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Rob Baxter accepts Exeter must now back up their talk about Saracens' salary cap on the pitch
Exeter boss Rob Baxter has described Sunday’s visit of Gallagher Premiership champions Saracens to Sandy Park as the perfect fixture for the Chiefs to finish 2019.
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The two clubs fought out a classic final last June and Chiefs have since been most vocal about how the London club conducts its business, coach Baxter and club owner Tony Rowe being two of Saracens’ biggest critics in the wake of the salary cap scandal that saw them fined £5.4million and deducted 35 league points.
Baxter’s side comes into this latest meeting sitting on top of the table following last weekend’s victory over Leicester Tigers, while Saracens sit rock bottom due to their points deduction – a situation sure to provide plenty of motivation for both camps.
“We’re top of the league right now and had Saracens not had the points deduction, they themselves would be in and around the top too,” said Baxter. “They have got a very talented squad, who are always tough to beat. They have a different motivation right here and now to other years, so it’s going to be an interesting challenge for us.
“Every game challenges you in different ways, just as every competition challenges you in different ways. For obvious reasons, Saracens are coming here desperate to collect points. We have been straight-forward in our thoughts about the salary cap situation, so that’s not going to be a de-motivator for them, I’m aware of that.
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Watch Exeter’s Premiership clash with Saracens live on RugbyPass in some territories
“That said, we have been in situations where they have knocked us off in a couple of finals now and we would like to put that record straight. As I said, there is a lot of motivation for both sides, so it should lead to a fantastic game.
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“This is a fantastic game to finish the year with,” he added ahead of the sold-out fixture. “If you were to ask our supporters who would they like to face over the Christmas period, they would probably pick Saracens,
“It is fortunate this fixture has dropped when we are going okay and at the right end of the table, showing some really good form. Last week we managed to get some rest into a few of the guys, but now we have to go into this weekend in the only way we know-how, which is to go flat out, all guns blazing, and look to get something out of the game.
“If this is upheld it’s pretty obvious those titles have been won unfairly,” Baxter said at the season-launch of the @ChampionsCup in Cardiff.https://t.co/RgVjsekti4
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 6, 2019
“Last week’s win (at Leicester) showed a lot of very good qualities, some of which you can’t teach the players. What you can do, however, is encourage it from the bottom right to the top. You can encourage that belief in each other and that desire to fight for each other. As coaches, it’s up to us to give the players a way to foster all of that – and that’s what we showed in abundance at the weekend.”
Baxter has recalled many of those frontline stars who were given last weekend off. Back into the pack come England duo Alec Hepburn and Luke Cowan-Dickie in the front row, as well as Dave Dennis, Dave Ewers and free-scoring No8 Sam Simmonds.
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? What a decade it has been in the #GallagherPrem ?@Saracens' titles ??? @SaintsRugby in 2014 ?@rwiggy9 record breaker ?
Take some time to reminisce ??
— Premiership Rugby (@premrugby) December 27, 2019
Behind them, Nic White and Joe Simmonds return at half-back, while Henry Slade’s leg injury means Ian Whitten reverts to midfield alongside Devoto with Jack Nowell restored on the right wing.
Billy Vunipola, meanwhile, will feature in a Saracens back row with one change from last weekend’s victory over Bristol Bears. Long-serving Jackson Wray returns to the starting XV at openside flanker with young Nick Isiekwe completing the trio on the blindside. The front row of Mako Vunipola, Jamie George and Vincent Koch remains the same while there is an alteration in the boiler which sees Will Skelton selected alongside Maro Itoje.
Scotland international Duncan Taylor comes into the centre to partner Brad Barritt for the only amendment to the backline. Max Malins keeps his place at full-back following two tries and a man-of-the-match display against Bristol and will link up with Sean Maitland and Elliot Daly once again in the back three. The half-backs are Ben Spencer and Owen Farrell.
EXETER: 15. Stuart Hogg; 14. Jack Nowell, 13. Ian Whitten, 12. Ollie Devoto, 11. Olly Woodburn; 10. Joe Simmonds, 9. Nic White; 1. Alec Hepburn, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Harry Williams, 4. Dave Dennis (capt), 5. Jonny Hill, 6. Dave Ewers, 7. Jacques Vermeulen, 8. Sam Simmonds. Reps: 16. Elvis Taione, 17. Ben Moon, 18. Enrique Pieretto, 19. Jannes Kirsten, 20. Don Armand, 21. Jack Maunder, 22. Gareth Steenson, 23. Sam Hill.
SARACENS: 15. Max Malins; 14. Sean Maitland, 13. Duncan Taylor, 12. Brad Barritt (capt), 11. Elliot Daly; 10. Owen Farrell, 9. Ben Spencer; 1. Mako Vunipola, 2. Jamie George, 3. Vincent Koch, 4. Maro Itoje, 5. Will Skelton, 6. Nick Isiekwe, 7. Jackson Wray, 8. Billy Vunipola. Reps: 16. Jack Singleton, 17. Rhys Carre, 18. Titi Lamositele, 19. George Kruis, 20. Ben Earl, 21. Richard Wigglesworth, 22. Alex Lozowski, 23. Nick Tompkins.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Lets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid 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…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 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 comments