Simmonds relishing European showdown

By Mark Stevens
9/4/22

Sam Simmonds returns to the Exeter Chiefs starting line-up today determined to help propel the Exeter Chiefs into the latter stages of this season’s Heineken Champions Cup.

The England and British & Irish Lions forward is back in harness for Rob Baxter’s side as they ready themselves for a unique double-header against Munster in the last 16 of Europe’s top club competition.

The all-action No.8 sat out last weekend’s 42-22 win at home to Bath as part of his mandatory rest protocols following the recent Guinness Six Nations Championship, but he returns in earnest to form part of a powerful Chiefs attacking arsenal set for battle against the Irish province.

Simmonds has been in scintillating form in the Champions Cup this season, bagging seven tries already – including a hat-trick against Montpellier in the pool stages – to once again get his name in the mix to be crowned European Player of the Year.

It was an accolade the Chiefs man picked up in 2020 when the Devon club lifted their maiden Heineken Cup crown and he is desperate to back up that achievement again this term, starting with victory over Munster.

“I’m really looking forward to these games,” he said. “These games have been huge in the past and these won’t be any different. With supporters back as well, hopefully we can live off their energy and support to really spur us on.”

In what is a new scenario for all the clubs competing in the last 16, the upcoming double header will represent somewhat of a new challenge with the victors decided by points’ difference.

“It’s certainly something different, which we’ve not experienced before,” added Simmonds. “That said, I guess you have to relish it and the best way we can do that is by putting in two big performances. It starts on Saturday and then we go again the following week.

“Whether or not being home first or away in the second leg makes a difference, I just don’t know. All we can do right now is go after this weekend and see where we are after that. Munster, we know, will be big and physical. They are a good set-piece side and they are a classic Irish team in that they’ll be strong over the ball and really go hard at the breakdown

“Those are areas we are going to have to focus on, but equally we will want to put our own game on them as well. It’ll be up to us to play to our strengths and do the things we do very well.”

With younger brother Joe also part and parcel of the Chiefs mix, the Simmonds brothers will be looking to lead from the front in what is effectively another ‘do or die’ situation for the club.

“We’ve been a bit up and down in terms of our form this season, but saying that we’ve still done enough to put ourselves in a position to potentially win two trophies this season. The games coming up are huge in both competitions, so it all starts again this weekend when, hopefully, we can build on those good parts of recent performances.”