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'Another very good discussion on Monday': How Baxter is handling axed Hogg
Rob Baxter has provided an update on how Scotland skipper Stuart Hogg has reacted to his shock axing from the Exeter starting team that last Saturday won its way through to next weekend’s Gallagher Premiership final versus Harlequins.
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The full-back, who is expected to wear the Lions No15 jersey when the three-game Test series opens versus the Springboks on July 24 in Cape Town, had his world turned upside down last week when Baxter phoned to tell Hogg he was benched and that fit-again Jack Nowell would be starting the semi-final versus Sale.
Nowell went on to have an exemplary performance, scoring two tries and excelling under the high ball to suggest it is unlikely that Hogg will get his place back for next Saturday’s Premiership showpiece at Twickenham.
However, Baxter was pleased with how Hogg reacted last weekend to his demotion and is further satisfied that the demoted full-back will give everything to the Exeter cause this week following another chat between the pair on Monday. Baxter explained at his pre-final media briefing on Wednesday: “He [Hogg] has been very good this week, very angry, very frustrated in all the right ways and that is what I expect.
“I don’t expect a competitor, a successful, professional sportsman and almost like a world-renowned player, I don’t expect him to be happy with not being in the team coming into big games. We had another very good discussion on Monday that was needed for Stuart to train well this week which he has done. He has been very good this week, particularly very good yesterday [Tuesday] and we expect him to be very good again today [Wednesday].
Exeter reached sixth successive Prem final despite dropping the Scotland skipper who is expected to start for the Lions vs the Springboks in 5 weeks' time… meanwhile, Cuthbert is also being released despite his try-scoring effort #EXEvSAL #LionsRugbyhttps://t.co/rJkA3YzsQs
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 19, 2021
“He knows how important he is likely to be in this game and obviously it’s a difficult one because Stuart is a good guy, he is delighted for Jack Nowell. Jack Nowell is a good friend of his. He is delighted for Jack to get back fit. He knows the injury scenario Jack has had and then to play very well he is delighted for him and at the same time, he is gutted not to be in the team. He is dealing with that how I would expect any rational human to deal with it and he is getting on with things and he looks to me like he is preparing to do whatever he can to help the team win a Premiership trophy.”
Having lost Dave Ewers (and Sam Skinner) to suspension in the title run-in, Baxter also lost his back row replacement Richard Capstick to concussion following a yellow-carded four-minute collision with Manu Tuilagi that the Exeter boss was unhappy with. The young flanker, though, is on track for league final selection. “Richard Capstick has come through all the return to play protocols at this stage so is available, and there are no new injuries from last weekend.”
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"I still believe it has been a win-win scenario"
– Welsh winger Cuthbert has played in just 26 of Exeter's 71 Premiership games during the last three seasons#EXEvHAR #GallagherPremFinalhttps://t.co/FQmFZhzQbA
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 23, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Not sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
24 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
1 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
24 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
24 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
11 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
3 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to commentsArticle intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
3 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
3 Go to comments