Exeter and Saracens to scrap it out
Exeter boss Rob Baxter admits animosity exists between the Chiefs and Saracens as the pair prepare to go head-to-head again at Allianz Park.
The two clubs have been England’s dominant teams in recent seasons, meeting each other in three of the last four Gallagher Premiership finals.
There is no chance of that happening this year with Saracens relegated following persistent salary cap breaches.
But Exeter have been outspoken in their criticism of Saracens’ salary misdemeanours and that is bound to raise the temperature in north London today despite the large gap between them in the table.
“There’s obviously animosity, largely because myself or Tony Rowe (chairman and chief executive) have been happy to make media comments about what we felt about the salary cap,” Chiefs director of rugby Baxter said.
“But they wouldn’t have been different to comments made by any other club, it’s just that our comments carried more weight because we’ve played in finals against them.
“There hasn’t been any love lost between us for seasons. We’ve both been operating at the top end of the Premiership for the last three or four years and the reality is that when you meet in the semi-finals or finals, you battle away in those games.”
With Exeter’s place in the end-of-season play-offs already confirmed, the main focus is on the battle for a top four spot behind.
Second-placed Sale, for whom England centre Manu Tuilagi makes his 100th Premiership appearance, host Bath, who are four points adrift of them in fifth.
Third meets fourth as Bristol travel to Wasps with just two points separating the sides.