Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter is optimistic that star recruit Len Ikitau could make his debut in next weekend’s PREM clash against Harlequins, following his arrival at Sandy Park.
The Wallabies ace arrived in the English South West earlier this week after the conclusion of the Rugby Championship, with fellow Aussie Tom Hooper expected to follow in the coming weeks.
He becomes the latest Australian star to call Exeter his home, joining the likes of current star Scott Sio and club icons Nic White and Dean Mumm on the list.
‘But it’s great to have him here fit and ready to go’
Ikitau was a notable yet very explainable absentee in the Chiefs’ match-day squad to face Bristol Bears this weekend, but it seems we won’t have to wait too long to see him don a jersey at Sandy Park.
“We’re not expecting too much from him in the first day or two while he gets over the jetlag and the travel stresses,” said Baxter. “But it’s great to have him here fit and ready to go. It bodes well for an involvement next week.
“We’re not going to involve him this weekend (against Bristol), I don’t mind saying that. He’s only just arrived, so he needs to get to know the lads. He’ll have a bit of a runaround to flush out the journey, and we don’t want to risk injury when he’s just turned up.”
Ikitau was already regarded as one of the signings of the season after confirmation of his signature with the two-time PREM winners, but that has only increased following his performances for Australia over the summer.
The centre was among the Wallabies’ best players during the Rugby Championship, often leading the way for carries alongside fellow Chiefs recruit Hooper, and he also impressed during the British and Irish Lions Test series, too, albeit in a losing cause.
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This form ahead of his arrival in the PREM already has fans salivating at the thought of seeing him in action, and Baxter is keen to get him as heavily involved as possible across the year.
“He’s got a little bit to learn around calls and structures,” said the Chiefs boss. “But with good players, you often find that rugby is still rugby.
“He’s an X-factor player, but with a solidity you need week-in-week-out in the PREM. He’s got that ability to score tries in different ways. He can beat guys one-on-one, but he also suits us down to the ground and gets stuck into the pick and goes and wants to get involved and get on the ball.
“That’s the key for us, to get him on the ball. We’re seeing that with Paul Brown-Bampoe and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso’s hands more and more, and that’s what we want to do (with Ikitau). We want to create opportunities for players to show the best of what they can do.”