Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter remained optimistic about his team's performance despite a narrow 19-15 loss against Premiership leaders Bath. The defeat at The Rec, the home of Bath Rugby, has left Exeter reeling but Baxter chose to focus on the positives, acknowledging the showing as "a step in the right direction".
The Exeter side put on an impressive display that left fans and critics alike in awe, considering their recent form. Many were expecting a more one-sided match given Bath's standing in the league. However, Exeter's unwavering spirit and the consistent execution of their strategies ensured the scoreline remained competitive until the final whistle.
Baxter's team has been facing stiff competition in the league, and such narrow defeats could be detrimental to their ambitions. Yet the usually calm Exeter chief refused to be rattled. It is his firm belief that performance over results is what truly matters in the grand scheme of the season. This attitude underlines the confidence that Baxter has in his setup.
Exeter's loss will be seen as an improvement in their overall display, given the Bath side they were up against was nothing short of a fortress. Stamped with quality and strength in depth, Bath on their day is nearly unbeatable, and Exeter, indeed, did themselves proud by keeping the leaders on their toes. The one bonus point for a losing margin of fewer than seven points would come as a welcome addition to their growing tally.
While he continued to laud the efforts of his players and the efforts of his entire backroom staff, it is not lost on anyone that there are still numerous areas for improvement for Exeter to eventually overcome their current form. Moving on to the next crunch tie, a massive response will be required to bring down their opponents. Over the course of the next few matches, fans will be waiting with bated breath to witness the degree of growth that Baxter has so desperately alluded to.