I still hold that Exeter Chiefs are close to regaining their mojo

Sojourns to away games can be good for team building – a ‘jolly’ and a change from the normal routine – but a 9,000-mile jaunt to South Africa in round one of the European Champions Cup is perhaps more of a chore than a challenge.

A Sharks squad stacked with Springbok international players certainly focuses the mind on the reality facing elite level rugby players today.
Add to the Mix a 9,000-mile trip home before running out against the legendary Toulouse at Sandy Park on Saturday. No pressure there then!
In the event, a 39-21 defeat was little reward for Chiefs who scored first to take an early 7-0 lead over Natal, but with a posse of seasoned Springboks in their squad, and a barmy 29-degree climate, things always favoured Sharks in this one.
Responding with the immense power, pace and ferocity expected of a top South African side, the Sharks hit back to take control and put Chiefs under the cosh.
In truth Chiefs were not far short of the mark, competing exceptionally well especially for a team working to rebuild belief, confidence and form.
I still hold that Chiefs are close to regaining their mojo to compete and beat the best in the game. More on that point later.
Following on from my criticism of RFU CEO Bill Sweeney’s £1.1 million earnings, I continue to despair at the growing cost facing rugby fans.
Not only is the price of an 18,000-mile trip required to support Chiefs away in South Africa, but yet another £9.99 monthly Pay for View fee is demanded if one wants to watch our lads on Premier Sports TV. OK, £9.99 a month is not a king’s ransom, but added to the BBC licence fee, subscriptions to TNT, Sky, Amazon Prime, Netflix and whoever else comes out of the broadcaster’s woodwork seeking to screen rugby, it is all becoming very expensive to follow your team.
Making the point on costs I found Fulham v Arsenal on the rugby club TV after my daughter’s game finished at Ivybridge on Sunday. Why soccer in the lounge of a traditional rugby club? Because the cost of so many TV subscriptions was simply beyond the club’s budget.
As we move into the festive season, I suspect potential record gate numbers at rugby’s big games, but this alone does not mean the sport is doing well across the board.
Despite exuberant TV commentators and pundits gushing praise for players and thrilling games, Rugby Union across the board in my view is in a mess.
Quite simply the money that is being spent is simply not yet in the game. Why rugby chooses to pay money that it does not have continues to frustrate and disappoint me.
Ever changing laws with rocket-science precision understood by only a few continue to bemuse, confuse and frustrate thousands of casual and armchair supporters. Leagues that stop-start and stop again further add to the confusion and inconsistencies facing elite level club playing schedules.
The Premiership Cup being subservient to the Gallagher Premiership, and the opportunity for the team finishing fourth in the league to become Premiership champions only serve to muddy the water adding further to the confusion.
Adjustments and change are only to be expected in today’s ultra-competitive sporting world, but moving the tectonic plates that once defined rugby union is perhaps not the best way forward.
Under Bill Sweeney’s watch we now see the Six Nations tournament, once viewed as the jewel in the RFU crown, rebranded as the M6N.
After 141 years, why the need to clarify now that it is competition played for by men is somewhat confusing?
Regardless of several donkeys holding high places in our game the rank-and-file rugby player and fan remains sporting lions. Despite all the challenges facing rugby union, it remains the world’s finest team sport. With this in mind we come to Chiefs next challenge on Saturday at Sandy Park.
Word has it that Toulouse are coming fully loaded for this one. Following their crushing 61-21 win over Ulster last week the French giants will be looking for maximum points to secure their position in the Champions Cup Pool 1.
It is indeed a big challenge for our Chiefs, but I believe in our lads, and I think we can do it.
Chiefs are inching forward in confidence and belief, and certainly have the talent to compete and beat the best.
The call this week must be to fill Sandy Park to the rafters with our voices of support raising the roof of what WILL once again become our fortress. Come on you Chiefs, don’t you just love this club.
Until next time, enjoy your rugby and stay safe.