Exeter Coach Rob Baxter Reports Team “Progressing” Amidst Performance Challenges

Rob Baxter, head coach for Exeter, has indicated that his team is “progressing” as he endeavors to reverse their current poor performance this season. The squad will likely gain encouragement from their decisive victories in the initial two rounds of the Premiership Rugby Cup. Before the international break, The Chiefs recorded a club-record six consecutive losses in Premiership matches. Since then, the club has parted ways with defence coach Omar Mouneimne, but secured wins against Championship sides Cornish Pirates and Hartpury in the Premiership Rugby Cup. Exeter’s most significant cup challenge to date is scheduled for Friday night, an away game against Gloucester at Kingsholm. “We have to look like a team that’s on the front foot and moving forward, that’s the single most important thing,” Baxter told BBC Sport. He continued, “We have to keep the lads confident in that – that we’re moving forward, being progressive and we’re going to come through this, and that’s the way I’m approaching it.” Baxter clarified, “I’m not approaching it like ‘this is a must-win game, this is a must-win game’.” He emphasized, “We can’t just stagger from must-win game to must-win game, we’ve got to try and get on that upward slope of where we feel like we’re moving forwards and that we will get where we need to be.” Baxter concluded this point by saying, “I feel like we’re on that, and I’ve got to try to work very hard to maintain that and keep that feeling that we’re progressing.” Baxter selected strong teams against two second-tier opponents in the cup, which resulted in substantial victories: a 68-7 win against Cornish Pirates before defeating Hartpury 54-3 at Sandy Park. Baxter expressed his hope that these victories, even when achieved against teams from a lower division, would boost his squad’s confidence. He further explained, “More than anything it creates a feelgood factor, and when you start to win and start to feel good about things, that can create that little bit of energy, that little bit of belief in coming through tough scenarios.” Baxter elaborated on their strategy, stating, “We have tried to declutter things a bit for the players, trying to align everything we’re doing, everything to feel as common sense as possible, everything to feel like we’re trying to make the best of their strengths so they can express their individual strength and individual abilities within our systems.” He concluded by saying, “We’re just going to push that for as long and as hard as we can, and I think that’s the way we can help the lads feel good about themselves and feel good about where we’re heading as a team.”