Exeter Chiefs boss Rob Baxter was left reeling after his side’s disappointing 40-35 loss at home to Bristol Bears. The usually stoic coach was visibly shaken by some of his team’s decision-making during the match, labeling it as ‘scary’.
Despite the narrow margin of defeat, Baxter’s comments suggest that he is deeply concerned about the mental aspect of his team’s performance. While the Chiefs were able to keep pace with the Bears in terms of scoring, it was their inability to make smart decisions on the pitch that ultimately led to their downfall.
The match was a high-scoring affair, with both teams putting on an entertaining display for the fans. However, as the game wore on, it became clear that the Chiefs were struggling to maintain their composure. The Bears, on the other hand, seemed to be growing in confidence, making better decisions and capitalizing on the Chiefs’ mistakes.
“I think we showed some really good bits of rugby, but it was just some of the decision-making that was scary,” Baxter said in a post-match interview. “At times, we looked like we were just going to hammer our way through the middle of them, but we need to be more intelligent than that.”
Baxter’s comments will likely resonate with fans who watched the match, as the Chiefs’ lack of finesse and sophistication was evident at times. While the team has shown flashes of brilliance this season, they have also struggled to maintain a high level of performance over the course of a full match.
For the Chiefs to turn their season around, they will need to address the issues that Baxter highlighted in his post-match comments. This will involve a renewed focus on game management, discipline, and smart decision-making. If they can succeed in this, they may be able to unlock their full potential and start climbing the ranks once again.