- Exeter are bottom of Premiership table on the back of seven successive defeats
- The Chiefs face an uphill battle against Sharks in Investec Champions Cup opener
It took Exeter more than 24 hours to make the arduous journey from Devon to Durban for their Investec Champions Cup opener, and it’s fair to say that the Sharks have laid on quite the welcoming committee.
The South African side have 10 Springboks in their starting XV for Saturday’s Pool One clash at Kings Park. The mighty Eben Etzebeth leads the hosts, who have their very own collection of ‘Bomb Squad’ front-rowers and Bok captain Siya Kolisi at No 8, among a host of world champions and household names. It adds up to a mission-impossible assignment for the struggling Chiefs.
Four years after Exeter won this prestigious competition, they are bottom of the Premiership table on the back of seven successive defeats. There has been upheaval, as defence coach Omar Mouneimne was dismissed at the end of October.
Rob Baxter has had to rest talismanic centre Henry Slade for this match after his Test exertions and the Chiefs have five competition debutants today.
The Sharks’ firepower may well overwhelm these vulnerable visitors, despite X-factor wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso being in the Chiefs’ back line. But Baxter won’t tolerate any sense that his rotated side are braced for defeat.
‘We can’t play with a fear of what they may do,’ said the director of rugby — still remarkably cheerful and purposeful, despite his team’s form.
Exeter are bottom of the Premiership table on the back of seven successive defeats
The Chief’s face an uphill battle against the Sharks who have 10 Springboks in their starting XV including Siya Kolisi (pictured)
‘There’s no point saying, “Where are the threats”? You look across the team and think, “Where do we have to stop them? We have to try to stop them everywhere”. We’ve just got to try to create a game with movement. It’s not sensible to say we can overpower them.
‘We are facing up to it by getting excited. I wouldn’t say we’re a team which has had poor morale. We have knocked ourselves out of that over the last month.’
Exeter’s former Australia prop Scott Sio echoed that view. Before the autumn Test window — when clubs went into Premiership Cup mode — it became clear a reboot was needed. ‘After being 0-6 heading into the internationals confidence was low,’ he said.
‘But we made some changes which we needed. We are chasing that first big win of the season in the Prem or the Champions Cup.’
The primary change was the abrupt removal of Mouneimne, with Haydn Thomas taking over. ‘I felt we needed to head in a new direction defensively,’ said Baxter at the time.
Following three cup wins over second-tier opposition, Exeter almost upset league leaders Bath at the Rec last weekend, before being edged out 19-15, in a match which hinted at an upturn in their spirit and resilience.
Speaking this week, Baxter added: ‘We’ve addressed the training week and the make-up of sessions. The lads are enjoying that and getting it. That will start to show, over time, in our performances. Our best performances are certainly to come.’
They could do with one of them coming on Saturday, as anything other than the very best Exeter can deliver will see them eaten alive by these predatory Sharks, who have a Bok-like mix of forward clout and a deadly strike threat out wide.
Rob Baxter is still remarkably cheerful and purposeful, despite his team’s poor form
As for Slade, he will become available again for the home showdown with holders Toulouse at Sandy Park next Sunday. Where he will line up is a matter of intrigue, as he wore No 10 against Bath, which Baxter will consider letting him do so more regularly.
‘Sladey is very keen to play 10 and has a lot of the attributes of a good 10,’ said Baxter. ‘He just needs a bit more game-time there. It’s not a panic move, it’s a progressive move and something we might look at in the longer term with Henry. If we get it right, it could be successful for us.’
That’s the bigger picture. On Saturday, it is likely to be an exercise in damage limitation. Success would be making the Sharks work for their win. Escaping with a bonus would be miraculous.
Sio acknowledged the challenge, saying: ‘We have to take the game to them. If you sit back and let the game come to you, it’s going to be a long day out.’
Frankly, for a team in transition, bottom of the Premiership, without a meaningful win since May 11, it is destined to be a long day out — after a long journey over – even if they do front up.