Parling out to end on a high

By Stuart James
25/5/17

Geoff Parling says there is no doubt that Exeter Chiefs want to win the Premiership final on Saturday.

The Devon side have reached back-to-back finals at Twickenham, and defeated European Champions Saracens to earn their place in Saturday's showdown, and Parling says the mind-set is different from last season's defeat.

He said: "I do think we're in a different mind-set now. Honestly, a year ago we were probably happy as a squad to be in the final, but it feels very different now.

"We've been there, we know what it is, and it didn't feel great watching them lift the trophy. We want to go there and win it without any doubt.

"It's going to be a good game, we fully back ourselves and believe we can go on and win, but you don't get many of these chances.

"We can't get the game back once it's gone; we've just got to make the most of it."

Parling will bring an end to his Chiefs career on Saturday before moving to Japan, and the 33-year-old has seen plenty of progress at Sandy Park.

He said: "I really like it here; we're keeping our house here which hopefully we come back to at some point. It's not a bad place to be especially when the suns out.

"In terms of the club, I think we've seen it build and build, and hopefully we can go on and win it this Saturday because it would really be something special for the boys, for the club, and it would be a very nice way for me to leave.

"The spirit is lively and loud. Also, and probably most importantly hard-work and graft, and there's a lot of that that goes on and I think that's why we're in the position where we are.

"Saturday's going to live in the memory. If things don't go to plan and we lose on Saturday, I don't forget those losses easily, whereas if we go and win then it will be that we've built and added and we've managed to finish it off this weekend."

Chiefs' opponents Wasps' finished top of the league this season, and although Parling is expecting a tough challenge, he says his sides' recent form could give them an advantage.

Parling said: "They're obviously a dangerous team can create something out of nothing, but we focus on ourselves.

"We know what we've got to do, they're a good team, but we've been playing really well over the last three months.

"It was a big game last weekend, and it was just a game to give us the chance and the opportunity now, and everything rides on this."