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Premiership: Rob Baxter hails ‘great occasion’ as departing Exeter Chiefs players sign off in style

Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter was “delighted” that they were able to secure a priceless victory to mark some of their players’ final home game.

The Devonians defeated Bristol Bears 22-21 at Sandy Park on Saturday to secure Champions Cup rugby for next season. That was despite seeing Dafydd Jenkins being sent off in the first half for a dangerous tackle.

Ian Whitten scored a try in his final home game before retiring, while Stuart Hogg is another who is set to hang up his boots.

Major rebuild

There are others who are leaving Exeter but who will remain in the game that signed off in Joe and Sam Simmonds, and Dave Ewers, who touched down for the Chiefs’ second effort.

In what will be a major rebuild, Jack Nowell and Luke Cowan-Dickie, who didn’t play against Bristol, are two others that are departing in the summer.

“I am delighted for the players because we had a number running out at Sandy Park for their last time as an Exeter player,” Baxter said.

“We wanted the day to go well for them and, as it turned out, it has been a great occasion.

“However, it’s in a different way to what we planned and they have battled through very difficult circumstances to get us a very important Premiership win, with Champions Cup places still up for grabs.

“We had plenty of practice last week playing with 14 players so that paid off a bit today. We managed the scenario a lot better compared to last week where we let things compound and got on the back foot way too often.

“Today we managed it really well, got it right about keeping seven forwards on and then going to eight forwards in the end as the conditions changed and it became a more set-piece orientated game.”

Bristol’s Champions Cup hopes

Exeter’s victory over Bristol has put the Bears in a perilous position when it comes to Champions Cup qualification.

They still reside in the top-eight but are level on points with ninth place Bath, while fellow West Country outfit Gloucester are just behind them in 10th.

It means there is a three-way shoot-out for that last spot with Bath taking on Saracens and Bristol facing Gloucester.

“It looks like Champions Cup qualification is going to come down to the last game at Ashton Gate, everything is going to be on that game in two weeks’ time,” said director of rugby Pat Lam.

“That has slipped through our grasp. We were nine points ahead with 10 minutes to go.

“I was pleased the way we came out at half-time and took hold of the game but we couldn’t finish it off. We had a 17-7 penalty count against us and there were some really silly ones in there that gives up possession, gives up territory and gives up points.

“We feel like we made it pretty easy for Exeter to get those points in the end.”

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