‘This is a slap in the face’ – Rob Baxter reflects on ‘hugely disapointing’ Leicester Tigers defeat

Louis Chapman Coombe
Exeter Chiefs Director of Rugby Rob Baxter ahead of the Gallagher Premiership match at the Salford Community Stadium.

Exeter Chiefs Director of Rugby Rob Baxter.

Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter, has called his side’s narrow 17-14 loss to Leicester Tigers a ‘slap in the face’. 

The Chiefs dominated much of the game at Sandy Park against Michael Cheika’s side, but crucial errors and an inability to take their chances came back to haunt them as Tommy Reffell crossed in the 82nd minute to snatch the points for the Tigers.

“A slap in the face”

Exeter could easily have scored a hatful of tries but they were unable to land the killer blow when the opportunity came. Amongst many, Scott Sio was held up over the line and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso blew a clear chance to put Olly Woodburn in for an easy try.

“It is tough to face for us,” Baxter told the media after the game. “Without doubt that is a game that will go down as one we should have won.

He added: “I thought we would have used the experience of last season better than we did. The reality is this is a slap in the face and you have to accept it as that.”

Elsewhere, crucial penalties halted Exeter’s building momentum, with Leicester dominating the battle at the breakdown and getting plenty of turnovers.

“Hugely disapointing”

The defeat is made even worse when you factor in Leicester’s own discipline issues. Izaia Perese copped a yellow card in the first-half and former Chief Solomone Kata was shown a red card for a high tackle in the second 40.

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“It is hugely disappointing to lose the game the way we did,” Baxter continued.

“I said to the players I hoped we were further down the line than to look so callow and inexperienced in the last 20 minutes as we did today. We did some very odd things.”

Exeter did eventually make their dominance pay in the second-half, with Greg Fisilau and Tom Cairns crossing, but they conceded 14 points in 20 minutes to let Leicester take the win.

“You are left shaking your head and saying ‘I am not sure what we are doing’. It just seemed like a scenario where we were inviting Leicester to get back in the game; and fair play to Leicester, they stuck in there in the firs half and in the second half they didn’t let that gap get too big and they have forced the win,” Baxter added.

Exeter now turn their attentions to next weekend’s trip to Franklin’s Gardens as they face reigning champions Northampton Saints, but they will certainly need an improved performance if they want to come away with a win.

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