Mulipola ready for Chiefs challenge
The prop and his side are determined to end their Sandy Park win-less streak against a Chiefs side who are tied on points with Saracens at the top of the table, Newcastle going all-out to climb away from the league’s bottom spot during the Devon showdown.
“I don’t think it’s a case of having Exeter as big favourites and us just giving it a go – my point of view is that we’re going down there to win, really believing that we can win and doing everything needed to make that happen,” said the 26-times-capped Samoan international.
“They’re joint top of the league and have played in the last few finals so it’s always going to be tough, but we’re looking forward to it, and I see enough within this group to believe we can win down there.
“That’s just the way I see it, we’ll go down there and work hard for each other, and if we do that then we’ve got a great chance.”
Joining from Leicester Tigers last summer and making 14 appearances for the Falcons, Mulipola said: “It’s good up here, I really enjoy it. The place is nice, apart from the cold, but it’s a good club.
“In terms of our league position, we’re working on it – I can say that for sure.
“It’s not easy because the Gallagher Premiership is a tough competition, but we’ll keep fighting and it’ll come.
“I believe in the boys here, I’ve definitely seen it in them to turn things around – it’s just a case of when.”
Well aware that it all starts with Saturday’s trip to Sandy Park, he added: “Exeter always front up.
“You know as a forward that you’re going to get a good test down there, it’s a tough battle against big men, and that’s fair enough. We’ve got big guys of our own and both teams can play rugby as well, so it should be a good contest.
“They keep the ball well so our physicality has to be right up at the top level, and our kick-chase is also vital. It’s nothing unusual in terms of what we need to do, it’s just making sure we’re at our absolute maximum in doing it.”
