Rimmer expects Euro test

Prop Carl Rimmer believes Exeter Chiefs will face a much different animal when they tackle Cardiff Blues in their final Heineken Cup game of the season at the Arms Park tomorrow (3.40pm).

Having produced arguably their best half of rugby this season against the Welsh region back in October when they won 44-29, the Chiefs head to the Welsh capital this weekend not only looking to finish their European campaign on a high, but also aiming to rediscover their winning formula.

Eight defeats in nine games is hardly the statistic Rob Baxter would want attached to his side, but Rimmer insists that despite recent setbacks the mood within the Exeter camp remains as positive as ever.

"A lot of the results have been close recently and we've been in every game, it's not like we're getting blown out of the water by teams," said Rimmer. "They're are just little things we need to correct, a little bit of accuracy here and there which, if we do, I think we can come out on the other side of those tight results."

Rimmer, who will pack down in a Chiefs line-up that sees Jack Yeandle, Dean Mumm, Dave Ewers, Don Armand and Gareth Steenson all recalled to the starting XV, knows the Blues will be worthy foes and desperate to right the wrongs of their defeat in Devon earlier in the season.

"Of course we would love to replicate that first half display against them, but there is no secret formula for going out and achieving that first 40 minutes again," added Rimmer. "In that game everything seemed to go for us, we ran the ball hard, we cleared the breakdowns, made our tackles and we reaped our rewards early on. I'm sure Cardiff didn't expect that and I'm certain it's something we are not going to get away with this weekend. They are going to be hurting from that; they are a quality side and they've built from that and certainly not the team we faced that week, so it will be a much harder match for us."

With the Arms Park boasting the new 4G surface similar to that of the one at Allianz Park where Saracens play, the Chiefs will hope the firm surface will allow them to showcase their attacking arsenal to the full.

"We're looking forward to the game," continued Rimmer.

"Probably more so the backs as they can get their legs moving a bit, but tt this time of year you don't tend to get firm, fast pitches like that, so I think that should suit us.

"Of course they [the Blues] are playing at home, so that's going to help them and they train on that pitch every week, but we've done our best to try and accommodate that this week and get used to it. Also we played on the Saracens pitch last year, so everyone has an idea of how it is going to be. Like I said, we're always a team who like the track to harden up, so hopefully we can get out there and run hard as well."

With European qualification seemingly unlikely for the Chiefs, Baxter has made no secret of the fact that he will use the two Heineken and two LV= Cup weekends to ensure his troops are battle hardened for the return of the Premiership action next month.

For all the players - Rimmer included - the chance to impress and stake a claim for that top flight action is paramount over the coming weeks.

He added: “The bigger picture stuff for us is to go there and make an impact for the following week in the LV= Cup and get the team flowing and gelling, playing some rugby and correcting the mistakes we made last week. We are trying to push forward week on week.

“Every week we try and tweak a few things, get the little gains and rectify any issues we have. There will be some work at the breakdown that we will need to address – not because it was bad in any way – but more we want to up the tempo a bit more. It’s not going to be a runaway for either team, so we just want to come home with the points and the result.”

Pictures: Exeter Rugby Club/Pinnacle Photo Agency