Nowell expects reaction from Chiefs

By Mark Stevens
7/3/23

Jack Nowell is confident there will be a reaction from him and his Exeter Chiefs team-mates in the wake of their Twickenham horror show at the weekend.

The England international led the apologies to supporters of the Devon club in the wake of their 40-5 humbling by Harlequins in the Gallagher Premiership.

It was certainly a day to forget for the Chiefs, who were picked off impressively by the Londoners in Big Game 14. Tries from Cadan Murley, Josh Bassett, Joe Marchant (2) and Stephan Lewies were the highlights for the home side, while all the Chiefs could muster in terms of a response was a second half score for hooker Jack Innard.

Speaking at the final whistle, a disappointed Nowell summed up the mood in the Exeter camp, acknowledging it was an unacceptable performance from the Chiefs in their quest to try and secure a place in the end of season play-offs.

“It’s a tough one and there’s not a lot I can say after that,” said the Cornishman. “As a side we can only apologise to our fans who made the trip up here. We want to make occasions like this special - and we’re a team striving to make this season special - but to put in a performance like that is not what we’re about.

“We let Harlequins do what they wanted to do, especially in the first half, and it just made it impossible for us to win. There was a lot of stuff we did wrong, but equally there is still a lot to play for and it starts next weekend with Newcastle coming to Sandy Park.”

Nowell - who was captain for the day - led the tough talking in the changing rooms afterwards, adding: “The main thing we did at the end was we looked each other in the eye and said we don’t want to feel like this again. There are boys leaving at the end of the season and it will be the end of an era for a few of us, but equally we want to make this season special, performances like that are simply not good enough.

“There is a lots to fix after this and we will do that next week in training. Newcastle next is a huge game for us, but we’re back at Sandy Park, which is always special playing in front of our fans, and we’ve made it a bit of a fortress again this season, so I’m expecting a reaction from us.

“As a group we know we didn’t front up and that we let Quins’ do what they wanted, but now we have too regroup and go again. As I said, I don’t want to be too negative as we’re still in three competitions and there is still plenty for us to play for. It all starts again against Newcastle.”