Thello know slightly bit about antique years in Bordeaux, the place Exeter hope to savor a well-known victory over La Rochelle on Sunday. This hasn’t been the smoothest of seasons for the Chiefs however there’s nonetheless time to turn into perceptions. If few persons are tipping England’s closing males status as possible Champions Cup finalists, this is precisely how they like it.
The extra you read about the background to the fixture, in reality, the extra intriguing it turns into. Does any individual remotely suppose Sam Simmonds, Jack Nowell, Stuart Hogg or any of the Chiefs’ different departing gladiators don’t seem to be determined for one closing glint of silverware? Has everybody forgotten the 11 tries? Exeter jointly caught on Montpellier and Stormers to achieve Sunday’s semi-final?
And for the entire “Last Dance” references, there are identical ranges of motivation amongst the ones staying on. The Chiefs’ in-form winger Olly Woodburn is a superb instance. People communicate so much about Levani Botia and Will Skelton and La Rochelle’s different huge gadgets however what if the competition performs out the way in which Woodburn and Exeter want: wider centered, aerially difficult and at tempo? As a positive-minded Gloucester confirmed this month, the image can all of a sudden transform very other.
As a willing photographer himself – he loves to do style shoots and would really like to make a post-rugby profession out of it – the analogy fits the 31-year-old Woodburn. Exeter’s lately topped supporters’ participant of the 12 months additionally is aware of what it takes to pose with a big trophy, having been a part of the Chiefs squad that shocked Toulouse and Racing 92 en path to changing into European champions in 2020.
Which is why the super-fit, sturdy attacking runner is adamant Exeter have a real probability towards the protecting champions. “I think we do really well under these kind of circumstances. If you look at our history, when people write us off, we turn back and give them a little counterpunch. We do well against French sides, we’re full of talent and we work hard. You underestimate us at your peril.
Dig a little deeper and there is also much more to Woodburn, second only to Simmonds as a prolific try-scorer for the Chiefs, than many will be aware. Before games, for example, he uses meditation and deep breathing techniques – “It just gives me real clarity” – to put himself in the right mental space and is an equally strong believer in the hidden power of visualization.
To explain why, he tells a story about basketball players in the United States. “They did an experiment where they separated the team into three groups. One group practiced free throws every day, one visualized doing that and the other group didn’t do anything. They found the group that visualized the free throws had the biggest improvement. I think rugby has a huge emphasis on the physical side but the mental side is still a bit behind. It will catch up but I’m trying to be at the forefront.”
Accordingly, Woodburn takes the time out to imagine himself soaring through the air – “I like to practice my method and my process in my head” – to claim the high balls that are now his trademark. It seems to be working. By Woodburn’s own estimation the only season when he has played as comparably well was in 2017 when Exeter won the Premiership for the first time.
Hence the reason it felt so cruel last Sunday week when this thoughtful match-winner was sucked into the Venus flytrap that is rugby’s current disciplinary framework. As he hurtled gallantly across to try and prevent Leicester’s Chris Ashton from scoring in the corner at Welford Road, he was doing what any self-respecting rugby player would have done. As Hogg had just tackled Ashton, however, and because a sliding Woodburn technically made contact with an already grounded player he received a second yellow card and a subsequent red.
Letter of the law or not, it caused an understandable furore. How is anyone now meant to stop a winger diving low for the line? While Nowell was subsequently fined £10,000 for expressing his disquiet on Twitter, he was only echoing the feelings of many within the game. Woodburn is not about to point fingers at individual referees but he does suggest rugby has an increasing problem. “I’m not going to talk about Karl Dickson. I’ll just say I made that tackle based on instinct. I’m not going to change that. If someone is going to try and score in the corner I’m going to do everything I can to stop them legally.
“In my mind that tackle wasn’t reckless. I felt like I did the best I could. I haven’t heard anything from the RFU which would suggest I could coach myself to do anything differently. Players aren’t going out to hurt people but it’s very difficult to stay on the field at the moment. You do feel you’re in a bit of a box. You want to finish a game and talk about the rugby rather than one decision an official made.” He also believes, as a fan of the NFL and the NBA, that rugby should be looking to prioritize spectators more. “If a player makes too many fouls they get ejected but the teams and fans aren’t punished because of one freak incident.”
The long run, although, can stay up for now as Exeter search to turn out that rumors in their loss of life as primary contenders had been exaggerated. From Woodburn’s point of view, that implies beginning rapid and now not easing up for a 2nd. “On the large events it comes all the way down to the little issues that folks do not see. What you do off the ball, the additional kick-chase yards you’re making, the additional paintings you do within the take on that slows the ball down. People suppose it is the heroic finishes within the nook that win you video games. It’s now not. It’s the little movements that get you there.”
Woodburn also has two other personal spurs. The first is to reach another final for the sake of his two-year-old son, Solomon. “I feel like I have a deep motivation driving me. I’d like to leave him a legacy he’ll be proud of.” The 2nd is to enhance his declare to be Nowell’s herbal successor. “Jack never trains so when he leaves there’s going to be a spot next season for an experienced older winger who doesn’t train a lot.” The cheerful Chiefs is also unfancied however they’re going to come steaming out of the blocks. Don’t write them off simply but.