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Rob Baxter drops scary admission after Toulouse rip Exeter asunder

By PA
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso - PA

Rob Baxter admitted that some of Toulouse’s rugby was “almost undefendable” after his Exeter team suffered a 64-21 Investec Champions Cup mauling at Sandy Park.

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It equalled Exeter’s heaviest defeat in the competition and it was the most points they had conceded at home since gaining Premiership status.

Six-time tournament winners Toulouse were in irresistible form, collecting five first-half tries from Antoine Dupont, Julien Marchand, Matthis Lebel, Thibaud Flament and Pierre-Louis Barassi to leave Exeter reeling.

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“There were a few things they did that were almost undefendable and a couple of set-plays from set-piece were very difficult for us to get on top of,” Exeter rugby director Baxter said.

“We looked like a team that is kind of struggling with that level of confidence to let ourselves play. We don’t quite move the ball when we have got opportunities.

Fixture
Investec Champions Cup
Exeter Chiefs
21 - 64
Full-time
Toulouse
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“We kind of got ourselves back into the game just after half-time and scored some points, but then our confidence to keep at it and then weather – that bit of a storm when they had the ball – is just eluding us at the minute, but I am pretty confident it will come.

“We have learnt some lessons today, but I don’t mind us playing these games.

“Playing against good teams should make you better and the important thing is that we do get better from today and we don’t go into our shells.

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“When you are a team that is building itself back to where you want to be, you have to take your licks, but it is the experience you gain from doing it that prepares you for the next time. That’s where we are at the moment.”

It was the Chiefs’ ninth-successive defeat in major competitions this season and they simply had no answer to Toulouse’s pace, power and relentless support-play.

Rob Baxter
Rob Baxter – PA

Lebel and Barassi completed doubles early in the second period before Theo Ntamack, Blair Kinghorn and Paul Graou scored as Toulouse took their try tally to 10.

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Full-back Thomas Ramos kicked seven conversions, while wing Tommy Wyatt scored two tries for Exeter and Josh Hodge also crossed, all converted by Henry Slade.

Exeter must now regroup for next Saturday’s Premiership clash away to Sale, making the trip north following seven league defeats in a row that means they currently prop up the table.

Baxter added: “For us, we need to play games of rugby. We don’t need to run away from games of rugby, we need to embrace them and get on and play them. That is how we are going to improve.

“We are training well and you can see from the lads that they are not lacking in fighting spirit.”

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J
JW 4 hours ago
'Razor's conservatism is in danger of halting New Zealand's progress'

Haha yeah I know, sorry I just cbf doing anything other than sprouting the garbage that comes in. You either follow the train of thought or don't most the time, that's why I like you, happy to not take it serious like, and reply regardless.

Haha more imaginary rational. You mean in 2018 and 19 he used 36 new players?

more = you're following in Saders footsteps (here I go again assuming you know what I'll mean haha)

imaginary = fictitious world cups (no WC in 2018)

by "months before" you mean 2018/19? = because you wrote 2018 i'm assuming that's because your brain was thinking about that year when he used most of those 36 players

36 new players = because it's absolutely impossible to use 36 new players in the handful of games you get, or "months", before a WC

Doesn't really sound like good coaching and reinforces other theories. Wouldn't spread that.

Doesn't really sound like good coaching = that is waay to many players no matter what way you spin it, or what period. Where did you even get the data for that from?

reinforces other theories = no need to go into them here but it definitely suggests a case of being lucky to win despite the fact (if true) imo

Wouldn't spread that = cheekyness about above point


So yeah, you can see why I don't try to elaberate my posts so everyone can understand and sadly theyre too succinct for some with a slightly different lingo or thought.

and two years of >85% win ratio on the trot - I’d love to see how he’d have down with better coaching.

the none TLDR version reply..

two years = but weren't you following the similar line of this article that Razor needs to open it up? Why would you think that when you're suggesting he's got another 3 or 4 years before he reaches that point in tenure when he should also be trying to hit the 85 mark?

>85% win ratio on the trot = WC years are short and provide easy opposition, you don't normally include them. 22 would be more relevant, and this year you had both other top teams at home, so you'd think that 85 number is overs, or 'above' average based on circumstances (85 is a really fabulous number however so going back to 80 would also still be great)

love to see how he’d have done with better coaching. = well it's exactly the opposite of above isn't it, it's operating at well over 70 for 4 (excl covid) of those 7 years instead of his 60%, before hitting the 80s mark.


You might also ask well how could that be possible when he's done so bloody well just to do what he's done? Well I'm not going to take him (or SA) down a beg or two, instead I'll give you the hint (because I'm over thinking how to type long versions of replys), the answer is in this article!


Can you think of any specific players that became instrumental to the team from those 36 new players? One's plucked out of nowhere so to speak? I know for the first two years after covid he switched up you're team and tactics after each game against NZ (for the second), I think winning both 1st games and losing both rematch's? You don't think he should ever have done that differently, not been so happy to give up a victory against the ABs?

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