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'I have this debate with our props all the time': The tighthead mindset champions Exeter are trying hard to change

By Liam Heagney
(Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Rob Baxter has given an insight into his approach to the selection of his front row at Exeter, the 2019/20 Gallagher Premiership and Heineken Champions Cup champions. Tighthead is a standout competitive position as the Chiefs have England’s Harry Williams and Wales’ Tomas Francis at their disposal. 

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With Francis, the soon-to-be 27-year-old, busy with Wales this term and featuring in nine of their eleven matches, Williams, the 29-year-old who made one appearance in the recent Six Nations, was Exeter’s main go-to at tighthead during winter and early spring. 

However, there has been no clarity in recent weeks as to who Baxter’s number one choice is as the pair have alternated the No3 jersey. Williams started the respective April 3 and 17 matches against Lyon and Wasps while France was the starting tighthead versus Leinster on April 10 and will start again in the Friday night top-table Premiership game at Bristol.     

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The rotation differs from other sectors of the Exeter XV where there are clear first-choice players but Baxter has explained to RugbyPass that his mix-it-up approach to selection is something he does on purpose as he believes prop requires a different approach compared to the other positions across his team.    

“We are pleased with how they both play,” said Baxter when asked about the current rotation of Williams and Francis, who next season will move to the Ospreys in order to continue his Test career with Wales. “There is value in starting one over the other at different times and there is value in one over the other in finishing games at times as well. 

“Prop is a little bit of an odd position in a way. I have this debate with our props all the time because the human side of it says you want to have the No1 or the No3 shirt because that shows you are the number one in your position, but actually often around front rows that is not necessarily the right thing in an odd kind of way. 

“At the end of the day, your bench front row know they are pretty much going to be on the field when the result comes in, whether that is a win or a loss. They know that they are pretty much going to get a good chunk of time in a game so they are going to have an important role. 

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“I have this debate with them quite a lot actually. Props, and hookers to a degree, need to move on from thinking there are clear No1s and No2s (in the pecking order). There is often a time when it works a bit different to that and you think how a game might progress and it might be better to have one set on at the end of the game and the other starting. 

“We don’t talk about it as necessarily being a clear No1 and clear No2 between them [Williams and Francis]. There are scenarios that suit them both and I also think that we have still got enough of the season left where we are evening out their game time so we don’t end up with one of them playing not enough minutes and the other playing too many. That is also still part of the equation when you talk about those attritional positions.”

  

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j
john 47 minutes ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

14 Go to comments
A
Adrian 2 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

14 Go to comments
T
Trevor 5 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 9 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
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