Camacho to break Stade hearts again?
Exeter Chiefs wing Gonzalo Camacho is aiming to become only the second player in Amlin Challenge Cup history to win back-to-back titles – and once again break the hearts of Stade Français supporters.
The man who helped Harlequins win the title for the third time last season with his last gasp try in the 19-18 victory over Stade Français at Cardiff City Stadium is now setting his sights on another winner’s medal with the Chiefs.
The Argentine international helped the Chiefs warm-up for their quarterfinal clash with his old rivals at Stade Charlety on Thursday, April 6, by playing a key role in a mightily impressive 28-27 away win in the Aviva Premiership at Gloucester last weekend.
“Stade Français are a big team with loads of international players,” said Camacho. “They have great experience, but you never know what might happen and we are very ambitious and with that hunger we can win any game.
“I scored against them in the final last year with about two minutes left to play and, while everyone remembers that try, it was a really good team effort that won us the title.
“I will be looking to score again, but the most important thing is that we play as a team and not as individuals. We must go forward with the ball and put pressure on them.
“It’s amazing to know that 1,000 fans have already booked to go to Paris and that will give us a big boost. We play for them, we appreciate their support and I think they appreciate what we’ve been doing on the pitch.
“Not many clubs are in the same position as us and we’re going for everything this season. We’re in a great place, we’re very ambitious and everyone wants to keep playing well.
“In rugby terms, it has been a very good move for me to Exeter even though Harlequins are doing very good this season. It has been a new challenge and everyone at Exeter has a strong focus on what they want to achieve.
“We have London Irish at home before we head to Paris and it will be the perfect build-up for us as it will be a very hard game. Every game we want to go a step up in our preparations for the Amlin Challenge Cup.”
