Match Reaction - Ali Hepher
By Mark Stevens
27/2/23
Ali Hepher believes his Exeter Chiefs side will continue to get stronger as the race for the Gallagher Premiership play-offs intensifies by the week.
The Devonians moved to within sight of the top four on Sunday, seeing off second-placed Sale Sharks 24-22 at Sandy Park. Two tries from Josh Hodge, plus another from Harry Williams, paved the way for that success with fly-half Harvey Skinner kicking the remainder of the home side’s points.
With a game in hand and just a point adrift of the final play-off spot, Hepher has spelt out the importance of the final run-in, which continues this Saturday with a trip to Twickenham to face Harlequins in Big Game 14.
“Obviously we’re pleased with the win,” he said. “All the games now are crucial, so with six games left, it was important we got over the line today. We probably made it harder than we should have done given the situation at half time [the Chiefs led 21-10] - because we played well into the wind and we took advantage of their two yellow cards to pick up a few tries.
“Where we need to be better is managing the game better. In the second half we didn’t, we allowed them to play their type of game and they put the squeeze on us. That gave them field position and that allowed them to come back at us. As I just said to the lads, we just need to be a bit smarter in our decision-making and some of the things we do.”
That said, the Chiefs were still able to find enough in their reserves to secure a crucial victory against one of their rival play-off contenders with just six games of the regular season remaining.
Leading that victory charge was young full-back Hodge, who produced two stunning scores to win himself the BT Sport Player of the Match accolade.
The 22-year-old, who recently penned a new deal with the Chiefs, has started nine of Exeter's 14 Premiership games this season with Stuart Hogg away with Scotland and suffering a heel injury.
"He's starting to really piece together some quality performances one after the other," added Hepher. "I can't credit him enough for the improvements he's made through the year. He's very coachable, he's taken on a lot of points this year because he was a hell of a talent at the start of the season but he needed moulding. He's starting to take those messages on and really mould into a quality player."
Hodge's open field running ability with ball in hand caused Sale problems most of the afternoon - his second try coming from a break just inside the Sale 40 metre line.
"There's no limit on him," added Hepher. "Normally with certain players you'd say there are certain limitations, maybe it's pace, maybe it's skills and being able to kick the ball, maybe it's physicality, but he can do everything.
"He still needs a bit of development and thickening out in his body, but the fight's there, so once that all settles down - and the work he puts in is phenomenal week in, week out - he's definitely going to be a better player year-on-year."