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'I don't feel like we're in a crisis' - Chiefs name team for bounce back mission

Ollie Devoto /PA

Director of Rugby Rob Baxter has named his Exeter Chiefs side for a Gallagher Premiership bounce-back mission when they take on Gloucester this weekend.

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Exeter fell to a surprise 21 – 33 loss to London Irish last weekend at Sandy Park, the Chiefs’ second in a row in front of their home fans.

“I don’t feel like we’re in a crisis because we’ve lost one game after winning three,” said Baxter, who has named a strong side to take on Gloucester. “The drama for me a little bit is the performance, but we’ve got a few days to put that right and that’s what’s great about sport.”

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      “London Irish found momentum very easily, we didn’t find that kind of momentum and giving up momentum makes you liable to conceding penalties. A lack of accuracy on the floor when we carried meant that we were open to the odd turnover on the floor, compounded by a lack accuracy when we were clearing out. Whatever your level of performance is, it needs to be focussed on some foundational elements around how you keep the ball and how you defend, and I think that’s where I would say our core fundamental qualities weren’t there.”

      This Friday, the men from Devon take a journey up the M5 to face a Gloucester side who are undefeated in their past four outings and seem to have found a winning formula, combining a physical pack with some sparkling backs, that will be pleasing to the ‘shed’ faithful.

      “In some ways they look like they’ve gone a little bit back to Gloucester DNA, scrummaging, mauling, being solid in defence and making you pay from five metres.

      “If we don’t want to Maul, if we don’t want to be tough up front then it’s going to be a long day, because they’re getting some momentum from their pack, and they are finishing off that momentum with scores.

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      “Alongside that, they have got a couple of backs in that back division who can hurt you from anywhere, they’ve got plenty to play for, and it makes it even more of a challenge for us, but at the end of the day every game in the Premiership should be a challenge and you’ve got to enjoy that challenge.”

      “I don’t think this weekend is about experience, I think it’s about guys getting out there, running around and performing like an Exeter Chiefs team, that’s the messages they’re getting this week. I don’t really care who’s on the field, they are an Exeter Chiefs player they know how to play, and they’ve just got to go out there and show that it means a lot to them. If we do that, we’ll have taken a step forward and that’s all you can do.”

      “We’re going there with every intention to win the game, to do what we think we need to do to challenge Gloucester, the key for us to focus on is the foundational elements in our own game.”

      EXETER CHIEFS:
      15. S Hogg
      14. J Nowell
      13. T Hendrickson
      12. O Devoto
      11. F Cordero
      10. H Skinner
      9. J Maunder
      1. A Hepburn
      2. J Yeandle (C)
      3. H Williams
      4. W Witty
      5. S Lonsdale
      6. S Skinner
      7. D Armand
      8. R Capstick

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      REPLACEMENTS:
      16. O Burrows
      17. B Moon
      18. J Isofa-Scott
      19. C Tshiunza
      20. R Tuima
      21. S Hidaglo-Clyne
      22. J Simmonds
      23. I Whitten

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      ChristelLoewe 49 minutes ago
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      JW 50 minutes ago
      'I feel for the players': Jamie Joseph's reflection on falling short again

      Some great leadership quality from Big Jim, he facilitated for large parts then put the responsibility on himself at the end drive the team forward in the last desperate minutes. He also filled in for Withy extremely well, adding real strength to the maul.


      The Force have been playing very well this year indeed, and their stars did make a couple of key players, the main factor though is definitely what I reported in the previous article “

      Gotta say I’m really enjoying the Highlanders desperation in the last 10 minutes of games, maybe it’s just because theyre having to throw the kitchen sink at it again. Another massive effort to hold the opposition out just like in the Blues game. I’m sure the coach’s will be wanting a little more composure though as the play seems to far more hap hazard (really just the type of footy I like watching) than the picture they bring at the beggining of games.

      Again though they don’t have the refs to thank for anything, being down a man twenty more minutes than they should have been. Most importantly they were without one of they best attackers (not counting Tangitau’s early change) for the final push, with Nareki’s bin.

      Again, I can see where this team is trying to go, I hope they can get their this year as they certainly have the game to be a top four team if they click. They are munch of misfits when you look at it objectively though, they probably have the worst cohesion score of any SRP team. A few more wins, maybe a come from behind upset may be the best theey can hope to acheive this year.

      “. Like Jim I thought the defence stood up strongly for large parts, but they may just have some structural issues, where it’s just not paying off. They had Lawaqa on the wing all day, allowed the Force to make a dozen linebreaks, why? Both there attack and defence look a bit too fancy for me, why? Common Joseph, the youngest team with the least cohesion/most new guys, it look overly complicated.


      I hope it clicks. Manson in particular looked to be trying far too hard when he came on, what’s been said in his ear? Stick to you lane son and don’t make any mistakes, don’t lose the game for your team. Should be a comfortable win next week against Drua if they keep there heads up and come back stronger. Lasaqa might be best to come off the bench, would keep Jim at 12 but I’d like Tele’a to come back to the side, though TUJ hasn’t been bad and style might suit Drua more. Hopefully Renton or someone with some size is at 8 or 6, Lasaqa appears to be more an 8 actually, similar to Sititi and I wouldn’t mind if he was groomed behind him and Sotutu. Lennox I thought could make a good halfback but isn’t ready, I’d hope Arscott, Fakatava, or Pledger could return to the side. Other than Drua theyve got Cheifs twice, though the home game is the last of the round/season so potentially a gimme if the Chiefs repeat previous years tactics. The Crusaders and Moana at home are also very doable. Those four wins could see them crash into the top 6 still.

      5 Go to comments
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