Steenson Warns Ulster Over Exeter Motivation for Saturday — Ulster Vs Exeter
Gareth Steenson says ulster vs exeter carries a sharp edge for Exeter Chiefs, who will arrive at Affidea Stadium on Saturday with a reason beyond the scoreline. He said the club's 2020 Champions Cup triumph still fuels them because supporters had to watch from home under Covid restrictions.
Steenson and Exeter's 2020 memory
“That will be a huge motivation for those lads,” Steenson said of Exeter's push to reach a European final for their supporters. The former Exeter scorer, who owns 2,531 points for the club, said: “The experience of winning the Champions Cup was absolutely huge, particularly given the club’s journey from the lower leagues.”
Exeter won the PREM and European double in 2020, but their Champions Cup final against Racing 92 at Ashton Gate was played without the people who had followed the club through that climb. “They had to stay home and watch from afar the greatest day in the club’s history,” Steenson said.
Affidea Stadium and Ulster
The semi-final also takes place in a setting Steenson knows well. Born in Armagh, he said: “Rugby is a massive in Northern Ireland,” before pointing to the challenge Exeter face on the road. Ulster have home advantage, and English sides have historically struggled there.
Steenson recalled Leicester being crushed 33-0 at Ravenhill weeks after winning the 2003 World Cup, a reminder of how quickly the ground can turn on visiting teams. Exeter have had only limited success in the country, with one of their few wins coming at Connacht in 2015, so Saturday asks for a different standard.
Exeter's recent edge
The stakes are sharpened further by Exeter's recent form in Europe. They reached the Champions Cup semi-finals in 2023 before losing to La Rochelle in Bordeaux, and they arrive in Northern Ireland looking to go one step further.
Rob Baxter said of the 2020 final, “Not having our families here to share such an achievement was the cruellest thing,” a line that explains why Steenson's warning lands now. Exeter want the chance to win the club's biggest prize again with their supporters in the frame, and Ulster know that motivation is built into the visitors before a ball is kicked.
