Rogers calls for disciplined approach

By Harry Scott-Munro
30/1/22

Exeter prop Hope Rogers believes a more disciplined approach will be needed in the coming weeks if the Chiefs are to maintain their push for the Allianz Premier 15s play-offs.

Susie Appleby’s side maintained their unbeaten run with a 15-all draw at Wasps, but it could easily have been more had the visitors not succumb to a late Flo Williams penalty.

The Chiefs had put themselves on course for a ninth league win of the season, courtesy of tries from Clara Nielson Zintle Mpupha and Rogers’ international team-mate Rachel Johnson.

However, Wasps refused to go quietly and have responded with scores of their own from Maud Muir and Bryony Cleall, it was Williams who struck late on for the hosts to ensure a share of the spoils at Twyford Avenue.

“It was those little things in the game,” explained Rogers. “Especially at the breakdown, we’ve been putting in a lot of work, but unfortunately, we didn’t really execute it to our fullest ability today.”

Rogers made her debut for the Chiefs in the thriller against Harlequins a fortnight ago and explained that her role coming off the bench has been to “bring the energy” from the moment she sets foot on the field.

“It’s about bringing the energy up when you come on. Our defensive line was really good and just kept knocking them back. In attack, we wanted to focus on personal responsibility and taking it to them.”

Reflecting on her side’s latest performance, the 29-year-old forward felt her side needed to be more disciplined, as they search for an improvement in form.

“It’s about being disciplined. I think we shot ourselves in the foot and gave away too many penalties that we didn’t need to,” Rogers noted. “That has to be the focus for next week, so that our really good defensive work is allowed to come to fruition. Once we execute those small things right, we can definitely be unstoppable.”

Next up for the Chiefs is Saturday’s trip to Gloucester-Hartpury, a side who inflicted a 10-8 defeat on Exeter at Sandy Park last month.