Exeter vs Newcastle - Saturday

[Puja]

Exeter: J Simmonds; Nowell, Hendrickson, Devoto, Hodge; H Skinner, Maunder; Hepburn, Yeandle (capt), Williams, Witty, Lonsdale, Kirsten, Armand, Capstick

Replacements: Burrows, Moon, Iosefa-Scott, Tshiunza, S Simmonds, Hidalgo-Clyne, Whitten, O'Brien.

Newcastle: Brown; Earle, Wacokecoke, Lucock, Stevenson; Hodgson, Schreuder; Brocklebank, McGuigan, Palframan, Peterson, Montgomery, van der Walt, Welch (capt), Fearns.

Replacements: Smith, Cooper, Mulipola, Graham, Chick, Nordli-Kelemeti, Connon, Penny.

[Puja]

JSimmonds in at 15. Really has fallen out of favour.

Puja

[fivepointer]

I'm really not sure why Simmonds has been treated the way he has over the last few weeks. Its not as if Exe have been playing that well, or Skinner has shown some miraculous form. Seems very odd.
I'm assuming Marcus Street is injured as he hasnt featured in any matchday squads this season.

[Oakboy]

They will go up a notch with Kirsten back.

[jngf]

I'm really not sure why Simmonds has been treated the way he has over the last few weeks. Its not as if Exe have been playing that well, or Skinner has shown some miraculous form. Seems very odd.
I'm assuming Marcus Street is injured as he hasnt featured in any matchday squads this season.

At least playing at 15 J Simmonds now stands a better chance of making England fly half berth

[Puja]

I'm really not sure why Simmonds has been treated the way he has over the last few weeks. Its not as if Exe have been playing that well, or Skinner has shown some miraculous form. Seems very odd.
I'm assuming Marcus Street is injured as he hasnt featured in any matchday squads this season.

At least playing at 15 J Simmonds now stands a better chance of making England fly half berth

Puja

[Danno]

I'm really not sure why Simmonds has been treated the way he has over the last few weeks. Its not as if Exe have been playing that well, or Skinner has shown some miraculous form. Seems very odd.
I'm assuming Marcus Street is injured as he hasnt featured in any matchday squads this season.

At least playing at 15 J Simmonds now stands a better chance of making England fly half berth

Puja

Seconded!

[twitchy]

Wow I just saw the result. What a start of the season for exe.

[fivepointer]

Great result for Newcastle. The try off the l/o was really neat.

Exe are floundering. They are missing players but still put out a pretty strong looking side. Break comes at a good time for them.

[twitchy]

All the "baxter for england" calls can now be transferred over to borthwick.

[FKAS]

Despite a fairly miserable start (by their standards) to the season Exeter are still fourth. They'll have players to come back in and are keeping themselves within striking distance of the top. Baxter is a canny enough operator to know the league isn't won this side of Christmas, they don't need to panic yet.

[Raggs]

All the "baxter for england" calls can now be transferred over to borthwick.

I thought the plan was for him to take over from Jones anyway, until he left England.

[Puja]

Despite a fairly miserable start (by their standards) to the season Exeter are still fourth. They'll have players to come back in and are keeping themselves within striking distance of the top. Baxter is a canny enough operator to know the league isn't won this side of Christmas, they don't need to panic yet.

I don't know about that - they may be fourth, but they've not had their bye week yet, they've yet to play Quins or Saracens, and are still on a 4/4 record. That's not keeping your powder dry; that's a genuine slump that they need to pick themselves out of.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

All the "baxter for england" calls can now be transferred over to borthwick.

He was always in pole position wasn't he?

Certainly far less in the negatives column than Baxter

[FKAS]

Despite a fairly miserable start (by their standards) to the season Exeter are still fourth. They'll have players to come back in and are keeping themselves within striking distance of the top. Baxter is a canny enough operator to know the league isn't won this side of Christmas, they don't need to panic yet.

I don't know about that - they may be fourth, but they've not had their bye week yet, they've yet to play Quins or Saracens, and are still on a 4/4 record. That's not keeping your powder dry; that's a genuine slump that they need to pick themselves out of.

Puja

Oh it's a definite slump I was just saying they aren't going to be hitting the panic button yet, there's plenty of time for them to hit a winning streak and on previous you think they've got the potential to do so.

[twitchy]

As many predicted the new laws mean they have to come up with a new game plan.

[Scrumhead]

Considering Quins run of form didn’t even start until January, it’s definitely possible that they could find form and go on a good run. However, IMO, they seem so much more vulnerable than in previous seasons and no longer feel like the relentless machine they were.

Teams used to play Exeter with a defeatist mindset and expected to lose. I think they’ve lost that.

Aside from the internationals, getting Evers and Vermeulen will make a big difference and I think they’ll definitely improve - just maybe not to the extent that they are contenders this season.

[fivepointer]

Top 2 might be a reach even at this stage. They may have to start relying on the teams around them to drop points in order to make top 4. its going to get very congested as i'm sure Sale and Bristol will be moving up the table.
They've got a major challenge on their hands.

[Scrumhead]

Top 6 is going to be massively competitive. Exeter have Bath up next which should give the, a very good shout of a win, but then they’re up against Saracens. I could easily see their win-loss-win-loss pattern continuing.

[Digby]

Can I just say I'm really pleased to see Exeter struggling somewhat, and even doing so with the easy accusation that some of their pick and go excellence has been denuded. Because it will be interesting to see what Baxter (like Katy) does next. Having to build new sides, having to rally in adversity are the sort of things we'd want him to do if he's going to push for the England job

Obviously not great for Exeter, but if you're not worried about their results it's a nice experiment to observe. Better prep for the England job than continual success being able to do the same thing at the same club

[Scrumhead]

Yeah. I agree with that.

If Baxter comes through this test, he’ll go some way to addressing the doubts over his adaptability/one-dimensional tactics.

[Danno]

Big If

[Which Tyler]

Yup - it's one of 2 big questions about him
tactics, and the ability to achieve success with a different set of players and off-field systems (and a 3rd about maximising performance given a short time with a squad - but that can only really be seen at international level, or the first few months at a new club - ALA Borthwick)

[p/d]

My memory is most likely clouded but I thought Exeter brought to the Aviva an all round attacking style of rugby that won them many plaudits from pundits and neutrals alike.

[Oakboy]

My memory is most likely clouded but I thought Exeter brought to the Aviva an all round attacking style of rugby that won them many plaudits from pundits and neutrals alike.

They certainly scored lots of tries. I was never a fan of White at SH but his absence has made me realise I was wrong. Replacing him and finding a dominant second row would transform Exeter. Without Hill, Gray, Skinner they struggle. The next in line are pretty ordinary. I'd not bet against them reaching the play-offs.