Rob Baxter's surprising take on thumping by title rivals Saracens
Rob Baxter insists Exeter will be stronger for their five-try drubbing by Gallagher Premiership title rivals Saracens at Allianz Park if they meet again in the Twickenham final.
A 38-7 bonus-point victory has given Mark McCall’s English champions hope of finishing the regular season top of the table with one round left to play – a position the Chiefs have held for the majority of the campaign.
Already assured of home semi-finals, both teams field weakened sides for what was likely to be a dress rehearsal for the Premiership showpiece on June 1.
“If you get to the stage where results mean nothing, you’re in the wrong business. But bigger picture, I wouldn’t change the team I selected,” director of rugby Baxter said.
“We took some important things out of this. It has given us a view on some players and we’ve rested and hopefully cleared up a few niggles. But I’d have liked us to have performed better.
“There’s always the psychological damage of a result like this, but there’s also the reality of knowing that we have to be good and that tends to bring out the best out in us.
“We don’t have to be the best Exeter Chiefs at the moment. We finished top last season and it didn’t win us anything. Two years ago we finished second and we won the Premiership.”
Before the play-offs begin, Saracens face their biggest match of the season to date when they collide with Leinster in Saturday’s Champions Cup final in Newcastle.
“We don’t know if we’ll play Saracens again, so we don’t know if them playing in the final will give us any advantage,” Baxter said.
“Actually, disrupted game time at the end of the season is one of the things that has hurt us most.
“I would have no issue to keep playing through and I actually believe that Saracens are thriving on it.
“I don’t see how it’s an advantage if Saracens have a broad squad of good players. It allows you to keep gaining momentum.”
McCall refused to view Saracens’ victory as a signpost of what might happen if the rivals qualify for the final.
“We wanted some momentum as a club and there’s a good buzz around the place at the moment,” McCall said.
“But they rested their best team and we rested our XV for next week, so this game was unimportant if we play again.”
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And they came from behind to win two big games before the final. No one can say what would have happened. Had the boks gone behind the game plan changes and the result may changes. Ifs and ands are irrelevant. The boks won. Neutral critics enjoyed the games they played. Its not a popularity contest. Get over it and move on.
Go to commentsI'm happy for the people of SA to get a second WC. And I mean that. I was very disappointed with this man's “stand on the hand” incident with Josh Van Der Flyer (Ireland). Ireland's downfall in the last WC was they did not rotate their first 15 as the head coach probably should have. That said, I'm happy for SA and genuinely hope it lifts the mood in their country. Ireland did beat them in the first match of the tournament. And before the trolls start trolling ….. please don't bother. Etzbeth said recently that the Irish players said after the match “see you in the final”…..this was actually wishing the SA team the best of luck in the rest, the Irish team were not dismissing the AB’s. This is what Etzbeth was implying. But he was wrong. I no longer live in Ireland. But I hope to see them lift that cup before I pass. Anyway, congratulations SA. 👍
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