Exeter must be first to more breakdowns than AA to set up Leinster Euro date
Exeter Chiefs must be first to more breakdowns than the AA today if they are to book a Champions Cup final date with Leinster.
Rob Baxter’s team are in Bordeaux to face La Rochelle, the holders who powered into the last four on the back of a dominant display by turnover king Levani Botia.
The 2020 champions are only too well aware of the way in which the Fijian flanker singlehandedly did for Saracens in their quarter-final three weeks ago. But they believe they are better off focusing on their own game than getting fixated with the Demolition Man, as Botia is dubbed by fans of Les Maritimes.
Scott Sio, Chiefs’ Aussie prop, said: “The problem you face focusing on one player is you give opportunities elsewhere and you get lazy.
“We have got to treat every breakdown as a threat and we have to execute. We have players here that have won this competition before, we have got to draw on that experience.”
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Joe Simmonds, whose England No.8 brother Sam is charged with being one of the first on the scene, agreed: “Botia has been outstanding at the breakdown and that’s a huge focus for us.
Sam Simmonds, in action in Exeter's last-16 defeat of Montpellier, has a key role today (CameraSport via Getty Images)“The key for us is to get our carries right, then the breakdown becomes a lot easier. We’ve got a big back row ourselves and I know Sam is ready.
“It comes down to the quality of the collisions and making sure we’re getting on the front foot so they don’t have the time to get over the ball.”
The threat posed by Botia, who has the athleticism to alternate between back row and centre, is hard to over-estimate, though in the French Top 14 he does not always find himself on the right side of the referee.
La Rochelle's giant Australian lock Will Skelton (AFP via Getty Images)“He often gets us out of difficult situations,” said Will Skelton, La Rochelle’s former Saracens lock. “If the opposition has made a line break he is a centre so has the speed of a bloody back and will be able to get on the ball and make a turnover.
“In those big moments it definitely helps us big boys out; we can take a breather and then re-set. It’s his physicality around the ruck. He is a demon on the ball. He has that ability to make repeated efforts and sprints.
"Just having him on the field his presence is immense for us and gives us a lot of confidence. His French is not that great, even after nine or 10 years here, but he is definitely a character and the heart and soul of this team.”
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