Yeandle aims to hit the ground running
By Mike Smith
26/7/19
Exeter Chiefs captain Jack Yeandle says now is the time to get the hard work done before the first round of Premiership Rugby Cup fixtures in September.
The sun has been beating down on the boys this week in training and things are certainly starting to ramp up as the squad look to get back into fighting shape heading into the new season.
Last season the Chiefs began impressively, winning their opening eight rounds in the Gallagher Premiership before narrowly coming unstuck at Harlequins in late November. Now, they are targeting a similar opening to the season, which this year is starting slightly later due to the Rugby World Cup being held in Japan.
One man relishing the challenge that lies ahead is Yeandle, who has spoken this week about the work being put in by himself and his team-mates ahead of the 2019/20 campaign.
“It’s been nice and hot, the guys have had us on a double session today, but we’re getting the work done that’s got to be done," he said. "Right now, we’ve got a nice block to get through, then a little break, after which we’ll go through another block before our games start again. It’s something that you’ve got to get through and it’s this is a period where your bodies not as battered from games, so it’s good to make the most of it while you can.”
As always Yeandle will be looking to lead from the front for the Chiefs, who having topped the charts at the end of the regular Premiership season, were then pipped to title glory by Saracens at Twickenham in June.
“We always want to hit the ground running and we’ve got a very long period to get through, both mentally and physically, because it’s hard work," he added. "Again, it brings out the best in the players and it shows in the way that we play on the pitch come the first round of games.”
As always, the Chiefs coaches have looked to make sure that the punishing training schedule is mixed and made to challenge the players in a variety of ways.
“To be fair we haven’t done one bit of straight-line running bar the actually fitness testing," said Yeandle. "It’s been a lot of ball in hand and small-sided games, so it’s been good to chuck the ball around.
“We’ll try to get through pre-season, and try to get a bit broken in, ready for the games and hit the ground running, the big aim is by the time that first game comes around were ready to come out flying.”
This season will be Yeandle's eighth in Chiefs colours, this after he made his first-team debut back in November 2012 in an LV= Cup tie away at London Welsh. Since then, he has gone on to establish himself as an integral part of the Chiefs make-up, amassing over 125 appearances to date.
“The key thing that underpins it all from when I joined is the hard work element that goes into it all," he added. "Back then people like Sturge (Brett Sturgess) and the boys used to talk about graft and that has evolved into hard work and making sure that your pushing yourselves and winning the things that require no talent. Those fundamentals are underpinning everything that we’re about.”
Certainly, hard work has been a key facet of the Exeter's success in recent years and Yeandle says that, coupled with a desire to bounce back from their 37-34 loss to Saracens in the Premiership Final, means everyone is relishing the start to the new season.
“I said after the full-time whistle in the changing room, obviously it wasn’t the result that we wanted," he continued. "When we look back there will be one or two moments in that game where, if we had taken better control of things, we could have come out on the other side of the result. That said, I'm very proud of how the boys went in the final. We really did have Sarries on the ropes and they were the European champions last year. To run them that close, it does hurts. But, what we have to make sure of is we build on it and that’s where we need to work hard on it now and put things right.”
The Chiefs squad won’t be back together in its entirety until mid-November with ten of the players away on international duty for their respected countries, currently training ahead of the World Cup in Japan which starts in just under two months’ time.
“Hopefully there is a lot of boys on the plane out to Japan," said Yeandle. "Having spoken to a few of them, I think their getting worked just as hard or probably harder as their a few weeks ahead of us now. It’s good, though, to see so many boys on the plane and hopefully we will squeeze a few more on the plane as well."
But with so many high-profile absentees, it does mean others within the Chiefs squad will get their chance to impress, particularly during the opening weeks.
“That’s one thing that has changed over the years," added Yeandle. "The strength in depth that we have here now and what we've had for the past four or five years, it's a real contributing factor to us pushing up the table and getting to finals. When we do get injuries and we do get knocks, there is players who are ready to come in take the shirt and show what they’re about.”