'We will go for it' - insists Baxter

By Mark Stevens
15/1/17

Rob Baxter insists his Exeter Chiefs will “go for it” after they threw themselves a potential European Champions Cup lifeline with a 31-19 victory over Ulster at Sandy Park.

Bottom of Pool 5 ahead of kick-off, the Aviva Premiership side moved to second in the standings come the end as two tries apiece from Michele Campagnaro (pictured) and Thomas Waldrom, plus a second half penalty try, proved the key to their second European win of the season.

Now on 11 points, ten adrift of pool leaders ASM Clermont Auvergne - who have already booked their place in the quarter-finals - the Chiefs will be hoping a maximum haul against the French club this Saturday, coupled with results elsewhere going in their favour can for a second season result in Baxter’s side advancing into the last eight.

It’s a tall order for the Chiefs, but based on this latest showing that have nothing to lose and everything to gain at the Stade Marcel Michelin.

Ulster - who countered with tries from Sean Reidy and Charles Piutau (2), two of which were converted by Paddy Jackson - have no chance of advancing and will wrap up their campaign with a home encounter against Bordeaux-Begles.

For Baxter, however, the result was one to savour and it was little wonder he was full of praise for his side at the final whistle.

“There were a lot of positives out there for us today,” said Baxter. “I thought the forwards manned up very well at the set-piece and that in turn gave us territory, good momentum and penalties, which were then able to exploit.

“What I liked in particular was that we came through the strongest, especially when both teams were really battling for it.”

Exeter’s win meant they have lost only once in their last nine games and they will head to France in confident mood.

“We would have gone for it next week what the outcome of today,” added Baxter. “These are not only important games for us, but they are also great learnings experiences. We came into today with very little to play for for, but look at the level of our performance.

“Right now we look like a side that is starting to accelerate through the season - and we need to maintain that momentum going forward. All the time we challenge ourselves as individuals and as a team about what we want to get out of the games and that is what we are doing.

“We didn’t struggle in this competition because of the rugby we are playing now, we struggled because of the rugby we played earlier in the season. Thankfully, we’ve got through that, got some momentum and now understand what it means to turn up each week.

“Our Premiership form running into this game has been very good and we’ve been very competitive. We know that because we have beaten some very good Premiership sides and because we have turned up and played well. For me, it’s not really any kind of surprise, as I know how hard the players have been working and now they are getting their rewards.”

And whilst the Chiefs will need a bigger qualification miracle than that of last year, when they won against the Ospreys on the last day, Baxter is backing his team to give everything in their quest to succeed.

“Clermont, we know, will be a tough challenge - it always is when you go over there,” said Baxter. “As I said, it’s unlikely we will qualify, but we will go for it. We’re still very much in the two other competitions, the Premiership and the Anglo-Welsh Cup, so we’ll see what happens with this one.

“What I think our guys are starting to understand, though, is that there are things we can do to keep those things in our hands. We’ve not quite done it in Europe - you know, how did we lose to Bordeaux here when we had 70% possession? Yet, today we can beat a very good Ulster side who are coming here with a great opportunity to try and go through.

“In the end we’ve scored five tries, but couldn’t do anything like that against Bordeaux. As I said, we’re learning all the times and the important thing for me is that we keep driving forward and learn lessons that we can then take into the Premiership and beyond.”