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Rob Baxter downplays psychological scars ahead of Tigers clash
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Exeter Chiefs boss Rob Baxter doesn’t believe the 66-14 PREM Rugby Cup final hammering that his side suffered against Leicester Tigers at Welford Road in March will have any bearing on Sunday afternoon’s crunch Gallagher PREM clash.
The Chiefs are clinging to the last play-off place by three points ahead of Saracens, their visitors in the final round of games on Saturday week, and aim to become the first visiting team to win a PREM game in Leicester this season.
But Baxter is quick to point out that both teams fielded much-changed teams for the final and that the Tigers were the deserved winners, scoring 10 tries after going hammer and tong from the opening minute.
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“To be honest, I don’t think that game will have too much bearing on things. Obviously, it was much changed up team from us and a much changed change that team from Leicester, but at the same time, probably stronger from Leicester than it was from us.
“So working out how that balances out, I’m not quite sure. Leicester were definitely in a much better emotional state than we were on the day, that was clear, and they made us pay from pretty much the first minute, didn’t they?
“But I don’t think this week has that much bearing on it. I think this is just going to be a very tough game of PREM rugby. I think they haven’t lost at Welford Road in the PREM this season, so that in itself is challenging.
“I remember when we first came into the PREM, our second game was away at Welford Road. I remember walking onto the pitch and looking around and going ‘This is going to be tough’.
“But this is what we’ve worked really hard to get in the PREM for. Previous to that game, the last time I’d been to Welford Road, I was playing and might have got through to the quarter-final of the National Knockout competition as it was.
“And we went to Leicester; we lost 76-0 against Martin Johnson and Dean Richard and the Underwood brothers and all sorts. And coming close to winning in just our second game in the PREM, it was an incredible, incredible occasion for us,” Baxter told RugbyPass.
