Chiefs side to face Bristol Bears
By Mark Stevens
6/10/22
Rob Baxter believes his Exeter Chiefs side have laid some solid foundations from which to build their Gallagher Premiership season, but feels there is still plenty to develop if they are to establish themselves at the summit of the table.
After three successive victories, the Chiefs suffered their first loss of the season last Saturday, going down 28-20 to Sale Sharks at the Salford Stadium.
In what was a physical encounter in the North West, it was the Sharks who delivered the deadly bite late in the second half, courtesy of a Tom Carpenter try and a penalty from Rob du Preez.
Just days on from that loss, Baxter and his squad have not only analysed that setback, but quickly turned their attentions to tomorrow’s trip to near neighbours Bristol Bears in Round Five (7:45pm).
“We had a good luck at the game this week and we talked about certain areas we could have been better in,” explained Baxter. “At times we had space to manipulate, but a dropped ball or a pass we don’t make and we’re sitting here talking a lot differently. Equally, a couple of soft exits from rucks, which gave them some soft points as well, and you realise there isn’t too much you have to do to turn that loss into a win.
“As a group, though, we’re in a good position. We’ve started the season well; we’re in a good place, playing some good rugby and we’ve come through some tough games on the right side. Last weekend it didn’t quite go to plan, but some of that was down to the way Sale played and some of that was down to things we did in the game.
“We’ve had three wins from four and if we can make that four from five on Friday night, that’s a real solid start and as good as we could have put together.As I said, we’re building the foundations, yet I don’t think we’ve quite hit our straps yet. We’re showing good endeavour with the team and we’re improving.
“I know some people will say how are you improving when you’ve lost, but I can see the improvement is happening day by day within this group. For some of these guys to improve, they will have to lose games of rugby. It happened in the past with others and it will happen with this group as well. Sometimes you don’t become a great player without going through the furnace.
“There will be tough times and disappointing days, but it’s those disappointments that lead you to greater things. We lost finals in the past, which were hugely disappointing, but we needed that experience to win other things. For some of these young players especially, they need to play in big, high-pressured games. Friday will feel like that, so it’s important they get to experience that and see how they come through.”
With a bumper crowd expected at Ashton Gate, Baxter expects this all Westcountry affair to throw up a mouth-watering encounter.
“Over the years we’ve had some great games against Bristol,” added the Chiefs Director of Rugby. “In all of them, results have gone either way. Right now, you’ve got two teams who are at the top end of the table and both of whom will be pushing hard to get a result.
“What we need to do - and we’ve spelt this out to the boys this week - is go there and put in a big, emotional performance. I’m sure Pat [Lam] will be saying the same to his team, but more often than not, it’s that team that goes out and really imposes themselves from the outset who put the performance in.
“Like ourselves, Bristol will have been frustrated with their result last weekend up at Newcastle, so we have to be ready to come out of the blocks firing and meet the challenge they throw down head on.”
Ahead of kick-off, Baxter has made changes to his starting line-up. Injuries sustained at Sale to Jack Dunne, Dafydd Jenkins and Stu Townsend mean they all miss out, so into the fold come Jonny Gray, Christ Tshiunza and Jack Maunder.
Other changes see Jack Yeandle assume the captaincy at hooker in place of Luke Cowan-Dickie, who drops to the bench. Richard Capstick gets the nod at No.8 in place of Sam Simmonds, while in the back division Jack Nowell’s inclusion on the wing means Rory O’Loughlin reverts into the centre and Joe Simmonds starts at fly-half ahead of Harvey Skinner.
