Hard work is paying off - Rob

By Mark Stevens
24/12/16

Rob Baxter sees no reason why his Exeter Chiefs side can’t remain in the Aviva Premiership Rugby play-off places for the rest of the season after jumping into the top four with a Christmas Eve victory over Leicester Tigers.

Chiefs produced a first-half blitz to lead 21-0 at the break before holding firm after the interval to wrap up 31-10 victory at Sandy Park.

The result means the Chiefs leapfrog their opponents into fourth spot in the table for Christmas and extends their recent good form to just one loss in their past seven matches in all competitions.

And a delighted Baxter was quick to praise his team following the final whistle, he said: “It’s starting to feel like we are reawakening as a team - that’s all I really wanted to say to the players after the game - but all I think they are really doing is reaping the rewards for the hard work they are putting in day by day.over the last six or seven weeks.

“Post Clermont here in Europe, if you look at our results, write them down and look at them one after another, they are pretty good and we’re kind of getting there. It’s the reward for the work we are putting in each day and the attitude we are showing in training and in games.

“I think we have just reinvigorated ourselves after that first few weeks of the season, which is great to see, and I am just so pleased for the players because they are the ones putting in the hard work and getting the rewards.

“The big reward, though, is we have forced out way back in the top four, so the season is back in our hands and if we continue to pick up wins we will remain there until the business end of the season.”

In a dream start to the sold-out contest, the Chiefs plundered early converted tries through Jack Yeandle and Thomas Waldrom, before they added a third try just before the break when Graham Kitchener’s cynical knockdown resulted in not only a yellow card for him, but also a penalty try.

Although the Tigers improved after the break, adding tries of their own through Harry Thacker and Jono Kitto, the Chiefs wrapped up all five points thanks to an Olly Devoto try, which was converted by the faultless Gareth Steenson, who kicked five from five from the tee.

Baxter admitted his side’s first half display had done the bulk of the damage and that securing the bonus point in the second half was really the icing on the cake.

“It was just about winning so to get an extra bonus point was huge as it was a tough old game and we had to work really hard for our points,” added Baxter.

“We put a huge amount of work into that first 30 minutes to build up that 21-0 interval, so we were a little passive in the second half as we were getting our second wind when Leicester had that significant period.

“We toughed it out during that time and in the final quarter we managed to stay comfortable.”

The only downside on the day for Baxter was the sight of England international Henry Slade being forced off with a neck injury. However, the Exeter coach is hopeful the problem is nothing too serious.

“We’ve sent Henry off for a precautionary X-ray,” said Baxter. “We don’t think it’s anything too serious, but we’re not going to take any risks. We’ll get him checked over and then we’ll start to work on him after that.”

The Chiefs resume Premiership duties next Saturday when they make the short trek to local rivals Bath, who lie a place and a point above them in the table.