Rob Baxter reveals Exeter Chiefs’ new ‘freedom’ to end early season slump
Rob Baxter, Exeter Chiefs director of rugby, in 2024.
Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter believes his side are a “win away from a good run”, and will look to give his players more “freedom in their heads” to do so.
For the first time in the club’s history, they have lost all three of their opening Premiership games, and currently sit ninth in the table heading into round four.
‘We’re a win away’
Exeter have been their own worst enemy at times this season. They led for the majority of the game in their opening day defeat to Leicester Tigers, and also created plenty of chances in the subsequent losses to Northampton Saints and Saracens; but Baxter is confident his side can eventually get that all-important first win in the near future.
“We could be in this scenario where if we lose to Bristol, people will be looking around and thinking we’re in a dog fight (to avoid relegation),” said Baxter. “But I’m not overly worried about this weekend’s result.
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“I would love to win, of course I would, we’re doing everything we can to win; but if we lose it creates a remarkable opportunity to see what the players are about and what the club is about.”
He added: “I’m looking at the group now and thinking we’re a win away from going on a run of things; and that in itself is exciting, but it’s getting that first win and dealing with the pressure or getting that relief, and I think that will come.”
Baxter’s side return to Sandy Park this weekend for a West Country derby against Bristol Bears, who venture to Devon in fantastic form following a 36-26 win over Bath last time out.
‘Freedom in their heads’
There was certainly some pressure on the new-look Chiefs group this year, following their better-than-expected campaign last year, and Baxter opened up on how his coaching staff had been “trying to rush” the development of his players with an aim to improve them down the line.
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“I said to the players, ‘we’re trying to rush you to being as a good a team as you can be’ and I told the lads I’ll make no excuses for that,” Baxter continued. “Some of that is probably cluttering us, but some of it will be of great use further down the line.
“We’re doing an incredible amount of learning and the lads are trying incredibly hard to translate that onto the field, and it’ll come.”
Despite this, he detailed he will now be giving his players more “freedom in their heads” in order to turn their fortunes around.
“We want to make sure there’s a little bit of freedom in their heads about what they have to do at the weekend,” he said. “And just in that process of getting the most important details pinned down first before worrying about the next layers a bit further down the line.”
