Chiefs side to face Falcons
By Mark Stevens
5/11/21
Rob Baxter is hoping his Exeter Chiefs side will make the most of home comforts as they look to end their opening block of Gallagher Premiership fixtures on a high note.
With little issues on the road this season for the Devonians so far this season, it’s been at Sandy Park where Baxter’s side have yet to fire on all cylinders.
Defeats to Northampton Saints and London Irish sandwiched their solitary home win against Worcester Warriors – and the Chiefs Director of Rugby is keen for that statistic to be improved with the visit of Newcastle Falcons tomorrow (5:30pm).
“Interestingly, when you look at things on reflection, we haven’t always built great seasons on just our home form,” explained Baxter. “We’ve had seasons in the past where our form, particularly away from home, has been better in the first half.
“We have been one of the top performing sides away from home for a number of years now, but we’ve also done very well at home as well. Combining the two like that has led to good seasons for us. At the moment, our form away from home are pretty good, but at home we’re probably below-par.
“We we’re perhaps a little unlucky to lose at home to Northampton, which was a very close game. One more penalty kick or one more decisive moment, we could have won that game. Had we knock that one over we would probably be sitting pretty now.
“But then backing that up with a not-so-good showing against London Irish – with Worcester sandwiched in between – it does feel like we have got to deliver this weekend, just to make things feel right.”
With that thought in mind, Baxter has challenged his squad to pick up from where they left off against Gloucester last week, where they produced a valiant display at Kingsholm to record a hard-fought 16-13 victory.
“That was a real challenge for us going up there,” said Baxter. “Gloucester were on good form; they were at home; it was a Friday night – in front of a big crowd – so everything was there for it to be a big occasion for them. What we did was we met that challenge head and refused to buckle.
“We talk a lot about how much of a privilege it is to be playing games at this level and that we’re lucky to be involved in occasions like that. That said, sometimes that feeling can wane.
“Maybe it is something we as a group have lost a little bit because of having that expectation of winning and being successful. Whatever people say, the wins become less enjoyable, less of a milestone, so it’s important that we set ourselves markers and milestones this season and that we celebrate them when we achieve them.
“Last week up at Gloucester, it felt like one of those milestones and it was a special feeling for the whole group. Perhaps it was based a bit on the disappointment of the week before [against Irish], but I also think it was based around a group of lads who turned up to play a game of rugby, who wanted to be there for one another, and who wanted to back up every action to come away with a success.
“It was not until you saw the stats afterwards that it really became evident how determined we were to come through in that game. We made Gloucester really work and, to be fair to them, they didn’t wilt under that pressure. They worked hard to stop us but, ultimately, we came through.
“It was about building that emotion and drive, providing they energy to stick at what we do, and then carrying it through to drive each other forward. That’s what I will remind the lads of this week – and it’s what I will tell them to take into this weekend’s game.”
Baxter sticks with a largely unchanged line-up, although he is shorn of Scottish duo Stuart Hogg and Sam Skinner, plus Argentine winger Facundo Cordero due to international commitments.
Hogg is replaced at full-back by Joe Simmonds; Cordero’s void is filled by former Falcon, Josh Hodge, whilst Jannes Kirsten comes into the pack in place of Skinner.
There is also a bonus on the bench for Baxter with last season’s Premiership top try-scorer, Sam Simmonds, released from England camp earlier in the week, offering a powerful back-up. Also included for the first time this season is Irishman, Sean O’Brien.
As for the threat of the visitors, Baxter knows that Dean Richards’ men will be sturdy opponents, warning: “Newcastle have been having a good season and they certainly look competitive. Carl Fearns has been carrying well for them and making some good targets, but they’ve also got a couple of other forwards coming round the corner causing damage too.
“Behind them, they’ve got pace out wide and they look comfortable with how they play, so they have all the ingredients to challenge us as a team.
“In a lot of ways, Newcastle coming here this weekend is almost a replica of two weeks’ ago against London Irish, where they have everything to gain and very little to lose. What is in our hands, however, is how we change that outcome. We can do that by changing the very first minute.”
