Exeter Chiefs fly half Joe Simmonds was praised by both sets of coaches, after his significant impact off-the-bench in yesterday’s Premiership Rugby Cup Final.
Chiefs were trailing by a converted try in the closing moments, but Simmonds’ impact led his side to equalise, and push on for an extra-time triumph over London Irish.
London Irish were devastated to lose their second consecutive shot at the Premiership Rugby Cup, after defeat to Worcester Warriors last time around. The match ended in similar style to last season, as once again the match took place at the G-tech Community Stadium, and once again Irish conceded a late equaliser, with defeat coming after extra time.
Exiles Defence Coach Declan Danaher highlighted how Joe Simmonds was a key difference in the final moments of regular time.
“Bringing Joe Simmonds on, a European Cup winner, and I think what he did superbly was he applied the pressure back onto us. And they didn’t let that pressure come off. And when there was you know, we got a squeak in, but it was just the door, it just felt like the door was just getting firmly slammed constantly in our face.
And that is a testament to them as a team and congrats to them. It’s a hell of a win. But like I said, if you bring in someone like that (Joe Simmonds) on, and someone else as well who’s been there and done it on the big stage, I’d say today probably seems pretty easy (for Simmonds).”
Exeter Chiefs Skills Coach Ricky Pellow also mentioned his talented halfback in the post-match media. Pellow was asked about Simmonds overjoyed reaction to winning the Premiership Rugby Cup, and how the result clearly meant a lot to him. Simmonds was an integral part of the 2020 Premiership and Champions Cup double triumph, but his celebrations highlighted a key focus for Exeter Chiefs off the pitch.
“Joe is moving on and it was really nice to have him in there,” Pellow said about Simmonds, who will be joining French club Pau at the end of the season
“I think we have put a little bit of an element around the emotional side of the game this week. And for me, if you have a group of 23 men that care for each other, that’s an emotional thing. And there’s a lot of players there that have put a lot of emotional time into the club, and into where we are as a club over the last 13 years we’ve been in the Premiership.
“For me, rugby is an unbelievable sport, how that emotion can come into something special. You know, Joe’s a European Cup winner, he’s celebrating today like he won the European Cup. And that shows what it meant to all the players, and staff as well.”
London Irish will have to bounce back right away, and have a big opportunity to climb the Gallagher Premiership this coming weekend. Fifth placed Irish take on fourth placed Northampton Saints, and a win for the Exiles would see them leapfrog the Saints into the play-off places.
Full list of departures:
#1. Sam Simmonds to Montpellier
Baxter has insisted there are no issues surrounding back-row forward Simmonds’ move to French champions Montpellier next season.
He is expected to be available for next year’s World Cup but after that will be ineligible to represent his country.
Saracens boss Mark McCall said on Tuesday that he believes the departure overseas of a player in his prime has wider implications for the Gallagher Premiership.
“I say that because Sam is 27, nearing his peak and is now making himself ineligible for England,” McCall said. “I kind of understand someone who is early 30s doing it after they’ve had their international career and want to experience something different. But to start losing the best young talent in the Premiership, someone like Sam, is a worry.”
Exeter rugby director Baxter, though, has adopted a philosophical stance.
“I think people sometimes get the wrong idea about this,” Baxter said. “I talk a lot to the players and staff in that you want people to be in an environment where they can thrive, work very hard, you want them to win and be successful for each other.
“The outcome of that is it means they are attractive propositions for other clubs who want a bit of that success. There are going to be some outcomes, and some of those are going to be that they are going to get big contract offers.
“It is not a negative when a player leaves you because someone wants them and can afford to pay them more than you can. It is negative when you fall out and a person moves for no positive reason at all. It’s very rare that happens here.
“Sam goes with our blessing for a great adventure, a great opportunity in France. He has still got a lot of good rugby left in him, and we had a long chat about it. He came to us first and explained. We haven’t been in massive, long, drawn-out contract debates about it. The figures are so far apart that there hasn’t really been a debate.”
#2. Luke Cowan-Dickie to Montpellier
The England international has confirmed that this will be his 12th and final year at the club after signing a deal in France, following current teammate Sam Simmonds.
He
told Exeter Chiefs’ official website that “it’s gutting to be leaving” having spent his entire Premiership career at the club, and the decision to depart was not easy.
“I’ve been at the Chiefs for 12 years, and it’s all I’ve known. That said, this opportunity came up, and it was one that I had to think long and hard about,” he said.
“I spoke a lot with my family about it, and it wasn’t an easy decision to make in the end.
“Obviously, it’s a different competition, a different language – which I’ll have to learn – but I think it’s time for a change.
“Hopefully, I’ve still got plenty of years left in my career, but this is an opportunity for me to go over there and show what I am all about.”
