Super TJ looking to secure a starting place

Tom Johnson says regaining his place within the Exeter Chiefs starting line-up is his immediate goal ahead of the new 2013/14 season.

Having made his first start for the Devon club since January in last Saturday’s pre-season win over Bristol, the England international is hoping another big display against Glasgow Warriors this weekend will bolster his chances of featuring in Exeter’s seasonal opener at Northampton Saints on September 7.

The all-action forward was enjoying a terrific season last term until a damaging knee injury sustained in the Heineken Cup against Leinster in January sidelined him for much of the second half of the year.

He said: “The competition in our back-row is fierce... There is a lot of competition across the board here and I just need to work on earning a place in the squad...

“I’m just enjoying playing rugby, to be honest. We have a good bunch of boys here and we have had a good pre-season. I had three years without a proper pre-season under my belt and I have had that now, so I’m feeling quite fit and the physios have done a great job on me.”

With pre-season wins over Scarlets (23-15) and Bristol (51-7) already accrued by Rob Baxter’s side, Johnson believes there is still room for improvement from the Chiefs.

He added: “The boys turned up and played well, but there were some mistakes out there. As forwards, we need to up our game in the set-piece a little bit. But the intent to play, the enthusiasm and enjoyment was out there."

See more at: http://www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/news/tj-expects-glasgow-battle/#sthash.W0k...

Picture: Exeter Rugby Club/Pinnacle Photo Agency