Frustrated Baxter tries to pick out positive aspects of season’s first loss
Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter was magnanimous in defeat as his side slumped to their first loss of the Premiership season at the hands of Harlequins in a thriller at The Stoop on Friday evening.
Joe Marchant’s crucial late try swung the game in Harlequins’ favour despite a late rally from the leaders as the Chiefs were beaten 28-26 in what was their first away reverse since February.
Two tries from Nathan Earle either side of the break put Quins back ahead but Exeter did not lose their heads as Jack Yeandle and Ollie Devoto reduced their lead to a single point before Marcus Smith’s penalty and Marchant’s try ended the visitors’ challenge.
Despite surrendering an eight-game winning streak, Baxter believes the defeat will only serve as further inspiration for their European Champions Cup clash against Gloucester next weekend.
The Chiefs’ boss said: “I’m obviously pleased with the two points. I was interviewed before the game and I was asked about our away record and I said that we’ve got an extended group who know how to win and to make it hard for the opposition.
“I think that’s the bit we got the most wrong because it felt like, multiple times when we started to get back into the game, that was where we errored.
“It was frustrating from our perspective because some of our elements that make us hard to beat went missing. When we scored a try, the first thing we did was concede a penalty off the restart – that brings pressure straight back against us,” Baxter added.
“You also have to give credit to Harlequins because there’s no doubt that some of those errors came from pressure from the opposition. In a way, the boys have got to take the loss and refocus – this is what helps Exeter Chiefs win.”
The visitors scored the first try of the match through Matt Kvesic, but they found themselves behind at the break as tries in quick succession from James Chisholm and Earle turned the tables.
Yeandle broke back but again Earle extended Quins’ advantage, before Devoto reduced the deficit to a point again. Then Quins sealed the win through Smith’s penalty and Marchant’s try, despite Ian Whitten’s last-gasp consolation effort.
Harlequins head coach Paul Gustard was delighted with his players as he said: “I thought we showed a true version of ourselves.
“We are tough and we are competitive – even when we lose we get something out the game, so we are a hard team to put away.
“For me, that shows resilience, character and togetherness and that’s what I am proud of,” Gustard added.
“It was the most joined up performance [of the season]. We have defended well in some games, attacked well in some games and defended set-pieces well in some games.”