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'It took my breath away' - Exeter Chiefs Rob Baxter named personality of the year by rugby writers' club

By PA
Rob Baxter shows his emotion after Exeter Chiefs' Premiership final win over Wasps

Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter has been voted the Rugby Union Writers’ Club personality of the year for 2020.

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Baxter succeeds South Africa’s 2019 World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi as holder of the Pat Marshall Memorial Award after masterminding the Chiefs’ Gallagher Premiership and European Champions Cup double last season.

The 49-year-old Devonian guided Exeter into the English top flight in 2010 and the club has built throughout the last decade, culminating in their final victories over Racing 92 and Wasps on successive weekends in October.

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Mike Brown on that fist fight with Ben Te’o:

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Mike Brown on that fist fight with Ben Te’o:

Baxter follows in the footsteps of previous greats to have been acclaimed by the RUWC such as Gareth Edwards, Jonah Lomu, Martin Johnson, Lawrence Dallaglio, Jonny Wilkinson and Dan Carter, admitting “I feel in exalted company”.

The list of nominees in contention for 2020 also included referee centurion Nigel Owens, Pacific Islands rugby campaigner Dan Leo, Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones and France scrum-half Antoine Dupont.

Baxter, who came out on top of a poll of the RUWC’s 250-plus members encompassing writers, photographers and broadcasters, was presented with the award at Sandy Park after the club’s annual dinner was cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic

“Looking at some of the names who have been awarded this previously, I have to say I feel in exalted company,” Baxter said.

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“I don’t mind telling you it took my breath away when I was looking at the various people who have won this in the past – not just household names but world famous names. It’s a huge honour.

“I have to thank everybody at the club who has helped me on the path to the double championship we won last year and who has been a huge part in the success of Exeter.

“I’m the guy lucky enough to pick up a very prestigious award for the hard work of a lot of people.

“It’s a shame to have missed the rugby writers’ dinner – I’ve been told it’s a remarkable event! – but with the times as they are, we are all doing our best to see the positives in everything. I’d just like to thank everybody involved for voting for me to win this award.”

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Exeter became the fourth English club after Leicester, Wasps and Saracens to complete the double.

“It was an incredible year. It was a broken up and odd year, so different to anything else we’ve experienced in rugby,” Baxter said.

“After the restart we turned up like a team with something to prove and something to win. We showed that right through and we never wavered. We put in some outstanding performances.

“When you add it all up, it was an incredible few months. The end felt separate from the start, two seasons rolled into one.

“The first part of the season gave us an opportunity, the second part was all about taking it. That’s why it was such a remarkable season.”

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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