Baxter: Incredible win, now finish it off
@therugbypaper
NOTHING could hide Rob Baxter’s joy last night but “we ain’t won nothing yet” was the message he drummed home in the dressing room after the match.
“It’s incredible but the biggest thing for me now is not just to turn up and take part in the final, it’s to get out on that field to win it,” said Baxter.
“We are still only in a final and a Premiership semi-final. We could lose two games, and our season could finish without a trophy so there is still an awful lot for us to have to work for.
“We have got the right players fit and fresh at this stage of the season and it feels like we are coming together at the right time. It’s been a long old season but we’re still fresh and hungry.
“We had to weather the storm today, make them work hard for their points. Ultimately that’s what allowed us to get some points later on.”
Baxter added: “Big games of rugby are like boxing matches. At some stages, the guy who can’t get his hands up any more can get knocked out. We created enough of those moments today.
“We made Toulouse have to keep getting off the floor and keep doing something to get metres.
“Everyone bought into the whole 80-minute thing. What is the best way of fatiguing a big guy? You stick him on the floor and get him to get up.
“It has been a lot of hard work from a lot of good people, and it does feel like a fantastic achievement.”
Bristol’s Ashton Gate will host the final, on Saturday, October 17, and Baxter added: “Going up the road for the final is a reward you get for working hard through the pool. That’s how it works.You go after it in the pool, and you end up being one of the top seeds.”
Captain Joe Simmonds said: “We’ve worked so hard for this opportunity and it’s feels great to beat a real powerhouse like Toulouse with a team performance to be proud of.
“We say each week it has to be an 80-minute performance and to score 28 points against them is brilliant. We stayed on top and managed to grind it out.”
Toulouse coach Ugo Mola said: “We had our chances but Exeter are a very strong side – no weaknesses – who took their opportunities. They are deserving finalists.”