Tough talking has desired effect - Yeandle
By Mark Stevens
2/11/21
Jack Yeandle admitted some tough talking amongst the Exeter Chiefs players and coaching staff helped set the tone for a powerful performance in their Gallagher Premiership victory over Gloucester last Friday.
Having slipped to a third league defeat of the season the week previous at home to London Irish, the Chiefs responded in fine fashion at Kingsholm, edging a hard-fought battle 16-13 thanks to tries from Alec Hepburn and Will Witty, plus two penalties from fly-half Harvey Skinner.
The win lifted Rob Baxter’s side up to fifth in the standings ahead of this Saturday’s home encounter with Newcastle Falcons (5:30pm).
“We wanted to rectify things,” said Yeandle post-match. “Last week hurt, not just in terms of the result, but our performance, seeing the fans leave early, it’s not what you want to see.
“Personally, I don’t blame the fans, we weren’t performing, so why should they stay and cheer us on?”
In what was a brutal and honest post-match assessment following the Irish loss, club captain Yeandle outlined how players and coaches alike all had their say on the performance and how the season had been going to that point.
“Some tough talking was needed,” he added. “Sometimes you need to have those meetings and it was definitely a weight off the shoulders of some of the boys, just because they could be honest with one another and clear the air. It meant we were able to crack on with the week – and things were definitely sharper and more intense during the course of the week.”
Whatever was said and done, it clearly had the desired effect as the Chiefs fought tooth and nail to see off a spirited Gloucester outfit, who led 13-6 at the break thanks to a converted Jack Singleton try and two penalties from Adam Hastings.
“What you saw tonight was an unbelievable level of energy amongst the 23 lads,” said Yeandle. “It wasn’t perfect, we know that, but it’s something we can definitely build on. You saw at times when we won those little moments, there were big celebrations amongst the boys, and that is what we are all about.
“We know we haven’t been at our best this season; other teams know that; as do the fans. That said, we’ve won four of our last five games, so it’s not all doom and gloom. Hopefully, we can use tonight’s result as the foundation for us to kick on further.”
Next up is the visit of the Falcons to Sandy Park this weekend and Yeandle knows Dean Richards’ men will be no pushovers, given their own strong start to the new campaign.
“As I said, I think we owe the fans for our last home performance,” continued Yeandle. “Newcastle, we know, are flying high and that it’ll be a great challenge for us. However, we’ve got to use this performance, reset ourselves next week, and look to go again.”