Exe vs Glos - Saturday - 1pm

[Shiny]

oh and Woodburn.....stylish, definitely stylish

Pimping ain’t easy

[Digby]

Exeter struggle when teams match them, it's my big worry about the calls for Baxter to be England coach.

He doesn't want to be england coach.

Again it's easy to say before you're offered the job

My concern is Baxter looks at that game and only concludes Exeter need to be better at doubling down on plan A, he's not pondering having other options

Now fine Exeter didn't execute as they'd want but he's perhaps stuck where Mallinder found himself a few seasons back

[Digby]

One other problem arising out of this is the team had previously rested players coming back from tests and that very likely impacted upon readiness for this game, and that increases the desire to play not rest those returning from tests

It could well still pay off for Exeter in the league, but another exit in Europe is problematic

[twitchy]

I thought resting the internationals for the quins game was a good move with one eye on the glos game. It backfired massively. It seemed like the team lost momentum.

One incredibly frustrating moment was just after half time where exe knocked about 5m from the glos try line. That really seemed like a key moment.

Any way glos were really good and deserved the win in the end. They are a legit top team now.

[fivepointer]

Always a bit of a gamble to stand players down but i thought were right to do that against Quins.
Baxter was interesting post match saying the players seem to adopt a different mind set when it comes to Europe. Its as if they put extra pressure on themselves. Might be something in that. I've only seen them play sporadically well in Europe.

[Mikey Brown]

Always a bit of a gamble to stand players down but i thought were right to do that against Quins.
Baxter was interesting post match saying the players seem to adopt a different mind set when it comes to Europe. Its as if they put extra pressure on themselves. Might be something in that. I've only seen them play sporadically well in Europe.

Weirdly it sort of reminds me of Glasgow struggling after their league win. No longer the underdogs, can play one style very effectively (though the polar opposite from how Exeter play) but seemingly struggle to adapt or have a suitable plan B when it’s it’s required. It was the reason I was reluctant for Townsend to become coach (so soon) and many I think feel the same with Baxter with England.

It seemed surprising how quickly the whole group took to life in the premiership, but is there some sort of mental block when it comes to taking the next step up? Or is it a coaching thing?

[Oakboy]

Always a bit of a gamble to stand players down but i thought were right to do that against Quins.
Baxter was interesting post match saying the players seem to adopt a different mind set when it comes to Europe. Its as if they put extra pressure on themselves. Might be something in that. I've only seen them play sporadically well in Europe.

Weirdly it sort of reminds me of Glasgow struggling after their league win. No longer the underdogs, can play one style very effectively (though the polar opposite from how Exeter play) but seemingly struggle to adapt or have a suitable plan B when it’s it’s required. It was the reason I was reluctant for Townsend to become coach (so soon) and many I think feel the same with Baxter with England.

It seemed surprising how quickly the whole group took to life in the premiership, but is there some sort of mental block when it comes to taking the next step up? Or is it a coaching thing?

Is it generally a step up, though? I'm not sure. Yes, of course, one or two games are significant but Saracens are Saracens in whatever competition. Facing them in the GP maybe has more significance than facing them in Europe. Gloucester are getting there so playing them is a challenge whatever the competition. One or two Irish teams and one or two French/Welsh/Scottish count but generally???

The subject can be debated ad infinitum but my personal preference for rugby viewing is simply England v anybody followed by the GP. Europe, I can take or leave, with only the odd game each weekend really appealing. Cut out the group stage and I'd probably think differently. Currently, IMO, there is just too much of it.

[Digby]

The change of refs in Europe along with playing different styles are big differences even before any emotional shift that comes with a must win mindset going into a game

[Mellsblue]

Always a bit of a gamble to stand players down but i thought were right to do that against Quins.
Baxter was interesting post match saying the players seem to adopt a different mind set when it comes to Europe. Its as if they put extra pressure on themselves. Might be something in that. I've only seen them play sporadically well in Europe.

Weirdly it sort of reminds me of Glasgow struggling after their league win. No longer the underdogs, can play one style very effectively (though the polar opposite from how Exeter play) but seemingly struggle to adapt or have a suitable plan B when it’s it’s required. It was the reason I was reluctant for Townsend to become coach (so soon) and many I think feel the same with Baxter with England.

It seemed surprising how quickly the whole group took to life in the premiership, but is there some sort of mental block when it comes to taking the next step up? Or is it a coaching thing?

Is it generally a step up, though? I'm not sure. Yes, of course, one or two games are significant but Saracens are Saracens in whatever competition. Facing them in the GP maybe has more significance than facing them in Europe. Gloucester are getting there so playing them is a challenge whatever the competition. One or two Irish teams and one or two French/Welsh/Scottish count but generally???

The subject can be debated ad infinitum but my personal preference for rugby viewing is simply England v anybody followed by the GP. Europe, I can take or leave, with only the odd game each weekend really appealing. Cut out the group stage and I'd probably think differently. Currently, IMO, there is just too much of it.

Numerous quotes from Baxter that it is a mental issue rather than quality issue when playing in Europe. They’ve put a lot of pressure on themselves to improve in Europe and it hasn’t happened. Compare and contract with the Prem where there as a pretty much constant upward curve and they haven’t really had to deal with repeated failures.

[Timbo]

For all the talk of Exeter needing to add a bit more nuance to their game plan, their priority should be to upgrade their lineout massively. So many big games it falls apart for them, and then they can’t get their very effective driving maul going...That dodgy lineout is disarming in them in so many ways at the moment.

[twitchy]

That was hill's speciality. I think he had the best line out stats in the prem either last season or the one before.