Western Morning News (Saturday)
Chiefs ready for grudge match against Saracens
EXETER Chiefs head to old rivals Saracens tomorrow looking to keep their hopes of making the end of season play-offs alive with director of rugby Rob Baxter admitting it is a fixture that is important to both sides.
Not only have the two clubs contested Premiership finals in the recent past, but their rivalry is heightened by the bad blood that exists because of Saracens’ blatant breach of strict salary cap rules, which arguably cost the Chiefs more than the two Premiership titles they have to their name.
The London club were hit hard for their cheating and returned to the top-flight this season, where they have quickly established themselves as one of the top sides in the division, pushing for a top two finish that would guarantee a home semifinal in the play-offs.
For Exeter, their up-and-down season saw them bow out of Europe last weekend with a defeat to Munster meaning their only hope of silverware this campaign lies with the Premiership.
“It’s a fixture that is important to both sides,” Baxter said. “We have met in numerous finals in the past and people are aware there is a bit of history between us around the salary cup. There is no point in me saying that doesn’t exist because it plainly does.
“If you play in numerous finals against a team, then what happened is bound to have some effect on how a club feels from the top to the bottom. If it happened the other way around, I’m sure the feeling would be exactly the same.
“For us, it’s a growing rivalry because this week it’s an opportunity for Saracens to dent us getting into the top four and to help them cement a top two. For us, it is a fight to stay in the top four.
“Sunday’s game has got a lot of connotations and for that reason, it should be a very full-blooded encounter. If it is not, that will probably be us not delivering on the day what we need to.”
The Chiefs are currently in fourth place in the Premiership table, but clinging onto the last of the play-off spots by their finger nails. They have played a game more than Gloucester and Northampton, who sit immediately below them, meaning there is no room for error if they are to finish in the top four this season.
“Every game is a huge challenge and you have got to step up and step up and step up and that builds you your momentum, builds your belief across the board and everyone is buying in, turning up at training and doing what needs to get done,” Baxter said. “Questions don’t need to be asked, guys aren’t looking around for a reason to do something different and you just get on with things.
“I’m still a believer that men can turn up and do incredible things and there could be some incredible things for us this season,” he added. “I have seen these guys do some amazing things over the years and that is why it would be a big result for us because it is going to be a very important game for the reasons of keeping our season alive and to keep things going.
“Saracens will be tough, we know that, but so are we on our day. What some people seem to forget is we’re still fourth in the Premiership, we got to the last 16 in the Champions Cup, yet we’re not having our best season. If this is going to be us at our worse, then I’m hopeful of what we can achieve moving forward.”
Baxter makes a few changes to the team that lost in Limerick with the one notable one the omission of Joe Simmonds with henry Slade moving to fly-half.
Exeter Chiefs: Stuart Hogg, Olly Woodburn, Ian Whitten, Tom Hendrickson, Tom O’Flaherty, Henry Slade, Sam Maunder; Alec Hepburn, Jack Yeandle, Marcus Street, Jonny Gray, Sam Skinner, Jannes Kirsten, Richard Capstick, Jacques Vermeulen. Replacements: Jack Innard, Billy Keast, Patrick Schickerling, Dafydd Jenkins, Santiago Grondona, Stu Townsend, Joe Simmonds, Josh Hodge.