Plenty of positives for Rob

By Mark Stevens

Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter said the club’s pre-season programme had brought numerous positives, but they will count for nothing if they don’t follow it up with a performance in next week’s Aviva Premiership opener at London Welsh.

The Chiefs made it a hat-trick of wins in pre-season on Friday night as they proved too strong for Championship hosts Worcester Warriors at Sixways.

Skipper Jack Yeandle scored two of their four tries in the 26-6 victory, whilst summer signings Mitch Lees (pictured) and Thomas Waldrom also crossed alongside conversion kicks from Gareth Steenson (2) and Henry Slade.

Former Chief Ignacio Mieres slotted two first half penalties for the home side, but they were never able to contain the powerful visitors who had come into the game having already seen off Cardiff Blues and Ulster in the previous fortnight.

Afterwards, a pleased Baxter admitted the game had given his squad the perfect test ahead of their clash with the Exiles at the Kassam Stadium.

“It was a tough work out for us,” said Baxter. “We said this week that it would be a good and physical test for us - and that’s exactly how it proved to be, especially early on in the game.

“There were shots going in that were as big as anything you would see in the Premiership and as I’ve just said to the guys, I’m glad it was a real hard test as that is what you need to have. You need to have that physical contest because you have to toughen up and have to keep coming back.

“Tonight the guys took some big hits, rode it and came through strongly. What I was very pleased about was that we didn’t concede a try and we looked very solid defensively. At the same time I’m a little frustrated with some scrappy penalties that we gave up, but they are coming from a couple of new players who are trying to prove a point. Once we get on top of that, then we’ll look a very good defensive team.”

Certainly Exeter’s squad - which has been bolstered by eight new signings this summer - have looked in fine fettle this pre-season, but Baxter knows the intensity levels will rise now that the league is about to start.

“There have been lots of positives to take from the last few weeks,” added Baxter. “The boys have trained hard, they are working hard now, but at the same time we’re very aware that the Premiership will hit you like a truck if you don’t step up.

“Everything changes after pre-season and last season we got caught cold at Northampton on that opening day. We had a good pre-season last year and we’re up to speed, but then we kind of cruised into the Northampton week, what we have to do now is make sure we don’t do that again.”

Indeed, Baxter believes the work out given to his troops by Dean Ryan’s side on Friday night has ensured the Chiefs will be ready for whatever London Welsh have to offer.

“In some ways that’s why tonight was such a good game for us,” explained Baxter. “It was a good physical test and both sides have put in some real heavyweight shots out there. I’ll be glad if there are a few sore bodies tomorrow because sometimes you need to feel like a rugby player who has come through some tough stuff. It’s that feeling that makes you believe in things.

“What today will show our guys is that if you stand in front of a team for long enough, sometimes a break happens. We forced those breaks today and we capitalised on them and I am really pleased with a  number of players how they played today.”

Post-match Baxter also played down concerns over the fitness of scrum-half Will Chudley, who was stretchered off inside 90 seconds after receiving a heavy blow to the face from Warriors No.8 GJ Van Velze.

“Chudders looks OK, he’s got a ittle nick under his chin, but he’s up and about again,” continued Baxter. “Like always, we will do the full recovery protocol on and see how we goes, but right now we are OK with things.”