Ex-England boss Stuart Lancaster is perfect man to halt Exeter Chiefs Champions Cup defence, says Tadhg Furlong
STUART LANCASTER has been hailed as the ultimate rugby brain needed to stop Exeter Chiefs’ Heineken Champions Cup title defence.
Ex England boss Lanny, now head coach of Irish giants Leinster, is plotting the downfall of Rob Baxter’s side when the two sides meet at Sandy Park.
Incredibly, Saturday’s quarter-final is four-times winners Leinster’s 17th at this stage in the tournament, compared to Exeter’s third.
And Lions and Ireland prop Tadhg Furlong warned the English of how important the Lancaster-effect has been in Dublin.
He said: “It can’t be understated the impact that Stuart has had on the group and the club.
“Stuart has come in and put his stamp on things – he sets the week out well for us, is strong in his beliefs and how the game should be played and translates that to us very well.
“As much as he does the coaching, he also tries to educate us in trends in the game and what people are doing.
“As a front-row forward, sometimes you are cocooned off into set-piece forward play.
“But Stuart covers a lot on what goes on in the back field, where teams are setting up in defence and where the space will be.”
Holders Exeter did the Premiership and European double for the first time ever last season.
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But Leinster are even more used to that kind of success as they chase an unprecedented fifth title.
The Irish came out on top in the last meeting between these two in 2018 – but Furlong also believes there are similarities between the two.
The 28-year-old star added: “We luckily came out on the right side and since then Exeter have come on and last year doubled up with the Premiership as well – so they are obviously a quality team.
“Sandy Park is a fortress for them and we definitely have a big task on our hands.
“They’re not different to us – when they get to that 5-10 metres out from the line where they go into those pick-and-drives.
“To be fair they’re probably the originals at it, and do it so effectively.
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“Their maul into their pick-and-go game, you really get a sense of inevitability about it when they get in there.
“Trying to stop a team going through multi-phase when they’re trying to make it from five metres is very hard.
“You have to front up, and have to be smart, fill areas so you’re not getting that 2-on-1 or 3-on-2.
“You have to number up and win the collisions.”