S
SEARCH
M
SW
/esi/1339/6_A_4_426214_0/index.html?art_id=426214&ESI

Rob Baxter: 'There is a real air of excitement around Exeter'

:Headline: Rob Baxter: 'There is a real air of excitement around Exeter': ID:426214: from db_amp
Chiefs boss Rob Baxter wants his players to 'knuckle down' and focus as the new campaign begins eight weeks after their triumph in Bristol.

Rob Baxter says there is "a real air of excitement" as Exeter prepare to launch their European title defence against Glasgow.

It is only eight weeks since Exeter won the Heineken Champions Cup, beating Racing 92 in a memorable final at Ashton Gate.

With the current domestic campaign beginning barely a month later and the Champions Cup off and running this weekend, Exeter have rapidly got back to business.

And after posting three successive Premiership bonus point victories, Chiefs have an added lift of 2,000 spectators being allowed into Sandy Park for Sunday's opener.

"You can feel a real air of excitement among the group," Exeter rugby director Baxter said.

"And with us starting our defence at home, with a crowd in for the first time in a long time, there are lots of reasons for us to get excited.

"However, being excited is one thing, but what we have to do is knuckle down and direct all of that energy in the right way.

Exeter rugby director Rob Baxter wants his team to 'knuckle down'(Ashley Western/PA)

"That is what we did last year. We set our stall out from game one (against La Rochelle), and that's what we must do again this year."

Baxter welcomes back the likes of Stuart Hogg, Henry Slade and Jonny Gray from international duty, but he admitted Exeter's immaculate start to the league season has caused selection headaches.

"I know every player in our squad wants to be involved in games like this weekend, so with the international lads coming back as well, people are going to miss out," he added.

"That's tough, I know that, but we do have a group of players here who understand things.

Scotland captain Stuart Hogg returns to action for Exeter (David Davies/PA)

"They are not that naive to look back and see that some of those guys coming back are the same guys who helped us lift two cups (Champions Cup and Premiership) at the end of last season.

"They understand that, but equally it is my job and that of the coaches to make sure they also realise the important roles they have to play.

"For those internationals coming back in, they will know they have to perform to the levels that make them an international, because if they don't, it will be an easy decision to rotate those players back in again.

"If anything, the pressure is on those international players to show why they are at the very top end of the game."

Elsewhere on Sunday, Harlequins welcome back England prop Joe Marler following the autumn Tests for their clash against Munster in Limerick, while Ben Tapuai replaces centre Andre Esterhuizen, who is serving a four-week suspension.

Injury-hit Gloucester go to Lyon, where they will be without the likes of Billy Twelvetrees, Joe Simpson, Lloyd Evans and Jason Woodward, and Racing 92 host Connacht.

amp_article_426214 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2020-12-12 13:00:29:
html db last update - 2021-01-01 09:43:52 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Rob Baxter

Click here for more stories about Glasgow Warriors

Share this article now:
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1696137201733
2Manchester UnitedMan Utd159333123830
3Leicester CityLeicester169252920929
4Everton159242619729
5Aston Villa1482428141426
6Chelsea1675431181326
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1575326151126
8Manchester CityMan City147522112926
9Southampton167542519626
10West Ham UnitedWest Ham166552321223
11Leeds UnitedLeeds167273030023
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves166371521-621
13Arsenal166281619-320
14Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155461724-719
15Crystal Palace165472029-919
16Burnley15447920-1116
17Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton162771825-713
18Fulham152581323-1011
19West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom1615101135-248
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd160214827-192
Scroll for more - Tap for full version

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
UC
Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1696137201733
2Manchester UnitedMan Utd159333123830
3Leicester CityLeicester169252920929
4Everton159242619729
5Aston Villa1482428141426
6Chelsea1675431181326
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1575326151126
8Manchester CityMan City147522112926
9Southampton167542519626
10West Ham UnitedWest Ham166552321223
11Leeds UnitedLeeds167273030023
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves166371521-621
13Arsenal166281619-320
14Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155461724-719
15Crystal Palace165472029-919
16Burnley15447920-1116
17Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton162771825-713
18Fulham152581323-1011
19West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom1615101135-248
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd160214827-192
Scroll for more - Tap for full version
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
X

We value your privacy

A part of our GDPR compliance we need to ask for your consent. We and our partners use technology such as cookies on Sports Mole to personalise content and ads, provide social media features, and analyse our traffic. Click below to consent to the use of this technology on Sports Mole.