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Rob Baxter admits booze-up cost Chiefs in brutally honest post-match interview

By Online Editors
Matt Kvesic (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Exeter Chief’s brutally honest post-match interview after his side lost to Northampton Saints has been lauded by Lawrence Dallagio.

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Premiership leaders Exeter Chiefs lost for their second consecutive away game running as Northampton Saints edged a 31-28 victory on Friday.

Exeter were beaten at Harlequins late in November and they again come unstuck on their travels in a thrilling encounter at a raucous Franklin’s Gardens as the Saints climbed to fourth.

In a game that was back and forth at Franklin’s Gardens, Saints twice resisted ferocious fightbacks from the 2016/17 champions to pick up all five points.

However, Baxter’s honestly following the match raised eyebrows, particularly his suggestion the team may have overdone it at their Christmas party.

“For me, the game was not about refereeing decisions today. I thought Northampton thoroughly deserved their win, and well played to them.

“We didn’t make it particularly tough for them, but at the same time they were prepared to fight at a level that was probably a little bit beyond us today.

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“Although we fought our way back into it with some good periods, and our forwards got some dominance particularly at the scrum area, and we scored four tries away from home and got two bonus points, which is great, but it was really about Northampton playing better than us, and we have got to have a bit of a look at ourselves.”

“Sometimes a Christmas party after beating Saracens potentially isn’t the best way to prepare against a team that’s gonna come at you with fight,” admitted Baxter to BT Sport.

Lawrence Dallagio praised Baxter: “This is as it should be…..Just Brutal Honesty. I wish a few more of our Administrators,coaches, players and media would speak with this level of candour.

“No need to publicly name individuals but just the group as a whole including themselves as coaches.”

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Northampton made a sensational start with a try inside two minutes. It came from a counter-attack as Tom Collins burst through a gap raced forwards before finding Dan Biggar.

Exeter kept battling and eventually earned two bonus points thanks to a try from Matt Kvesic in the final play, but it was Northampton’s evening.

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Bull Shark 2 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.

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