'It was what we expected - a difficult first half where everyone was trying to find their feet again and not much quality'
Exeter Chiefs boss Rob Baxter declared himself happy with his side’s “perfect return” as the Gallagher Premiership leaders claimed a bonus-point win over Leicester Tigers. The Chiefs extended their lead at the top of the table with a 26-13 victory over the Tigers – 161 days on from their last game because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“It was what we were expecting – a difficult first half where everyone was trying to find their feet again and not much quality from one phase to the next,” Exeter director of rugby Baxter said. “Leicester posed us a lot of problems and it was a good workout for us. In many ways, it was the perfect return in that we got the win, but there is plenty to work on.
“At one stage we were struggling to know if we were going to win a lineout. They stopped us doing some of the things we wanted to do, but you have to be true to yourselves.”
Exeter took full advantage of Sale’s slip-up at Harlequins on Friday night, despite being put under early pressure by 11th-placed Leicester who led 6-0 after the first quarter. Luke Cowan-Dickie was named man-of-the-match in front of his England boss Eddie Jones, the hooker claiming one of the Chiefs’ four tries.
But Baxter revealed that England wing Jack Nowell had not been risked because of a slight hamstring injury suffered earlier in the week. “It will take a few weeks to be absolutely flying,” Baxter said. “But the important thing is we have the ability to keep winning in a number of ways.
"One side to the other, and they have skinned a Tiger!" @andNickMullins ??
? What an unbelievable try that is from @ExeterChiefs and Stuart Hogg ?#RugbyRestart pic.twitter.com/rD2DmaHudl
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) August 15, 2020
“The set-piece was strong and we were disciplined throughout. We want to be very competitive and we just have to keep picking up points at this stage of the season.”
Steve Borthwick was in charge of Leicester for the first time and the former England forwards coach has seemingly made his presence felt already. Leicester were a pale shadow of their former selves before the lockdown in March, but the Tigers competed throughout and finished strongly when the Chiefs might have run away with the game.
“What I’ve asked for right from the very start is the effort from the players. That was unquestionable,” Borthwick said. “We made mistakes and there are things to learn, but the effort and the attitude of the players was outstanding. We’ve got a lot of work to do because the team isn’t in the position it is in the league for no reason.”
Borthwick said the Tigers will continue to monitor Nemani Nadolo after the Fiji winger’s debut was delayed. “Nemani was delayed by the visa situation,” Borthwick said. “We’re working to recondition him to get him into a position where he’s fit and ready to go.
“We’re monitoring him on a weekly basis and he’s still a couple of weeks away. We’ll assess him again on Monday and see where he’s at, but he is progressing.”
This wasn't the sort of Gloucester return Jonny May was expecting https://t.co/GUwhaMupbW
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 15, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
To me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
26 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
26 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
48 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
26 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
26 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’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.
26 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.
26 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 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.
26 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.
17 Go to comments