All posts tagged: Exeters

‘It’s madness’: Exeter’s Baxter attacks World Rugby’s latest law change plans | Exeter

‘It’s madness’: Exeter’s Baxter attacks World Rugby’s latest law change plans | Exeter

Published by skeptic

World Rugby’s latest flurry of law change recommendations have been criticised as “madness”. Rob Baxter, the director of rugby at Exeter Chiefs, argues that constant tinkering with the game’s laws and interpretations is confusing new spectators and is undermining the sport’s ambitions for global growth. Just over a fortnight ago, World Rugby announced a raft of proposed measures aimed at broadening the appeal of the sport by, among other things, reducing the number of times a rolling maul can be restarted and looking to encourage fewer scrum resets. Few of the initiatives have impressed Baxter, a strong believer that rugby has an unhealthy ­obsession with tweaking laws. “We need to stop changing the laws,” said Baxter, one of the Premier­ship’s most respected figures. “We’re trying to grow the game and there’s no sport in the world that tries to grow by con­fusing new supporters every 12 months. The game was fine three or four years ago, and we didn’t need to change it then – 90% of the law changes are to redo things that …

Exeter’s new kids on the block primed for Premiership playoff push

Exeter’s new kids on the block primed for Premiership playoff push

Published by skeptic

As the leading trainers around the country ready themselves for next month’s Grand National, so English rugby’s thoroughbreds are limbering up for the what should be an enthralling final furlong in the Premiership season. After two months of sporadic action while the Six Nations was played out, domestic duties returned with the leading runners and riders all jostling to get themselves the advantage for the chance to land the big prize at Twickenham in June. However, if this was an indication of what is to come, the next few weeks will need to see some marked improvements. Although the start was encouraging, Newcastle Falcons flyer Ben Stevenson thundering over the whitewash inside two minutes to give his side a perfect start, what followed – particularly during a turgid second half – will certainly need some real attention to detail. The Falcons, languishing at the foot of the table and without a win all season, were competitive to a point. But the hosts never needed to crack the whip at any stage in the match. The …

Northampton stage stunning fightback to finally breach Exeter’s fortress | Premiership

Northampton stage stunning fightback to finally breach Exeter’s fortress | Premiership

Published by skeptic

Ollie Sleightholme scored three tries as Northampton moved back on top of the Premiership after staging a stunning fightback to beat Exeter 42-36 at Sandy Park. Saints recovered from 26-0 down midway through the first half to make it seven games unbeaten and end Exeter’s run of 23 home matches without defeat. Wing Sleightholme’s treble was the highlight for Northampton, who clinched a spectacular victory through Rory Hutchinson’s score with the game’s final play. There were also tries for skipper George Furbank and scrum-half Callum Braley, with Fin Smith kicking six conversions in a bonus-point triumph. Chiefs were rampant early on as flanker Jacques Vermeulen touched down twice, and there were also scores from scrum-half Stu Townsend, wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and replacement Rusi Tuima, with Henry Slade booting four conversions and a penalty. Uncapped Six Nations hopeful Feyi-Waboso, who is eligible for England and Wales, impressed in front of watching England head coach Steve Borthwick, while Wales’s Warren Gatland is also thought to be monitoring him closely. Exeter showed five changes from the team that …

Latte Lath caps Middlesbrough rally to end Exeter’s Carabao Cup run in last 16 | Carabao Cup

Published by Sam

At least when Michael Carrick and his Middlesbrough side return to Devon later this week they will carry ultimately happy memories from this visit. An 82nd-minute penalty by Emmanuel Latte Lath propelled Boro into the Carabao Cup quarter-finals and proved the difference against third-tier Exeter City after four fantastic goals, two by Exeter’s Ryan Trevitt, punctuated a thrilling tie. This was anything but a comfortable evening for Boro, however, their analysts, as well as the first-team coach, Grant Leadbitter, in conversation with Carrick’s staff on the touchline throughout, were stationed in the main stand surrounded by some of the 1,031 away fans who made this mammoth trip. As Middlesbrough’s players and staff filed off the team coach about an hour and 15 minutes before kick-off some of the more eager Exeter supporters that had congregated on the Big Bank terrace at one end of this ground were already making a racket. A thudding drum provided the soundtrack for Boro’s players as they headed for the away dressing room and the home support invariably turned up …