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'Thanks for that' - Jack Nowell exits interview after cheeky question
By Ian Cameron
Exeter Chiefs winger Jack Nowell responded with humour when caught off guard with a cheeky observation from BT Sport's Sonja McLaughlan during a post-match interview on Sunday.
The exchange occurred after Exeter's defeat to La Rochelle in the Heineken Champions Cup in Bordeaux, where Ronan O'Gara's men had convincingly beat Rob Baxter's Chiefs 47-28 at the Matmut ATLANTIQUE stadium in front of over 40,000 raucous fans.
Indeed their total of 47 points and seven tries in the win against the Chiefs is a new record for a Heineken Champions Cup semi-final eclipsing Saracens’ 46 points and six tries against ASM Clermont Auvergne in 2014.
After discussing the game pitchside after the final whistle, McLaughlan referenced rumours that Nowell appears to be set to join La Rochelle next season, stating "You haven't picked a bad club to come to."
Rather than being taken aback, Nowell responded with a laugh, saying, "Yeah, yeah, thanks for that!" before exiting stage left. It was a nice moment, the warm exchange being met with laughter from both parties.
Indeed it's something of an end-of-era for this Exeter squad, who had just one regular season Gallagher Premiership game against London Irish to go after failing to make this year's play-offs. A huge chunk of the trophy-winning squad is leaving the Devon at the end of term, with many of the team's top stars choosing to move to France, the URC or just retiring.
Director of rugby Baxter admitted that he would 'miss' the star-studded squad he's assembled.
“I am going to miss these guys because they are amazing players and I count some of them as life-long friends of mine and we have done some incredible things together. We have been on a journey together for 12, 13, 14 years with some of them, but I am also looking forward to next year because I would like to start a journey with some of these other players."
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Latest Comments
It certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
Go to commentsHis best years were 2018 and he wasn't good enough to win the World Cup in 2023! (Although he was voted as the best player in the world in 2023)
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