'One of the best': Exeter out to make a statement at Loftus

CHAMPIONS CUP SPOTLIGHT: Exeter Chiefs head coach Ali Hepher believes his team’s European Cup Round Three clash against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld will be a good test of their championship credentials.

The English club will enter the match in second spot in Pool A after two bonus point wins, which included a 44-14 victory over the Bulls in Round Two.

The Bulls are currently in seventh position in the pool with five points from their opening two games.

Exeter will be heading to Pretoria knowing that a win can put them firmly in the driver’s seat for home-ground advantage heading into the knockout stage.

“It’s hugely exciting,” Hepher commented. “It’s a different competition, a different climate, a different country, but it’s something to really enjoy.

“For us, though, it’s a massive opportunity at the end of next week to push our claims for top seedings later in the tournament. It’s an opportunity for us to really go after things.”

On the challenge of facing the Bulls, Hepher added: “It will be tough, we know that, but it’s a chance to test ourselves against the best.

“It will be good to put ourselves up against one of the best and see where we are at.”

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Meanwhile, Exeter’s star hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie suffered an ankle injury in his team’s 35-12 win over Northampton in the Premiership last weekend.

“It’s too early to say what has happened,” said Hepher. “Any time you see Luke leaving the field, you worry, because he’s a tough player.

“Right now, he’s sore and we will just have to wait and see what the scans say. It didn’t look great, but we will know more once he’s been properly checked out.”

Source: @ChampionsCup