Sestaret: It will be a pleasure

NIC Sestaret can't wait to get his chance in the Exeter Chiefs team this weekend — because his teammates are playing so well.

The 27-year-old back comes in for the injured Phil Dollman in Rob Baxter's starting line-up for Sunday's Westcountry derby against the Cornish Pirates.

Sestaret is delighted to get involved from the first whistle, as the Chiefs have impressed on their way to scoring 11 tries and 84 points in their last two matches.

The former Plymouth Albion player partners Bryan Rennie in the midfield and is happy to play in the centre, rather than his familiar wing role, as both Mark Foster and Matt Jess are in top form.

"It can be frustrating watching from the bench at times, but when you see guys playing like that you want to get some game time yourself," Sestaret said.

"It's a pleasure to come in and play alongside guys who are playing so well.

"As long as I play I don't care what position it is. I enjoy playing centre, you have a bit more responsibility there.

"Both wingers are flying at the moment so we have to keep them in. If we keep winning I don't mind where I play."

Sestaret thinks this weekend's game is the ideal preparation for the Chiefs ahead of the Championship play-offs, which start next month.

Having won their last three matches, the Frenchman thinks the Recreation Ground clash will be a step up in quality and that will match the rising level of Exeter's training sessions.

"Before the play-offs it's good to have tough games like this to see where you are," he said.

"It will be an interesting game — the whole team is training well at the moment and the intensity is really high. Everyone is ready to play so I think it will be a good game on Sunday."

Sestaret puts his side's improvement on the pitch down to an improvement in training since they lost 25-16 at home against Bristol in December, winning their last three matches.

He said: "Everyone knew we needed to improve and be a bit more professional in training so that we would be a bit tougher to beat on the pitch.

"Against London Welsh, even though we lost, the spirit was better and after that we started winning."