Moon set for Chiefs milestone

Ben Moon has warned his Exeter Chiefs team-mates they can expect the ultimate examination when they kick-off their Aviva Premiership campaign on Saturday away to rivals Bath (2pm).

With a lengthy and gruelling pre-season done and dusted for Devon’s finest, it’s now that the business end is about to begin and the 26-year-old prop is well aware of what looms large on the horizon.

Impressive victories over Bath and Gloucester - both home and away - meant the Chiefs collected the inaugural Westcountry Challenge Cup with an unblemished record and with plenty of positives safely secured in the locker.

However, pre-season performances can be seen in different ways and following the lead off head coach Rob Baxter last week, Moon knows those results will count for nothing unless the Chiefs follow it up in style at the Recreation Ground this weekend.

With Bath and the Chiefs buoyed by the return of several key personnel following the early exits of some countries in this year’s Rugby World Cup, both sides are expected to be much stronger from that which tackled one another at the same venue only last weekend.

On that occasion, a powerful second half display - one in which the Chiefs produced 29 unanswered points - saw the visitors ease to a comfortable 43-16 success.

This Saturday, though, Moon - who will run our for his 100th league appearance for the club - is expecting a backlash of sorts from Mike Ford’s side, who last season were beaten in the Premiership final at Twickenham by Saracens.

“It was nice to get a bit of silverware early doors, but at the end of the day, it was a pre-season game. The real work starts this weekend,” Moon said.

“It is never easy going to Bath and we know with the reputation they have got, the season they had last year, the guys they have in their squad, the quality they have got and the fans they have there, it is going to be a tough ask. But we feel ready and up for the challenge.

“Everyone loves a derby, all the fans get behind their respective teams and have a good old day of it. Hopefully the sun will be out and we will be able to enjoy it as well.”

For Moon, the chance to join a select band of men on the club’s ‘Centurion Board’ is something he is clearly relishing as it was in It was in October 2008, against Sedgley Park at home, that the fresh-faced forward made his Chiefs bow in an emphatic 71-5 win over their guests.

Moon even marked the occasion with a try, one of only two he has managed in his 99 league games so far. However, there have been several memorable moments for the Tiverton-born player.

“It will be a special game for me being my 100th [league] game. It seems a long time ago since I made my first appearance, but I am looking forward to this weekend now and getting stuck in,” he said. “There have been a lot of memories in my time here. I remember my first game here when I was 18, which is eight years ago now, that was a big, special moment for me having all my family here with me.

“My 100th game for the club was also special as it was also my Dad’s 50th birthday here, they had a party upstairs and I got man of the match that day as well, so that was also a bit special.

“It would be nice to do that again, but ultimately, it’s about getting that big ‘W’ and anything else that comes will be a bonus.”

And with the stock of the Chiefs rising year on year, last season the club produced their best-ever finish in the top flight, Moon admits everyone inside the Exeter camp are desperate to kick on further this term.

“Definitely. With it being so close last year and coming down to points in the last game, it does hurt a bit, but the games we missed out in last year, we have to make sure we are picking up wins this season so that we can get into the top four,” Moon said.

“It is going to be a tough season and long in terms of games coming one after the other, but this year, we are really pushing our recovery and stuff, so hopefully that will pay later on in the season.”