HATS off to the forwards! I get a bit of stick sometimes when I'm talking about how good the backs are.

However, I think, after Saturday's performance at Plymouth, I'm going to have to start talking about this pack of ours.

They were awesome at Brickfields and I would say that's the best 80 minutes I've seen from the forwards since I've been at the club. It gave us such control of the game and a 43-17 win at Plymouth really was outstanding when you consider just how big their pack was.

Credit to the players but also the coaches because I think the homework really paid off. We dominated in the set piece and the backs had so much ball that they could run riot. That said, Plymouth are a decent side and I believe they will give some good teams a game down there.

What we saw at the weekend was a continuation of the progress we have made so far. We'd be stupid to think that that is the best it is going to be this season. What is important after such a win is to build. We were happy with the display against Henley but happier still with our work at Plymouth. The best of the season? Without a doubt but that doesn't stop us wanting to progress and that has to be our focus against Exeter on Saturday.

The Chiefs will come to Sixways remembering their cup defeat but also hoping to show some of that second half form which almost got them back into the game. They haven't had the greatest of starts to the season but they demand respect, especially because of their forward power.

We saw our own power, however, at Plymouth and credit has to be paid to Phil Richards. His new regime was quite a change in the summer. A switch in diet, a training programme totally reworked and new ideas brought in to sharpen our focus. Taking ice baths after training tends to do that!

What I would say, though, is that all the boys are feeling the benefit of the training programme. We all feel stronger and I think you could see that quite clearly as the pack drove the Plymouth forwards back. The strength tests have shown that every player has improved in that area and when you do that, you are more confident in your ability to push the opposition back.

I am delighted to be back in the starting line-up for Exeter. It has seemed a long time since I went into a match with so much confidence but I'm feeling good again and hopefully, touch wood, the injury problems are behind me now. It's a good time to be coming back in because I've got so much quality around me. The back line has been playing so well and when you have people like Ben Hinshelwood, Tommy Hayes and Daren O'Leary around you, it makes it so much easier because they have so much experience to mix with the explosive talents of Gary Trueman and Wes Davies. When you've got the cool head that is James Brown at 10, then it is a real pleasure.

For all that talent, however, I have to give the final word to the forwards. They have come under some criticism in recent seasons but I hope now that people begin to see their real quality.

It's long been said that we have the best backs in the division but I've no doubt we've now got the pack to go with it.