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The reason Rob Baxter was left a 'little frustrated' by Exeter win
Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter was happy to pick up five points after an almost two-month break from Gallagher Premiership action with a 25-16 victory over bottom side Newcastle at Sandy Park.
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The Chiefs had the four-try bonus-point in the bag by the break but they could not pull clear of the Falcons in the second half, and the visitors could have earned a losing bonus point if Brett Connon had not missed a last-minute penalty.
“The lads could have made a lot of excuses and they didn’t make any,” said Baxter. “We had to make changes to the starting line-up yesterday [Friday].
“Ethan Roots then took a bang literally in the last 30 seconds of our warm-up and we had to change him, and then we didn’t start well, we got a couple of things wrong defensively and we are seven points down on a wet and windy day.
“But we just knuckled down, we got on with it and we slowly worked our way back into the game. We scored our tries to get the bonus point and although we were a little edgy at times in the second half because of the scoreboard, when we analyse the game, there was very little threat to our try line.
“I am a little frustrated with the second half. I thought we got a bit bogged down with ourselves but fair play to Newcastle, they got the ball off the pitch, they made it go from set-piece to set-piece and it became a broken-down game.
“The first half suited us way more but on the whole, the guys managed their way through the game pretty well. I am impressed with the lads. They could have got a lot wrong today and they instead got a lot right.”
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After his first game as the winless Falcons’ new consultant director of rugby, Steve Diamond said: “It could have been closer. Our first-half discipline wasn’t very good, we had two players sin-binned during the game and gave an opportunist try away when Elliott (Obatoyinbo) kept the ball infield but injured his shoulder so he couldn’t retrieve it.
“The second-half performance I felt was pretty good. Taking Newcastle from where they have been in the doldrums, not really being competitive – I thought we were competitive today against a good side who don’t lose many at home.
“With a little bit more skill and knowledge we will be able to pick up some wins during the remainder of the season, and the lads are working hard.
“I know we had the kick at the end to get a bonus point, but I don’t attach any blame to Brett there. He kicked everything else all afternoon, and the game was lost before then.
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“We have got to be more disciplined. If you give double-figure penalties away and two yellow cards you are not going to win, and that’s the lesson.”
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
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