Rob Baxter was left extremely frustrated after his side’s 36-19 loss to Bath this weekend and took the chance to reveal some home truths in the post match interview.
Much has been made of the Exeter Chief’s 22/23 season – many think that it marks the start of a needed rebuild after years of success with a very stable squad.
A raft of players are already set to leave Sandy Park and with the club sat in 6th it is clear they are no longer the force they were a couple of years ago.
That being said, it is clear that the Exeter Chiefs coaching staff have standards they expect their players to reach – and this weekend they were miles off it.
Take nothing away from Bath who finally showed the kind of rugby their squad is capable off, but Exeter looked lackluster and lethargic, and were comfortably beaten in every aspect of the game.
Some of the best Rugby we've seen from @BathRugby this season 👏
Ollie Lawrence increases their lead ⬆️#GallagherPrem pic.twitter.com/JSkL1azZ05
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) March 26, 2023
While the media and fans are often quick to point out flaws in such a performance, it is rare the manager does so as passionately as Rob Baxter did this weekend.
He spoke of how the players seemed to actively go against what had been asked of them this week, how he struggled to think of a time he had been so frustrated and perhaps most damming, how he is willing to use his ‘weapon’ of selection.
📺 – 𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡
Exeter Chiefs DoR Rob Baxter gives an honest assessment of his side's performance after today's Premiership Rugby defeat to Bath Rugby#BATvEXE pic.twitter.com/D1XFZJ7ZlV
— Exeter Chiefs (@ExeterChiefs) March 26, 2023
Heading into The Champions Cup next weekend, it will be interesting to see how Exeter bounce back from this and whether Baxter’s comments have the desired impact.
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