Exeter Sign Shoemark
Exeter have continued their pre-season preparation by bringing in the experience of Highlanders captain Jason Shoemark.
Shoemark signed a long contract with the club and becomes the latest impressive addition to the Exeter squad as they prepare for life in the Premiership against some of the best club sides in Europe.
It is very important for Exeter that they give themselves the best possible chance of staying in the Premiership. They have been one of the most active clubs during the close season and have made a number of sensible additions to the side.
Shoemark is a very experienced player and carries a lot of attributes that are going to help out the Exeter team. However, the nucleus of the squad is still very small and they will have to try and protect themselves in the case of external factors having an impact on their season.
The Player
Shoemark has a great deal of experience as he has been captain of the Highlanders for the last few seasons. He also toured England with New Zealand in 2009 and has an extensive knowledge of international rugby. This experience will help him settle in to the club and help the younger members of the team.
He is very versatile in the middle of the pitch and this is important over a long season. He can cover during a match or start from any place across the middle of the field. Shoemark can adapt to a variety of conditions and this is possibly his best asset.
Head coach Rob Baxter said: "He could easily be regarded as one of the best midfield players not to win a full cap for the All Blacks and I would like to think that during the next two seasons, Jason will bring the leadership and competitive qualities to our team that will be vital in the Premiership."
Reality
It will be very easy for Exeter fans to get carried away with the nature of one or two of their summer signings. However, they must keep their feet securely firmly to the floor because they do still have a very small squad.
There are a few ex-Exeter players who have now left the club after it became apparent that Exeter would not show them faith and give them a chance in the Premiership. This means that a lot of players who would have been used as cover, in the event of injuries, are no longer at the club.
The coach added: "Anybody who has followed the Premiership over the last few seasons will know how physical the middle of the pitch has become and winning that battle will be a key area to our success. We will now have some great options in midfield where I am expecting a lot of competition between the players we now have signed."
Betting Advice
Exeter have done superbly well off of the field during the close season. They seem to have gone from relegation favourites and found a position they are comfortable with that will give them a solid chance of staying up.
It's important that the team do not pick up major injury worries during the first few games. If they avoid this and they pick up points too then don't be afraid to have a punt on them staying up. You will get better odds if you act now but you will stop yourself throwing money down the drain by acting later.
Shoemark could pop up with a few tries during the course of the season but take this with each match. He is not going to accumulate enough points to be the club's best try scorer by the end of the year.
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