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How Baxter and Hogg have moved on from the Scot's Prem final axing
Exeter boss Rob Baxter has insisted relations are good with Stuart Hogg, the recent Lions tourist who headed to South Africa on the back only being a replacement for the business end of the Chiefs’ Gallagher Premiership season. The Scotland skipper was confined to bench duty in the semi-final win over Sale and the following weekend’s final defeat to Harlequins, a shocking development given that he went on some weeks later to start for the Lions as their full-back in two Test matches versus the Springboks.
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Hogg was omitted by Gatland for the series-deciding third Test in Cape Town and he is now back on the training ground at Exeter and likely to feature in this Sunday’s match away to Sale with the club’s other Lions picks, England trio Sam Simmonds, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Jonny Hill, said to be in contention for the round four October 9 match at home to Worcester.
While England elite player squad players who toured with the Lions were eligible for a nine-week break (five weeks holidays and four weeks of pre-season) plus an additional rest week before the autumn internationals, a player such as Hogg was theoretically free to play for Exeter after their mandatory five-week holiday and could have featured in round one the league.
Baxter, though, instead took a common-sense approach with his full-back and is delighted that he is now champing at the bit for this coming weekend with talks between the pair having also put to bed the shock end to last season’s Premiership campaign that saw Hogg only chosen as an Exeter replacement.
“He looks real motivated, looks really sharp in training this week,” said Baxter at his weekly media briefing. “I spoke to him at the start of the week and said, ‘Right Hoggy, how are you feeling, are you ready to go?’
Sportsmanship at its finest ?#EXEvHAR #GallagherPremFinal #LionsRugby
https://t.co/CO868drKoP— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 26, 2021
“‘Yeah, ready to go. Feel really good.’ You don’t always need to keep looking back as a player or as a coach. Right here and now the biggest thing we have got to stop doing as a team and as a rugby club and as a group is looking back because whatever is behind us is behind us and it has got to be the same for the Lions guys whether they went well or badly. It’s the same for us as a club looking back on a ridiculous twelve-month period where we went from winning a double and getting straight back into another final.
“There are loads of things we can look back on but we have got to stop looking back, we have got to look forward. That is very much my opinion, my attitude with Stuart. We have had other discussions post-Lions. They were a while ago – we don’t need to have them again.
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“All that Stuart needs to know from me is we’re keen to get him on a rugby field, we’re keen for him to play well, we have got a lot of faith in his ability in him to get over whatever little blips or what everybody thought about the end of last season and get on and show what a good player he is. That is very much my focus with him over the coming weeks.”
Exeter head to Sale in the unusual position of twelfth on the 13-team table following defeats at Leicester and at home to Northampton. Add in last June’s Premiership final loss and it means the Chiefs are heading to Manchester facing down the prospect of potentially losing four league matches on the bounce for the first time since 2014/15.
“There has been a real consistency about us (in the years since then) and that has been our strength, but we have lost two games,” he shrugged. “There is not a staggering lack of consistency. Yes, the stats may say we have lost three but there were ten other clubs from last season not even in that game, didn’t even play in that round and the round before we won a semi-final.
“The reality of stats is one thing, where we are is completely another. We’re frustrated and disappointed we didn’t beat Northampton, the game was there to be won. We will deal with that as we have dealt with it in the past when we lost a close game. We lost to Saints here last season by one point in a way more frustrating game in a lot of ways than the one we have just lost. We have to move on. We know we have got a big challenge this weekend. Sale is not one of those places where you turn up and get a regulation win.”
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"He has had some mental issues and everyone is fully aware of that, he has been to the press about it in the past"
– Denny Solomona went 7?? months without a Sale appearance and was linked with a move, but he is now very much back in the fold ?
#Salehttps://t.co/U1KeAMaL3f— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 29, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
I’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
19 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
19 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
12 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
19 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to commentsI think he is right, SBW is respected in RSA. The guy who never stood up is a worm. Sseems lots of NZ SBW hate, you do the crime do the time.
12 Go to commentsAfter missing the curfew, the player was simply too “Shagged” to stand up.
12 Go to commentsVernier is probably the best 12 in the world though she has some English competition these days . I am nervous for England because it is unpredictable France and who knows which team will turn up, but they have not yet shown anything that should worry England, Saturday could be a different day. I would be more confident against the BFs.
1 Go to commentsWhat a difference Rodda and Carter made. Rodda has been out for ages but he is really the only world class lock in Australian rugby. Him, Carter and Beale made a huge difference on the weekend. If only they had a few decent props they’d be a much more dangerous team. Hamish Stewart was excellent last week as well. His carrying has improved significantly and has to be next in line after Paisami at 12 for the Wallabies. He’ll benefit hugely with Beale at fullback, there’s just no better communicator in Australian rugby than him and his experience will make a huge difference for the Force. No one sees space like Beale and he’s still sharp. I can see Force making a late charge into the top 8 if they can get some consistency.
2 Go to commentsRodda will be a walk up starter at lock. Frost if you analyse his dominance has little impact and he’s a long way from being physical enough, especially when you compare to Rodda and the work he does. He was quite poor at the World Cup in his lack of physicality. Between Rodda and Skelton we would have locks who can dominate the breakdown and in contact. Frost is maybe next but Schmidt might go for a more physical lock who does their core work better like Ryan or LSL. Swain is no chance unless there’s a load of injuries. Pollard hasn’t got the scrum ability yet to be considered. Nasser dominated him when they went toe to toe and really showed him up. Picking Skelton effects who can play 6 and 8. Ideally Valetini would play 6 as that’s his best position and Wilson at 8 but that’s not ideal for lineout success. Cale isn’t physical enough yet in contact and defence but is the best backrow lineout jumper followed by Wright, Hanigan and Swinton so unfortunately Valetini probably will start at 8 with Wright or Hanigan at 6. Wilson on the bench, he’s got too much quality not to be in the squad. Paisami is leading the way at 12 but Hamish Stewart is playing extremely well also and his ball carrying has improved significantly. Beale is also another option based on the weekend. Beale is class but he’s also the best communicator of any Australian backline player and that can’t be underestimated, he’ll be in the mix.
8 Go to commentsWhy do people keep on picking Ardie at 7 when he's a ball in hand 8? A modern 7 is the lead tackler and ruck clearer which isn't his strength.
19 Go to commentsSly dig there at Ireland’s propensity to back a non-Irish coach. Must really want it. I’m not sure I like ROG very much. Comes off as unpleasant. But he’d gain my respect if he took a number 7 ranked team and turned them into WC winners. Not even back-to-back. Argentina? Scotland? Or how about Wales? France would be too easy, no?
1 Go to commentsA bit of sensationalism, but surprised by the comments about SBW. I’ve always thought of him as a pretty authentic person. There is nothing worse than working with a colleague you’ve seen straight through.
12 Go to comments100% agree with your comment about Touch. I’ve been playing it competitively since Covid. It’s on a Wednesday night after work. It means the weekend is free for time with my family.
2 Go to commentsRodda back is massively important for the Wallabies. Kaitu at hooker important too coz he was very good a few years ago.
2 Go to comments