Baxter challenges Chiefs to fight way into play-offs

Players covering for absent internationals praised for bringing ‘vibrancy and freshness’

ROB Baxter has challenged his Exeter Chiefs side to fight their way back into the play-off picture in this season’s Premiership.

In what has been a somewhat mixed campaign to date for the Devonians, Baxter says he has been encouraged by recent displays and is confident his squad can haul themselves into the top four by the end of the regular season.

The Chiefs have contested the last five Premiership finals at Twickenham, winning two of them, and they are desperate to once again be part of the end of season showpiece.

They do, however, have work to be done and that continues tomorrow with a lengthy trip to Newcastle Falcons, a team who defeated them 15-14 at Sandy Park in the corresponding fixture back in November.

But buoyed by last weekend’s impressive 24-15 success over Gloucester, the visitors will travel in confident mood to the North East this weekend.

“It’s going to be a challenge, especially with the weather,” said Baxter. “Hopefully, though, we can go up there and build on what have been some very good performances in recent weeks.”

The Gloucester triumph moved the Chiefs to within two points of the final play-off place, currently occupied by Harlequins on 43 points.

“The only thing I can talk to the players about right here and now is about how hard we are going to have to fight to get the season back in our own hands,” explained Baxter.

“Until we get into that top four, the season is not in our hands. Right now, we can’t decide if we are going to win the Premiership as there are other sides who can still stay ahead of us.

“What we need to do is put things back in our hands and get back into that top four, simply because if we do that, and then we play well, then no one can overtake us.”

With many of Baxter’s international stars again unavailable, the Chiefs’ director of rugby sticks with a largely unchanged side. Up front, Sam Skinner comes into the side in place of Dave Ewers at blindside flanker, Don Armand reverts to the open-side and Richard Capstick packs down at No.8.

Behind the scrum, the only change sees Sam Maunder return to the side at scrum-half in place of Sam Hidalgo-Clyne.

Maunder is one of a number of the club’s up-and-coming stars really grasping their opportunity to shine on the big stage – and Baxter has been delighted with the performances being put in by young and old across the squad.

“It’s really exciting, especially for those youngsters who are bringing that vibrancy and freshness to the group,” added Baxter. “Equally, we have to make sure it aligns with those senior players who bring their qualities as well.

“If you look at the group at the moment, Joe Simmonds looks really energised, Ian Whitten doesn’t look like the old warhorse, but more of a young thoroughbred really thriving. Don Armand has had some of his best games for quite a long time; Jannes Kirsten is non-stop and then you’ve got that young front-row who are all standing up.

“Behind them, Flats [Tom O’Flaherty] and Woody [Olly Woodburn]are getting on the ball and look dangerous; Josh Hodge is getting more consistency in his game and looking a real threat; look at the yards Tom Hendrickson was making last week – if you add all that together, it feels pretty good.”