Nowell sets his sights on glory
By Stuart James
23/5/19
Twelve months on and the wounds have still not healed for some of the Exeter Chiefs squad.
On a glorious day at Twickenham, the Chiefs were no match for a Saracens side that reclaimed the Premiership crown with a dominant 27-10 victory that earned the Londoners their fourth title in just five years.
The end result was a repeat of what had happened at the same venue two years earlier only this time, having experienced contrasting emotions in 2017 by beating Wasps to land their first-ever Premiership crown, it hurt so much more for Devon's finest.
Now, having finished top of the Premiership pile for a second successive season, the Chiefs are keen to use that experience as their motivation to reclaim the crown that was theirs in 2017. But before they can think of a final against Saracens, or Gloucester, if they can upset the form book at Allianz Park, they must get past Northampton Saints to book a fourth successive appearance in the final.
“For us it is everything," Chiefs' England and British Lions star Jack Nowell says. “The anger really was there, the boys were really upset from it, but coming through this year, it is important for us to remember that and remind ourselves as the season has gone on.
“We have worked so hard to get ourselves into this position. A home semi-final is hard to get, but we have done that and worked so hard to get there that it would be a shame to let ourselves down in one game and one game we should be confident going in to.
“A lot of the boys played in that final and feel they let the side down – and let the fans down as well – and that is one thing that none of us want to happen again."
Nowell added: “When I think of how much it hurt us last year when we lost, it was completely different to the first year we lost in the final at Twickenham. Last year hurt and angered a lot of the boys.
“We have struggled in the last few weeks, but we have had a different challenge where we have rested boys at the end fo the season whereas before, we would be scrapping for every single point in the Premiership.
“I think it’s worked out well. The boys are feeling fresh and excited again."
Nowell is one player that will be feeling fresh going into Saturday's game at Sandy Park. He has appeared in only six Premiership matches this campaign with international call-ups and injury disrupting his season. But there is no doubt that he is a man for the big occasion.
And for everything that has followed for the affable Cornishman, the highlight of his career remains that maiden success at Twickenham with friends and colleagues he plays with week in week out.
"The highlight of my career, to this day, was winning the Premiership final for this club, with the boys that I have played with for so long," Nowell said.
"I put it down to the boys putting me in this position. I have my England caps and it got me a Lions tour, but if it wasn't for the boys I play with week in week out, I definitely wouldn't be doing those things."