Rob Baxter called out by senior Exeter players during internal meeting over media comments
Rob Baxter’s recognition in the New Year Honours list did not deter his players from taking him to task in the aftermath of Exeter’s collapse at Wasps.
The Chiefs face closest rivals Bristol at Sandy Park on Saturday a week after their perfect start to the Gallagher Premiership season hit the buffers with a 34-5 defeat at the Ricoh Arena.
Baxter reacted by stating that defeats are inevitable, serving as valuable learning tools that provide an opportunity for a team to display their resilience. His double winners took the result against Wasps more personally, however.
“The first thing that happened in our leaders’ meeting was that I was told off by them for saying it was OK to lose,” Baxter said.
“I asked them to explain what they meant and they said they were disappointed with my comments after the game that it was OK to lose.
“They didn’t think like that and that’s the standards we are now setting, which includes the view that we take to the field with an expectation that we should be winning the game.
“Of course, that takes a lot of hard work and an understanding for that to happen, but it was nice to hear that they demanded more of themselves and us as coaches.
“That kind of shows where the players are and how they want to bounce back immediately.”
Exeter travelled to Coventry without their international contingent but a host of them are back for Saturday’s title showdown, among them England trio Henry Slade, Jonny Hill and Luke Cowan-Dickie.
Bristol have also picked a strong team with flanker Ben Earl and prop Kyle Sinckler, both of whom played roles in England’s Autumn Nations Cup success, restored to the pack.
“Exeter have been outstanding – we’re up against the domestic and European champions,” Bears director of rugby Pat Lam said.
“I do run my mouth a bit"
6'4, 19 stone 10Ibs of chat: Toomaga-Allen talks to @chrisjonespress ??? about how he's earned the right to shout the odds on the pitch #BATvWAShttps://t.co/4gPIWn0Wdz
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 8, 2021
“We’ve talked about challenges and this is a big challenge that we face. We’re excited by it.”
Newcastle are looking to bounce back from their first league defeat of the season against Bristol and director of rugby Dean Richards insists his Falcons will have to battle the elements as well as Gloucester.
“It’s going to be freezing cold, there’s been a bit of snow in the build-up and we’ll have to see what the weather throws up,” Richards said.
“That sometimes dictates what you are able to do, but hopefully we’ll see a good game of rugby.”
Gloucester are rooted to the foot of the table as they search for their second league win of the campaign.
Saturday’s third fixture became the fifth Premiership fixture this season to fall to coronavirus after an outbreak at Northampton forced the cancellation of the east midlands derby against Leicester.
Comments on RugbyPass
No Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team does not beat the ABs sadly
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo 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.
54 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.
3 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
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 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
54 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.
54 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.
18 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. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
18 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.
54 Go to comments