O'Loughlin backing Chiefs to go far

By Mark Stevens
20/1/23

No stranger to the pressures of the Heineken Champions Cup, Rory O’Loughlin believes Exeter Chiefs have what it takes to once again be crowned ‘Kings of Europe’.

A former winner of the competition himself with Leinster Rugby, the 28-year-old has impressed many since making the move across the Irish Sea last summer after a six-year stint with the Dublin-based giants.

Equally at home in the centre or the wing, O’Loughlin has been a virtual ever-present for the Chiefs so far this season, helping his new club to reach the last 16 of Europe’s top club competition.

The job, however, is far from complete and victory over visiting Castres Olympique today will ensure that the Devonians will have home advantage when the competition resumes again in early April.

Victory over the French side in Round One was followed up a week later by another maximum haul against the Bulls at Sandy Park in Round Two. Last week, the South African outfit gained their revenge in the heat and altitude of Loftus Versfeld, but the losing bonus point accrued in the final minute of that game ensured Exeter’s escapades to Africa for the first time proved sufficient enough for their advancement into the latter stages.

“We’re looking forward to being back at Sandy Park this weekend,” said the Irishman this week. “Everyone within the camp knows the importance of the game, especially getting the win and the points which will ensure us of home advantage in the last 16. Right now, it’s in our hands, we know what we have to do. If we can replicate the performance we put in against Castres at their place then, hopefully, we should be able to make it count.”

Although pointless from their three European ties so far, O’Loughlin refuses to believe the Frenchmen will be any kind of pushovers. If anything, he believes that statistic makes them all the more dangerous.

“Going up against the French in Europe is always a massive challenge,” he warned. “The fact they have nothing to lose coming here is a dangerous situation for sure. That said, when we won over there, that was probably our most convincing and complete performance of the year. That showed what we need to do and now we have to replicate it this weekend.”

With home advantage and a buoyant Chiefs crowd behind them, O’Loughlin hopes he and his team-mates can kick on further in 2023, particularly with the club well poised in all three competitions.

“If you look at the squad we have, it’s full of internationals, top quality players, aoo of whom have massive experience of playing in the Premiership and in Europe,” he said. “When it comes down to the big, tight games, we have the players who have been there before.

“It’s no different to when I was at Leinster, when the big games come along, the big players really step up. I’ve no doubt we can go far in all the competitions, we just have to work hard, play smart and believe in one another.”

And as for life in Devon itself, O’Loughlin couldn’t be happier, adding: “I’ve loved the experience so far. Obviously, it was my first taste of the Premiership, but I do love the week on week nature of it all. Every week it’s a battle and things can change so quickly. The swings and roundabouts of it all are a bit nuts at times, but it makes it what it is.”