White expects Chiefs response

Ben White insists the Exeter Chiefs need to get back to what they do best after a half-time dressing down from head coach Rob Baxter last time out.

The Chiefs fell to a 21-9 Aviva Premiership defeat against Leicester Tigers on Sunday, and Baxter labelled it their most disappointing first-half display in his tenure after going into the interval 15-0 adrift.
He was more pleased with the way his troops responded after the break, though, as Gareth Steenson kicked three penalties to add some respectability to the scoreline.

But White admits they may have showed the Tigers too much respect and they need to get back to getting into opponents' faces - starting this weekend against Gloucester Rugby.

"Training has been really good this week, we've upped the intensity a lot," said the former Cardiff Blues back-row. "It was a difficult afternoon last weekend against Tigers, we played in our shell a bit and we need to up our game moving forward.

"It was unlike us, but in the second half we did a lot better, we weren't too bad, but we were playing a quality side. Rob's a controlled guy, I think he was more disappointed because we weren't giving it a real go, we showed too much respect to Leicester.

"There was no reason not to perform, they have star players but so do a lot of teams in the Premiership. I've been happy with the way I've performed this season, but it's about the team and we want to get back to winning ways against Gloucester."

Heading into Sunday's clash at Kingsholm, both of the top-four contenders have won two and lost two of their opening four Aviva Premiership games.

Chiefs' record is slightly tinted by the fact both of their losses have come against last year's Aviva Premiership finalists, Leicester and Northampton Saints, but White believes they can turn the corner with a win.

"Gloucester have some quality players, the key will be silencing the crowd," added White. "Kingsholm is a very tough place to go, and they have a fantastic back three, and a very good No.10 in Freddie Burns. But they are an all-round good side, they have big forwards and they will pose a really big challenge."