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Unbeaten Exeter boss Baxter: 'I wouldn't swap this for anything else'
By Online Editors
Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter insists his Chiefs must continue to confront the Heineken Champions Cup with bold intent.
Victory over Sale at Sandy Park on Sunday will all but assure them of a place in the quarter-finals with two rounds to spare as they look to make an impact on European competition for the first time in the club’s history.
Sale were edged 22-20 in the first leg of the double header a week ago and Baxter insists Exeter must adopt a swagger when serving as English standard bearers on the continent. “I wouldn’t swap this for anything else,” said Baxter, who this week signed a new three-year deal to continue as Chiefs boss.
“We are well set in the pool – we have three rounds left and this weekend we can take a huge step up into where we want to go in regards of the competition. We have to be prepared to talk about it like that. The days when all I remember talking about as a coach was talking games down – we’re years past that now.
“We’ve got to be prepared as a club, team and coaching group to talk games up and this is a huge opportunity for us. We should expect to go out and perform well, it’s as simple as that!
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“Over the years we have learnt steadily – and surely – that positive pressure is good for us. This weekend’s game is a perfect example to see if Heineken Cup pressure is a positive thing for us.”
Scotland full-back Stuart Hogg has recovered from concussion and continues in an unchanged Exeter XV.
Sale make ten changes including the demotion of former England wing Marland Yarde to the bench following his poor display at AJ Bell Stadium last weekend.
- Press Association
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Latest Comments
Wow.... Just wow!
Eben managed to make more meters and average more meters per carry than both Barrett and Vaai in both games and played fewer minutes.
Eben also made double digit tackles in Capetown and actually had 3 more tackles than both players. plus he had a higher completion rate than vaai and equal to Barrett in Joberg. Yes he was manhandled by a 113kg hooker but I believe Barrett was sat down by a 75kg winger. Which is more acceptable?
What BS about Kolbes line break completion. So Dmacs, and Will Jordan and right have far more line breaks... that must mean the ABs and wallabies have out scored every team... oh wait. In half as many games in the TRC Kolbe had 1 less clean break than Will Jordan and topped the list for defenders beaten with 21, next best was 17 and it wasn't DMac, wright or Jordan.
Go to comments😄 Ok ......... keep telling that to all the people who are not entitled to the same benefits or scholarships or payouts and who have to pay for everything because they aren't Maori.............
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