Leicester Tigers prop Dan Cole insists they have put their Champions Cup exit behind them as they prepare to face Exeter in the Premiership.
The Tigers crashed out of European club rugby’s flagship competition last Friday after going down to a 55-24 defeat to Leinster at the Aviva Stadium.
But the good thing about sport is that there’s always an opportunity around the corner to respond, which is exactly what Cole wants to do on Sunday.
Tough trip to Leinster
Saying that Leicester‘s players are “excited” about running out at home once again, the England international also reflected on their Dublin negative.
“It was a tough trip, a tough result in Dublin but we’ve put it behind us and all we have eyes on now is Exeter Chiefs on Sunday,” Cole told The Roar.
“Exeter are in form, we know this will be a big challenge but that too is exciting. We want to be playing in big games, games that have something to play for and Sunday is just that.
“There is plenty of talk around what the league table will look like and that is a good thing for the game, but all we can control is preparing well and putting in a good performance against the Chiefs.
“We know that if we go out and play well, we put our best foot forward to be in with a chance at the end. It’s just one game at a time, that’s what we do and won’t be changing that approach.”
Facing a buoyant Exeter will be a tricky proposition as the Chiefs come into the game following back-to-back wins over Montpellier and the Stormers.
After their latest victory over the Capetonians, Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter hailed his side’s showing, with the Devon team turning a corner.
Exeter back on song
“For me, personally, I would put (the performance) near the top,” Baxter beamed over the weekend.
“We achieved an incredible thing for this rugby club two years ago by winning a double (of Champions Cup and Premiership crowns).
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“Ever since then, everybody outside the club has been talking about the how the castle has been crumbling. My biggest motivation has been to make sure that is not the case.
“You don’t get to a Champions Cup semi-final if everything is wrong. At the end of the day, we are not a broken rugby club.
“We have got the DNA within us that will bring us through a lot of challenges, which is why (the win) feels pretty special. We have knocked over the United Rugby Championship champions, and we have done it in some style.”