Exeter Chiefs boss blames players decision for poor form

12/16/2024 06:52 AM

Under pressure Exeter boss Rob Baxter admits his side need to take more risks if they are to start picking up wins again.

Join the RUCK's WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.

The Chiefs were handed a heavy 64-21 defeat on Sunday by European champions Toulouse in their second Champions Cup pool match. Toulouse ran in 10 tries against Exeter, whose only victories this season have been in the Premiership Rugby Cup.

Exeter are currently bottom of the Premiership and just above the foot of their Champions Cup pool on points scored.

“We’ve got to free ourselves up from just almost playing safe a little bit,” Baxter told BBC Radio Devon.

“Playing safe is actually playing dangerous nowadays.

“Playing multi-phase rugby when you can make a pass, move the point of contact, and shift them to where they’ve got fewer defenders, that's safe rugby now.

“We keep encouraging the lads to do it, but actually having the confidence to do it when you’re losing some games is hard.”

EDITORS PICKS:

• Steve Borthwick could name new England captain for the 2025 Six Nations
• Six Nations format will be changing from 2026
• "Farrell flopped" – England Rugby's 10 Worst Ever Players Ranked
• Viral Owen Farrell photo has fans speculating about possible transfer 

"Farrell flopped" – England Rugby's 10 Worst Ever Players Ranked

All players listed have failed to live up to expectations and have been a disappointment in one way or another.

#10. Andy Farrell

Farrell played for England’s rugby union and rugby league teams. He was an excellent rugby league player but failed to transition successfully into rugby union. Farrell flopped during the 2007 World Cup.

#9. Stuart Barnes

Barnes, a diminutive fly-half, only played ten games for England in nine years, largely due to the selectors’ preference for Rob Andrew. Barnes retired after the 1994 South African tour due to a groin injury and frustration with the selectors.

#8. Olly Barkley

Barkley won 23 caps for England between 2001 and 2008, with an early reputation that saw him play for England before Bath. He was a graceful left-footer who could play fly-half or inside-centre. After the retirement of Will Greenwood and Jonny Wilkinson’s injury curse, Barkley should have been a mainstay in the England midfield. It’s unclear what went wrong, as he kicked well from the tee and out of hand, was a good distributor, and wasn’t a defensive liability.

#7. Darren Crompton

Bristol prop Crompton was a solid player who anchored the Bristol scrum during their 2006-07 season. He was called up to the England squad for their tour to South Africa, but he was never the most mobile and was practically stationary by the time he put on the England shirt, disappointing since he could have been called up earlier in his career.

#6. Ben Foden

Foden was identified as a talented player earmarked for England. Sale saw him as an international class full-back, but he wanted to play at scrum-half. He did win 34 caps, but it could have been more.

#5. Danny Cipriani

The fly-half was world-class but only won 16 caps for England, which was a complete disaster. He never replicated his club form on the international stage.

#4. Shaun Perry

He made a charming rags-to-riches story as an ex-welder who burst onto the scene with Bristol. However, he never looked comfortable in the England shirt, and a poor performance against South Africa in the 2007 Rugby World Cup led to him being dropped by England coach Brian Ashton. He never played for England again.

#3. Andy Hazell

Hazell had the unenviable task of filling the retired Neil Back’s shoes, and despite his small size and aggressive play, he failed to make an impact. He became known for giving away penalties and only made his international appearances during the 2004-05 season.

#2. Sam Burgess

England’s rush to include Burgess in their World Cup squad, despite concerns about his experience and ability to adapt to rugby union, ultimately resulted in a catastrophic failure. Bath, who signed him for a record fee, and Burgess himself must also share responsibility for the debacle. While he was not a bad player, the entire saga was a disaster.

#1. Lesley Vainikolo

The powerhouse, nicknamed “The Volcano,” burst onto the rugby scene for Gloucester, scoring an incredible five tries on his debut against Leeds. He was then eligible to play for England due to residency grounds, and earned five caps. However, despite his domestic success, Vainikolo failed to replicate his try-scoring form at the international level, resulting in his quick exit from the national team under Martin Johnston’s tenure.

Rugby Quiz:

The post Exeter Chiefs boss blames players decision for poor form appeared first on Ruck.