Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter believes his side ‘blew’ a golden opportunity to put a Springboks-laden Sharks side under ‘horrible pressure’.
The Chiefs fell to a 39-21 Investec Champions Cup defeat but Baxter remains hopeful that the results ‘will come’ soon.
The Devoninas suffered their eighth defeat of the season in all competitions in Durban and failed to take any points from the game despite the Sharks being reduced to 12 for the final 10 minutes of the game and mounting a late bombardment of the line.
‘We blew it’ – Rob Baxter reflects on tough loss to Sharks
Exeter certainly could have felt like they deserved a bonus point from the game. They mounted some serious periods of pressure late on and found themselves camped in the Sharks’ 22 for most of the second-half, but yet costly knock-ons from Ben Hammersley – which came in the act of scoring – and Jimmy Roots allowed the Sharks to hold them at bay.
Speaking after the game, Baxter detailed his belief his side ‘blew’ a golden chance to come away with something from their South African trip.
“The important thing when you go away from home in this competition is you get something from the game, and we just about created that opportunity,” he said.
“In the final period of the game with the yellow cards and the pressure we created, one try to get the four-try bonus could have led to an opportunity to get a second try for two bonus points.”
“Then there’s horrible pressure in the last few minutes for the Sharks,” he continued. “But ultimately, they weathered it just as we blew it.”
He also added he still feels results ‘will come’ for his team, despite the ‘frustrating season’ they are currently having.
“That’s the tale of where we are. We’re having a frustrating season where we’re getting very close, but then we find a way of losing games. But it will come.”
Positives to take from the game
It might have been a defeat, but yet it felt like another positive step forward for the Chiefs. They dominated possession and territory across the 80 minutes – with 55% possession and 58% territory – and posted a 100% scrum success rate despite coming up against a formidable front-row of Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi and Trevor Nyakane.
Elsewhere, they certainly gave as good as they got up front too, particularly in the pack. Ethan Roots, Greg Fisilau, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Dan Frost and Franco Molina constantly looked to get their hands on the ball, and across the squad, Exeter made 93 carries and 226 post-contact metres too.
These stats will certainly please Baxter ahead of their next Champions Cup clash with title-holders Toulouse, and he will be hoping that can spur his team onto a shock win.
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Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/rob-baxter-springboks-laden-sharks-could-have-been-put-under-horrible-pressure-but-we-blew-it
