'A very good natural rugby player... Hopefully this is where you see him now'

Exeter Chiefs boss Rob Baxter believes that Greg Fisilau will take his game to the next level after winning his first England cap in the win over Australia last weekend.

The Plymouth-born back-rower, 23, came off the bench for Ben Curry in a 25-minute cameo in the 45-22 victory over the Wallabies, much to Baxter’s delight.

Fisilau started his career with Wasps before moving back to the South West when the Coventry outfit suffered a financial meltdown, and he also had a loan spell at Birmingham Moseley Rugby.

Baxter hailed the son of former Tonga centre Kenni Fisilau as one of the Chiefs’ best performers, even when his team-mates are having a bad day.

“I am delighted for Greg. I think it’s a good reward for how hard he’s worked in the last few years since he came to us and how consistent a performer he’s been.

“Greg’s been one of those guys who rarely has a bad game. Sometimes even when we probably feel we’re underperforming as a team, it’s rare that Greg has been part of that.

“He tends to be a consistent ball carrier, as his numbers stay very high and he gets on with things. He’s a very good natural rugby player.

“So really delighted for him because I think he’s someone who’s been very, very good for us for a period of time, and it was nice that he got his opportunity and an England team that was going well on a big occasion like the Australia game.

“And hopefully this is where you see him now. Gain that confidence of being international, ready to play, and he just goes from strength to strength for us.

“He’s still a very young man and has still got a lot of rugby, both physical and rugby development, to go. I see this as being like a kick-off point for Greg, and hopefully we’ll see him accelerate through to higher levels than he already is,” he said.