Exeter Chiefs' Director of Rugby, Rob Baxter, is calling for a tactical liberation of his squad as they approach the PREM season, despite a shaky victory over Bath lifting spirits and alleviating pressure. The Devon-based team managed a comeback win of 23-14 in their latest PREM Cup clash, marking their first triumph of the season but revealing several areas needing sharp refinement.
The match against Bath was far from a polished performance, with Baxter's men recovering from a deficit spurred by their own blunders. It was the fresh energy from newcomers Joseph Dweba and Stephen Varney scoring late in the game that turned the tide, pulling the team back from the brink of defeat. Baxter shared his relief and future aspirations, stating,
“The pressure that the lads were feeling to win didn’t allow them to thrive. I’ve got to find a way for them to thrive.”
He further emphasized the need for enhancement: “I’ve just said to them in the changing room, if there’s something we need to do to make it easier for you, just let us know.”
Despite dominating the stats with 71% possession and making 17 entries into Bath’s 22, Exeter’s finishing left much to be desired, converting these opportunities into merely 17 points. In contrast, Bath capitalized efficiently, scoring 14 points from just two incursions. “The frustrating thing was that part A and part B went right, then part C kept breaking down, so we’ve just got to keep working hard at piecing things together,” Baxter explained.
With an eye on the upcoming season opener against Northampton Saints, Baxter is keen on honing his squad's precision and alignment to unleash their full potential. “We trained hard in pre-season, but I want to see us unleashing; I’m not quite sure we’re seeing them unleash yet. They’re trying to be aligned and trying to be precise, but we need to find that pizzazz. That’s our job to find that as we go through the season,” he remarked.
The Chiefs' next match offers a chance to rectify the errors seen against Bath, and with Baxter's strategic insights and the players’ willingness to adapt, Exeter looks poised to ramp up their performance as the season unfolds.
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Exeter Chiefs' Director of Rugby, Rob Baxter, is calling for a tactical liberation of his squad as they approach the PREM season, despite a shaky victory over Bath lifting spirits and alleviating pressure. The Devon-based team managed a comeback win of 23-14 in their latest PREM Cup clash, marking their first triumph of the season but revealing several areas needing sharp refinement.
The match against Bath was far from a polished performance, with Baxter's men recovering from a deficit spurred by their own blunders. It was the fresh energy from newcomers Joseph Dweba and Stephen Varney scoring late in the game that turned the tide, pulling the team back from the brink of defeat. Baxter shared his relief and future aspirations, stating,
“The pressure that the lads were feeling to win didn’t allow them to thrive. I’ve got to find a way for them to thrive.”
He further emphasized the need for enhancement: “I’ve just said to them in the changing room, if there’s something we need to do to make it easier for you, just let us know.”Despite dominating the stats with 71% possession and making 17 entries into Bath’s 22, Exeter’s finishing left much to be desired, converting these opportunities into merely 17 points. In contrast, Bath capitalized efficiently, scoring 14 points from just two incursions. “The frustrating thing was that part A and part B went right, then part C kept breaking down, so we’ve just got to keep working hard at piecing things together,” Baxter explained.
With an eye on the upcoming season opener against Northampton Saints, Baxter is keen on honing his squad's precision and alignment to unleash their full potential. “We trained hard in pre-season, but I want to see us unleashing; I’m not quite sure we’re seeing them unleash yet. They’re trying to be aligned and trying to be precise, but we need to find that pizzazz. That’s our job to find that as we go through the season,” he remarked.
The Chiefs' next match offers a chance to rectify the errors seen against Bath, and with Baxter's strategic insights and the players’ willingness to adapt, Exeter looks poised to ramp up their performance as the season unfolds.