Prop Orlandi ready to make impression as Aviva Premiership returns
Having made his first appearance in the same week he joined the club against London Welsh, the Argentine has been able to spend the month of cup action adapting to his new home and settling into the club, having been unavailable for selection during the European Rugby Challenge Cup and LV= Cup competitions.
“I’ve been here for one month and I am really enjoying my time, I’m adapting to the team and the work that the boys are doing and I am trying to learn the calls and things as quickly as I can.”
Joining a new club mid-season, Orlandi has had a whole new set of calls and playing style to get used to and with the help of his front row colleagues, has been making the transition well.
“The rest of the front row have been amazing really and have helped me to learn the calls and get up to speed which has really been great.”
With competition for places strong throughout the squad, the 31 year old says that the battle with his fellow props is a good situation to have as it fosters high standards and camaraderie between those players.
“It is important that we find a good link between us all. We are all one team, it is not as though we play golf or tennis so we all look to push each other improve as players and enjoy that competition and that is where we are as a group.”
In line for selection for the weekend’s game in the West Country against the Chiefs, Orlandi says the squad are all looking forward to getting back to the Aviva Premiership and are fully aware of the challenge they are set to face at Sandy Park.
“Everyone is very excited about the game. We have trained really well this week and I hope we can keep that mind-set going until Saturday and we can bring that to the field.”
“It will be a really tough game. Exeter play really well. They have good forwards and so have a good scrum, a good mauling game. It is a very complete team so we have to go through our basics and do what we do normally and trust in our systems if we want to do well.”