season, but we still made a few errors and there were little parts of our game that we can work on. Speaking in the changing rooms after, we know if we stick to our shape and we stick to our processes, then we're a tough side to beat.
"I know it's a bit of a cliche, but we take each game as it comes, and we know Wasps next week will be tough."