Chiefs side to face Saracens
By Mark Stevens
22/4/22
Rob Baxter says his Exeter Chiefs side are expecting nothing less than a ‘full-blooded’ encounter when they lock horns with Saracens in the Gallagher Premiership at the Stone-X Stadium on Sunday (3pm).
Having seen their European hopes ended in Limerick last weekend, the sole focus for the Chiefs between now and the end of the current campaign is on domestic matters and securing a place in the play-offs.
Currently, the Chiefs are occupying the last of the four play-off berths on offer, but with Gloucester handed a five-point win for their cancelled clash with Worcester Warriors, plus a game in hand, the two-point cushion the Devonians have on their Westcountry rivals means matters are likely to go to the wire.
It’s little wonder therefore Baxter used his weekly media briefing to spell out the importance of this weekend’s tussle in the capital.
“It’s a fixture that is important to both sides,” said the Chiefs Director of Rugby. “We have met in numerous finals in the past and people are aware there is a bit of history between us around the salary cup. There is no point in me saying that doesn’t exist because it plainly does.
“If you play in numerous finals against a team, then what happened is bound to have some effect on how a club feels from the top to the bottom. If it happened the other way around, I’m sure the feeling would be exactly the same.
“For us, it’s a growing rivalry because this week it’s an opportunity for Saracens to dent us getting into the top four and to help them cement a top two. For us, it is a fight to stay in the top four. Sunday’s game has got a lot of connotations and for that reason, it should be a very full-blooded encounter. If it is not, that will probably be us not delivering on the day what we need to.”
Baxter’s message is clear and concise and together with his team of coaches, they have used this week to reaffirm to their players the importance of focusing on the ’nuts and bolts’ of what really make the Chiefs tick.
“Every game is a huge challenge and you have got to step up and step up and step up and that builds you your momentum, builds your belief across the board and everyone is buying in, turning up at training and doing what needs to get done, questions don’t need to be asked, guys aren’t looking around for a reason to do something different and you just get on with things.
“That is where you have got to really credit Saracens. They get on with things probably with the best, the most consistency in the Premiership for a long time now but then you look at the teams that are thriving this year like Leicester, they are getting on with it. Their lads are just getting on with it, they are doing what Leicester do and they have agreed to do it and they work hard at it.
“It makes you a very good side and there are not really any questions being asked because it is successful for them so they love doing it. That is what makes strength and that is the little bit we have got to re-find, that we just get on with things and we enjoy doing it.”
History dictates that the Chiefs know how to perform on the biggest of stages and Baxter is confident his players can deliver over these final few weeks, thus ensuring they can prolong their season a little longer.
“I’m still a believer that men can turn up and do incredible things and there could be some incredible things for us this season,” he added. “I have seen these guys do some amazing things over the years and that is why it would be a big result for us because it is going to be a very important game for the reasons of keeping our season alive and to keep things going.
“Saracens will be tough, we know that, but so are we on our day. What some people seem to forget is we’re still fourth in the Premiership, we got to the last 16 in the Champions Cup, yet we’re not having our best season. If this is going to be us at our worse, then I’m hopeful of what we can achieve moving forward.”
Team news for the Chiefs sees Baxter tinker slightly with his line-up from that which took to the field against Munster. In the pack, Marcus Street and Richard Capstick are both handed starts in place of Harry Williams and Dave Ewers, while behind the scrum Henry Slade shifts from the centre to fly-half.
The England international, who will take over at No.10 in place of Joe Simmonds, last started in the playmaker role back in April 2017 when the Chiefs faced Harlequins in the top-flight. His move inside means Tom Hendrickson is brought into the midfield alongside Ian Whitten in the only other change to the Exeter back division.
