Western Morning News (Saturday)
Crunch time for the Chiefs
Baxter knows importance of victory over Tigers
EXETER Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter admits he will be ‘terrified, nervous and excited’ when he takes his seat in the stand to watch his side take on league leaders Leicester Tigers in the Guiness Premiership tomorrow.
After a brief break for the Premiership Cup – and to allow the Six Nations to finish – Baxter will at least be glad to have the majority of his international contingent back in contention for a game he knows could define Exeter’s season.
A victory against the Tigers would help the Chiefs in their quest to cement a top four place and make the end of season play-offs. Defeat and it will be looking ominous with just four games remaining for Baxter’s side after tomorrow’s huge clash at Sandy Park (3pm).
“Every game is big now, that’s what makes it exciting,” Baxter said. “I’m sure I will be sat in the stands, terrified, nervous, excited, because it’s going to be one of those games.
“If we win the game, then we give ourselves lots of opportunities for where the season is going to go. If lose the game, then it gets tougher for next week and the next week and the next week after that.
“That said, if we do win, then I do think it could potentially hold us in good stead because it’s a challenge which, if we take it head on, could really develop us to another level of where we probably dropped off last season.
“I want to see us thriving in this period and I do think we have the capability of doing it, simply because we do have the experience and the ability within the side to succeed. It’s just up to us to see it through.”
In a season where form has fluctuated for the Chiefs, Baxter has been pleased with the way his side have gone about things while many front line stars have been away with their country.
But with international commitments over, the Exeter boss has wasted no time in bringing the likes of Henry Slade, Sam Simmonds and Jonny Gray back into his starting XV.
Jack Nowell and Luke Cowan-Dickie face a race to feature again this season after being injured while away with England, while Scotland captain Stuart Hogg is rested and is expected to return to first team duties for Exeter next weekend.
“In this last five to six weeks, the lads who have been here - and I include the Scotland lads who have come back in they have really rolled their sleeves up because they kind of know we have been under a bit of pressure and know we have had to really get stuck into people,” Baxter added.
“To a man, they have got on with it and they have produced some very good performances.
“The key now is to push that on further, especially with the international returnees adding to that, and not think because guys are back, we are okay because that is what will ultimately kill us.
“What we have to do now is push on and find new levels, I think that is in us, but it’s important particularly if we want to beat a team like Leicester.”
Exeter Chiefs: Josh Hodge, Olly Woodburn, Henry Slade, Ian Whitten, Tom O’Flaherty, Joe Simmonds, Sam Maunder; Alec Hepburn, Jack Innard, Harry Williams, Jonny Gray, Richard Capstick, Dave Ewers. Replacements: Jack Yeandle, Billy Keast, Patrick Schickerling, Will Witty, Santiago Grondona, Jack Maunder, Harvey Skinner, Facundo Cordero.