Opinion: Exeter Chiefs call for the return of Caesar to resurrect ‘besieged empire’

Exeter’s empire certainly wasn’t built in a day.

The Devonians have been on a rollercoaster in the past 15 years. The move from the County Ground to Sandy Park sparked far-fetched dreams of possible Premiership promotion, but nobody could even fathom what would happen in the years since getting into the top flight.

Programmes used to joke about Exeter becoming Premiership champions, even when the Chiefs began to mix it with the big dogs, both domestically and in Europe, too. But, silverware began to flow in. 2014 saw the first major honour enter the cabinet in the form of the LV= Cup (as it was then). Fast-forward to 2017, winning the Premiership wasn’t a joke anymore, as Gareth Steenson’s penalty saw them crowned champions for the first time.

Then, after more final heartbreak at the hands of Saracens, the greatest fortnight in Exeter’s history encapsulated what was a golden moment for a golden generation, the Premiership and European double.

It might not have been built in a day, but Exeter’s empire was certainly destroyed in one. One blasted day in Gloucester.

George Skivington’s side, thrashed 90-0 themselves only a year previous, demolished the Chiefs 79-17 in front of a raucous Shed, leaving this diehard fan (although neutral reporter, may I add) head-in-hands and speechless in the press box.

Exeter’s empire lay besieged on that pristine 4G turf.

It was bordering on comical at times. Knock-ons, penalties and just missed chances handed Skivington’s men easy possession and boy did they make it count. At one point, while furiously typing away, it had transpired I’d missed another try – one had only been scored two minutes prior.

If not for Gloucester’s missed kicks at goal, ironic considering their merciless rampaging towards the try line, it could have been in the 90s. The 90s.

It could have been worse too, had Will Rigg and Will Haydon-Wood not rescued some small level of pride with two late tries. It could very easily have been 79-7…

Possibly the worst day of my Chiefs supporting life so far?

Like, this could actually be 100.#GLOvEXE #GallagherPrem

— Louis Chapman-Coombe (@LCCJournalist) April 27, 2025

And before long, the generals were for the chop.

Mere 24 hours after the Kingsholm humiliation, Rob Hunter and Ali Hepher were suspended pending a full review of both the game and the 2024/25 season as a whole, and Caesar Rob Baxter – the man who built the empire – was swiftly handed front-line coaching duties once again until the end of the season.

Exeter Chiefs swing axe after ‘unacceptable’ Premiership defeat as coaching duo ‘suspended’

Change felt needed. Granted, not this much change in succession, but it did feel needed. Baxter himself had fielded questions over whether or not the coaching group was getting stale, with the tres amigos of Baxter, Hunter and Hepher all in place for over a decade.

“There is a genuine danger of that (going stale) happening,” Baxter said previously. “But, the danger of it and it actually happening are two different things.”

He added: “If you spoke to the players now and asked if we train the same way as he did a year ago, they would all say, ‘no’.

“If they say, ‘do we talk about how the game is changing, what the better teams are doing?’ They would go, ‘no, we’re not doing the same things, we’re not seeing the same things, we’re not trying to repeat the same things that we did five years ago or three years ago or two years ago.’”

This also comes amid growing calls for Baxter himself to walk, with him previously revealing he did feel under pressure following their horrific run of eight-straight defeats.

“The reality is I’m a professional sports coach and we’ve just been well-beaten in a competition we qualified for,” Baxter said.

He added: “It might not be the competition we need to be in at the stage we are as a team, but we are, and we need to do better than that.”

But the return of Caesar could herald a much-needed change among the Centurions at the Sandy Park garrison.

The Rob Baxter effect

One thing that is for certain is that Baxter demands high standards. He was the man who plotted the rise of the Chiefs and led them from being the second-best team in Devon to the best in Europe.

That team, built from a core of academy graduates, was designed around hard work, graft and sheer commitment to the cause. A staple of that was their work in the five-metre, with relentless pick-and-goes which only ever ended when a try was scored or rolling mauls that were only ever going over the whitewash too. But, something that is often overlooked about Baxter’s gameplan is their intent to still play wide and use their backline.

His return is also a clear nod to the ethos of the Chiefs that has been missing for some time.

Exeter boss blasts ‘unacceptable’ defeat after coming ‘under an avalanche’ at Kingsholm

Identity, particularly at a club like Exeter that were simply excellent at the stuff they did, is huge in rugby. For a while now, Exeter have not had that. The constant changing of defensive styles, mismanaged and clunky attack, not helped by a clear half-back combination, have taken away the very fundamentals of their game. You’d think Baxter’s first job is getting everyone back on the same page, doing the basics well and returning to that style that won them silverware.

Yes, they might not have the same players available to them now as they once did, and the game has moved on as well, but these were hallmarks of Baxter’s approach, and they should come back in bucketfuls now he’s back on the frontline rather than watching from behind the glass panels.

Ch-ch-ch-ch changesssss

With a change in head coach, you feel there could be widespread changes to the team, particularly from this past weekend.

In the backline, centre Rigg should be the first in line to come back into the starting line-up for the foreseeable future, following yet another standout try-scoring performance. Given he has also put pen to paper on a new deal, this makes logical sense. Zach Wimbush has struggled with injuries this season, but again would add a whole new dynamic to the squad, as does Tamati Tua. Ben Hammersley’s injury could lead to a reshuffle in the back-three, with Josh Hodge likely to push out wide and either Harvey Skinner or Dan John coming in at full-back.

If Skinner were to move back, as he has done numerous times in the past, it could then see either Ben Coen or Will Haydon-Wood start at 10.

There will also likely be some changes in the pack, considering the manner in which Gloucester ran riot. Argentina lock Franco Molina would be a likely candidate to come back in, although his future is still up in the air, while Josh Iosefa-Scott and Martin Moloney could also return to the starting XV.

Around the usual suspects, you would imagine Baxter blood’s in a few of the senior academy players. The aforementioned Coen is a prime example, but Louis Gulley is very highly thought of at the club and recently signed a professional deal, Joe Bailey and Kane James have both tasted first team minutes but could be in-line for more regular exposure come the final few rounds, Campbell Ridl, Nic Allison and Nick Lilley have also impressed on England U20s duty this year and would be viable options too.

Baxter doesn’t hold back from making necessary changes, either. He dropped Stuart Hogg for the 2021 Premiership semi-final and final to reward the in-form combination of Jack Nowell, Alex Cuthbert and Tom O’Flaherty. Baxter also forced Joe Simmonds into the starting line-up ahead of club legend Steenson too in an effort to speed up his progress, which worked wonders in the end. 

It won’t just be changes for changes sake, but you can be sure he’ll make some.

“Drink with me, to days gone by. To the life that used to be,” said Grantaire. Well, hopefully, the glasses will be coming out for a different reason soon.

READ MORE: ‘Hysterical’ online verdict as Exeter accused of ‘losing the plot’ after banning two coaches