Baxter relishing Premiership battle
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 18:42
Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter insists everything is just how he wants it to be as he prepares his side for their Aviva Premiership debut against Gloucester on Saturday.
Having faced pre-season tests against Cardiff Blues, Cornish Pirates and Llanelli Scarlets, the Chiefs will get down to the nitty-gritty of league action this weekend when Bryan Redpath's side provide a stern first test at Sandy Park.
Although defeated by both the Blues and the Scarlets, Baxter feels his team are in fine fettle and will send them into battle with a clear and defined message.
"It's fantastic we are starting at home," said Baxter.
"The weather this week has been good and everything at the club is just how we want it to be. We have managed to put together a really good training week and it's nice to see the guys running round on their toes and looking sharp. The attack session we had on Wednesday was one of the best I have ever seen in my time at the club.
"I'm massively pleased with how things have gone and I know everybody is very excited and looking forward to it. I suppose the truth of it for us as coaching staff will be just where we are at. We think we are in good shape, but this will be the test we need."
Having never faced Gloucester in league combat before, the last meeting between the two clubs was a Powergen Cup encounter at Kingsholm in December 2002 when the Cherry and Whites won 35-6.
A lot has changed for the Chiefs since that clash and Baxter knows Saturday's Premiership opener will be a massive encounter for everyone associated with the Devon club.
"One thing I have always done since I have been head coach is never run away from the obvious," added Baxter, who himself enjoyed a brief season with Gloucester as a player. "And the obvious is that Saturday is a very big occasion and we are very much aware of that.
"It's a history making time for the club and we are challenging the players to be the people who want to make history for a rugby club. They made history last season by getting us into the Premiership and now they are the guys who are going to write our history this first season in the Premiership. I think that is a fantastic opportunity for them."
Although many pundits have been happy to already write off Exeter's chances of survival - inside the camp there is a much more positive vibe to the new campaign as Baxter explains.
"A lot of people talk about the different ways you can target games and try and get points through the season, but all we've said to the players is we are not going to hide anything from you," said Baxter. "We are going to go for it and prepare every week as well as we can. As I've said a number of times already we are going to go out and give it our all and see what happens.
"This season is going to be all about giving it a real go, enjoying the experience and maximising every minute of it all. We want the players to improve and the only way they can do that is by getting involved in the game and maximising every action they have."
Changes to the Exeter side that lost narrowly to the Scarlets last Friday see Tom Johnson start in place of Chad Slade at blindside flank, Haydn Thomas comes in at scrum-half with Junior Poluleuligaga injured and Phil Dollman's inclusion at centre means Mark Foster is switched to the wing at the expense of Matt Jess. There is, however, a first-ever league start for off-season signing James Phillips at No.8.
Luke Arscott, who followed Phillips to the Chiefs from Bristol, is also included in this his second spell at the club, whilst former Bath flyhalf Ryan Davis is named on the bench along with fellow newcomer Garrick Cowley.
As for Gloucester, Baxter concluded: "They have mixed and matched their side a lot less this season and they have a more settled coaching team. They obviously feel pretty confident and they have some quality players' right across the board. Looking at the video of them this week they are trying to play with some tempo, which we have to be aware of, and their back three are doing some destructive work for them. It will be a tough test for us."
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Luke Arscott, 14 Nic Sestaret, 13 Phil Dollman, 12 Bryan Rennie, 11 Mark Foster, 10 Gareth Steenson, 9 Haydn Thomas, 8 James Phillips, 7 James Scaysbrook, 6 Tom Johnson, 5 James Hanks, 4 Tom Hayes (captain), 3 Hoani Tui, 2 Neil Clark, 1 Brett Sturgess.
Replacements: 16 Simon Alcott, 17 Ben Moon, 18 Chris Budgen, 19 Dave Gannon, 20 Chad Slade, 21 Garrick Cowley, 22 Ryan Davis, 23 Matt Jess.
Date: Saturday, September 4
Venue: Sandy Park, Exeter
Kick-off: 15.00 (14.00 GMT)
Referee: Rob Debney
Assistant referees: Paul Burton, Ashley Rowden
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