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'It will rile him for a long time': Exeter revisit Dave Ewers ban
Rob Baxter has revealed how devastated Dave Ewers was over missing out on the business end of last season with Exeter and at losing out on a long-awaited England call which Eddie Jones has said he was set to get for the summer series. The wrecking-ball forward was banned for four matches after he contested the citing that following his yellow-carding a round 22 Gallagher Premiership match versus Sale.
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Exeter boss Baxter was livid amid the fallout from a massively contested match in which second-rower Sam Skinner was red-carded. Both Skinner and Ewers contested the charges, which resulted in no mitigation getting applied to their suspensions.
Baxter’s disappointment, though, wasn’t focused on the length of respective bans. Instead, he was upset with the decision-making that resulted in the Exeter duo getting in trouble in the first place and how the resulting disciplinary system doesn’t show any empathy to the modern-day player.
A Premiership player of the year nominee whose impressive form this season ensured he featured on the six-strong shortlist for an award ultimately won by Exeter colleague Sam Simmonds, Ewers had previously been involved years ago at England Saxons level but the uncapped Harare-born player hadn’t figured into the Test fold under Jones since spring training in 2016.
That was all set to change only for his yellow card citing to intervene and leave suspended on the sidelines rather than playing in the Premiership semi-final and final for Exeter and then going on with England. Ewers made his return to the Exeter line-up for the first time this season in their win last Sunday at Sale.
"I’m struggling with the whole process"
– It's rare for Rob Baxter to get upset but that is how the Exeter boss was at Wednesday's Premiership semi-final media briefing #EXEvSALhttps://t.co/0C5g9ZV3Az
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 16, 2021
Asked by RugbyPass to reflect on how Ewers performed in Manchester following on from his massive end-of-season setback, Exeter boss Baxter said: “Dave was very hurt by having to miss the semi-final and final and he was due to join the England squad. Not just the fact that he missed out but the circumstances and how he missed out will rile him for a long time, but I know for a fact that he has definitely used it in a very motivating manner. I can tell that every time I talk to him.
“I spoke to him straight after the final and he was very, very emotional post the final to the stage where he was very emotional, very upset by what happened. All I can say is he has said to me a couple of times he is never going to let that scenario happen again. He is going to make the most of every opportunity he gets to get us back to where he would like to see us involved in those games.
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“For a first-up performance having come into the team after a long period of rehab from his thumb operation, he actually had another small op as well, I thought he was outstanding (last Sunday). He carried the ball for us, stood up, was one of our guys who was prepared to break down the brick wall that you get early in a game. He gave us a real solidity in most of what we did and a real physicality. You can see the influence he has on the team.”
Having vehemently said his piece about the disciplinary inconsistencies he felt Exeter encountered last June regarding the Ewers and Skinner cases, Baxter added that the concerns he raised helped to ensure the disciplinary framework has been discussed not only at RFU level but by World Rugby.
“I’m not going to say it was what happened with us that completely forced these changes,” he said, replying to a follow-up RugbyPass query on the legacy of his frustration four months ago. “I said at the time that there needed to be some thought put into not just the process of how the red and yellow cards were given but also the disciplinary process and to be fair to David Barnes at the RFU, we had a long catch-up about it.
“We also had a long catch-up with RPA about it and there are some things that are happening around there. At World Rugby level there has definitely been some debate on some things like should there still be some level of mitigation if you plead guilty? That is an ongoing debate that is happening at the moment.
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“There is also some debate around how if it is a referee’s red card you have got to prove the referee wrong but if the referee gives a yellow card and the citing commissioner says it is a red card, then you are not proving the referee wrong because he had been deemed to be wrong and you have got to prove the citing is wrong.
“So they are talking and they are thinking about it and they are actively getting involved with the players and I do feel there seems to be a little bit more understanding of what becomes a rugby incident and the mitigations that generally happens within a rugby game. It was interesting when we went to Twickenham in pre-season the referees body showed some incidents where they felt there was mitigation, a tackle that did make contact with the head wasn’t a red card and got mitigated down to a yellow.
The Exeter back-rower's four-game ban has had an England sting in the tail as he was set for summer series involvement #EXEvSAL
https://t.co/AapRdVRVve— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 18, 2021
“If that level (of mitigation) had been put into our game at the end of last season it probably would have been two yellow cards. I do think it is an ongoing process with everybody adapting to a genuine understanding of what is a rugby incident, what is mitigation and then in the disciplinary process where can mitigation still be added, where can you still have some level of your sentence reduced even if you don’t plead guilty? That is being debated at World Rugby level. There is an ongoing process there that I’m pleased to see.
“We have all got to be aware of the process and protect the players and their welfare. Anyone who watches rugby sees incidents where you will just go, ‘Well, that is just a complete accident’ and we will all also watch incidents where you go, ‘That is a pretty deliberate act to try and smack this guy as hard as you can’.
“But I always felt this was the weakness of the process, that it was very stepped and staged without really allowing a referee that ability to mitigate to a rugby scenario. We are starting to see a levelling out of that which for me makes us feel all that more comfortable. I’m a big believer that a red card should look like a red card where most of us watching go, ‘Whoa, it’s a red card!’ That’s how I personally like to think they should be done and hopefully that is what we are starting to see a bit more now.”
"I don’t understand it and I don’t get it…"
– So frustrated are Worcester over Ted Hill's 3?? game ban that they plan to lobby World Rugby about the tip tackle law#Worcester #England #WORvGLOhttps://t.co/rfNc4TtUBg
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 6, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Did footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
34 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
34 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to comments