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Exeter Chiefs thread

Hmmm, are we saying he underachieved with the squad he had or was he part of the strategy that created that squad?
I would say both. He definitely underperformed, even though it's not a great squad he shouldn't be losing pretty much every game. Not sure how much he's directly involved in recruitment but he's definitely accountable for how the squads been managed and various players being completely dropped for large periods (skinner).
There does seem to be a wider issue with player management at Exeter, how many other teams just drop their starting flyhalf? Exeter have done it with Simmonds and Skinner now
 
I feel like it's rearranging the deck chairs a bit

A question has to be asked on what exactly does Baxter want? because every year he starts out as DOR and then decides to become the head coach again.
 
Presumably, you haven't been following the PRC then
A second tier development competition that has a completely different standard and energy to the premiership proper. I don't think it reflects performances in the league.

It should be scrapped to be honest. An A league throughout the season would be much better.
 
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During which Exeter flogged their first XV with no "big improvement in form"
With their last 2 weeks squeaking past Ealing, before receiving a humping from Bath's 2nd(ish) XV


As for Exeter, I don't know what the solution is, but I hope they find it.
This year's team is essentially the same as last year's - and should be performing better, having had a year building together. That they're not has to come down to the coaching - which include Baxter, as both hands-on-coach, and the person deciding ultimate strategy and who should be doing what hands-on coaching
 
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I feel like it's rearranging the deck chairs a bit

A question has to be asked on what exactly does Baxter want? because every year he starts out as DOR and then decides to become the head coach again.
Hepher attack coach till end of season then going to the academy, and hunter in as Head coach, likely now in a search for a new head coach and this is just opening the door. This season is gone so rearranging is just preparing really.

Even when we were winning going well in Europe I always thought our attack wasn't great just our pack was. Hepher needs to go as I think with a great team the attack was good at best and when the team isn't great the attack just looks lost sometimes.

I'd say we need to bring in an experienced 10 and invest in our coaches and let Baxter step away. Or at least add to rather than have to step in to take over. But who is available and willing that's the question.
 
Is this team not very good or is the team decent but coaching ba

Meaning are we currently less than the sum of our parts?
 

Rumours a lot of heads about to roll
 
Blimey, that's quite a step. Odd timing too, they aren't going to realistically improve their position in any meaningful way before the end of the season. Feels a bit like pulling Hunter and Hepher's pants down for a public spanking to appease the fans.
 
Blimey, that's quite a step. Odd timing too, they aren't going to realistically improve their position in any meaningful way before the end of the season. Feels a bit like pulling Hunter and Hepher's pants down for a public spanking to distract the fans from Baxter.
FTFY
 
The coaches just haven't adapted since being shafted by the World Rugby Law changes that fundamentally affected Chiefs style of play, our very DNA.

Shame, but the time has come for a big change. Baxter needs to move properly into the seats above or move away.

Rowntree, Blackett, etc needed

Thank you for everything you've done but this is professional sport and winning matters. If you can't coach these younger guys, move on.
 
I've said for a while I like the team but there is something wrong with the coaching set up.

Big step but needed to be done, be an attractive coaching job i bet, we have a decent pretty young team that a good coach can mold and turn around.

Rowntree and Blackett would be perfect as stated above but already probably taken.
 
The coaches just haven't adapted since being shafted by the World Rugby Law changes that fundamentally affected Chiefs style of play, our very DNA.

Shame, but the time has come for a big change. Baxter needs to move properly into the seats above or move away.

Rowntree, Blackett, etc needed

Thank you for everything you've done but this is professional sport and winning matters. If you can't coach these younger guys, move on.
Yes, but...

As of the start of last season, you'd lost all your stars, and the laws had already changed to neuter your favourite tactic; but you finished a perfectly respectable 7th with a perfectly respectable 50 (IIRC) league points; with a young squad who would all improve from the experience.
I think everyone expected you to build on that for this season.
Having the same coaches, the same players and the same laws as last season, doesn't explain this drop of. There's something rotten, and it simply has to go deeper than players and coaches.

I would add that Rowe going into the locker room to give a piece of his mind is about as good a look as when Bruce Craig did the same.
 
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Yes, but...

As of the start of last season, you'd lost all your stars, and the laws had already changed to neuter your favourite tactic; but you finished a perfectly respectable 7th with a perfectly respectable 50 (IIRC) league points; with a young squad who would all improve from the experience.
I think everyone expected you to build on that for this season.
Having the same coaches, the same players and the same laws as last season, doesn't explain this drop of. There's something rotten, and it simply has to go deeper than players and coaches.

I would add that Rowe going into the locker room to give a piece of his mind is about as good a look as when Bruce Craig did the same.
It seemed last season we had a strong start and built, trailing off towards the end of the season and with no experience we kept going down but it is bad that Rowe made the decision(from what i read).

There is something wrong but I hope a new coaching set up brings some stability and let's us Build. The squad is actually less than the sum of its parts imo. We need a decent 10 at least and some new coaches. I just hope we spend what we need to get the right ones.
 
Baxter has been trying to step away from coaching for years

A question needs to be asked why did he keep this coaching team for so long when every season he had to step back into head coach role?
 
I do wonder if they were friends and he tried his best to keep them. But yes they past it a while ago
This is it. Great guys (particularly Hunter) but things needs to change. Attack
Coach is already in. Now get Nick Easter and another. Get the boys motivated. There are superstars in that squad who need their young minds setting right. Slade needs a kick up arse or ship out. He costs us too much to not be a leader. Hopefully Ikitau lights a fire under him as they should
be playing for the 13 shirt but I reckon Slade will be our 10
 

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