Baxter lauds fighting spirit

By Mark Stevens
31/12/16

Rob Baxter praised his side’s fighting spirit as Exeter Chiefs came from 11 points down to record a first-ever Aviva Premiership win at Bath.

Winger James Short scored two tries in the final ten minutes of an absorbing contest at the Recreation Ground to help seal a 17-10 victory for the Devonians, whose remaining points came courtesy of kicks from skipper Gareth Steenson.

The win lifted Baxter’s side to third in the standings, leapfrogging Bath in the process, to head into 2017 with 39 points on board.

Earlier, though, it appeared as though the Chiefs were heading for a fifth league defeat of the season, having trailed to two penalties from George Ford and a try from Semesa Rokoduguni.

Having snatched victory themselves eight minutes into injury time in the earlier meeting between the two clubs at Sandy Park, it was Bath who were left with that sinking feeling on this occasion following Short’s late heroics.

Baxter admitted post-match that it was a mixed display from his players, who clearly responded to some tough talking from their leader at the break to come out fighting in the second period.

“Physically we weren’t at the races in the first half,” said the Exeter head coach. “We were being beaten in every facet of the game and we had no go forward at all. For 50 minutes of the game today, Bath were very, very good.

“In the first half they controlled the set-piece, they had more go forward in their carries, we were making mistakes, their kick game was more productive than ours, and they had an energy and enthusiasm which was at a level that was well above ours.

“Also, I remember saying to Ali Hepher that it looked like Rokoduguni had been given a Harry Potter invisibility coat for Christmas. We couldn’t get a hand on him or get near him. He was outstanding in that first half.

“When it came to half time we didn’t really talk about technique or any tactical changes, we spoke more about the fact that we weren’t showing the attitude that is required to come here and win a top four game. That was the only thing we addressed and that was the biggest shift we made.

“I know we weren’t perfect after half time, but we did stay in the fight and when you do that, incredible things can happen like today.”

Indeed, incredible things did happen for the visitors during the final quarter in which they hammered home a defiant message. England internationals Jack Nowell and Luke Cowan-Dickie both impressed, while Short’s contribution off the bench will no doubt have put him firmly in the selection process for next weekend’s trip to reigning champions Saracens.

“We could have easily crumbled, but we didn’t,” added Baxter. “We came through a defining moment early in the second half when Bath were camped in our corner and because we fought through that, we were then able to create scoring opportunities of our own.

“Personally, I have to give the players huge credit for the way they stepped up in that second half. That said, they are all going to have some questions asked of them on Monday as to why it took 40-odd minutes for that response to surface.”

Exeter’s victory was their fifth successive in the Premiership and means they wrapped up a memorable 2016 on a distinctive high note.  However, Baxter insists the hard work must continue in the New Year, starting with their upcoming trip to Allianz Park.

“Games are coming thick and fast now,” he continued. “We have beaten two of the top four sides in the last fortnight, so that’s a positive and a big step up for us. Looking at things, we’ve definitely stepped up in this second quarter and it’s allowed us to achieve things we didn’t do last season.

“We’ve won at Sale, which we didn’t do last season; we’ve beaten Leicester with five points at home, whereas we only got four last season; and we’ve won at Bath this season and we didn’t last season. Those results have helped to shift momentum for us, but we know we need to fight hard to keep hold of it.”