Baxter targets dream double
By Mark Stevens
20/10/20
Rob Baxter believes success in Saturday's Gallagher Premiership Final would be 'just reward' for a season of hard-work, dedication and commitment to the cause.
Less than an hour after watching his Exeter Chiefs side lift the Heineken Champions Cup for the first time, Director of Rugby Baxter was still coming to terms with the magnitude of what his team had just achieved.
Ten years on from their elevation into the top tier of the professional gane, Devon's finest were crowning their biggest moment yet, celebrating European dominance following their 31-27 victory over French giants Racing 92 at Ashton Gate.
For a man who has literally lived and breathed Exeter Rugby Club for over 30 years, it was little wonder the 49-year-old could not quite contain his emotions.
Baxter's normal steel-like exterior had been melted down during the course of a pulsating 80 minutes of battle. Pre-game, the nerves were there to see - and it didn't get any easier as his players dug deep into their reserves to hold at bay the star-studded Parisians.
Like a proud father showing off a new-born baby, the smile which engulfed Baxter's face as he watched his players and staff celebrate at the final whistle painted the perfect picture.
So often so eloquent in the way he handles his post-game media duties, this time there was a chink in his steely armour. Having just got off the phone from his wife Jo, the emotions were running deep.
"She was pretty emotional and it made me a bit emotional," he told the assembled Press corps. "We have been together a long time - my whole playing and coaching career - and she has seen the highs and lows.
"It was a special couple of minutes. To start with, she was just screaming at me in emotional joy, then we managed to talk about the journey to get here.
"Right now, I am bit all over the place. The game happened and the result happened, but now we are stood in a quiet, concrete bowl and it doesn't feel real. That's probably what is holding back the reality which will come over the next couple of days.
"This is the most special moment. It is great reward for a group of players, for what they have done for four or five years. They've had a fair bit of heartache, but they have kept fighting. This is vindication of a group of players who care about each other and want to achieve something."
Indeed they do. Not contend with the joy of European glory, the Chiefs now have their sights set on claiming a first-ever Premiership and Champions Cup double.
Having achieved one part of the scenario, the Chiefs will head back to Twickenham this weekend for a fifth successive Premiership final.
Exeter's consistency in the last five seasons has been a real turnaround as they reached the final four times and clinched the trophy once in 2017 against Wasps who, it is hoped, will provide the opposition again this weekend.
The Midlanders have reported 11 positive Covid-19 cases across their playing squad and staff in the past week and doubts linger as to whether they will be able to take their place in the end of season showpiece.
Both the Chiefs and Wasps have undergone further testing today, the results of which will be made known tomorrow. Should Wasps incur further issues, their place in the final could be in jeopardy and it will be Bristol Bears who will step up to challenge the Chiefs.
Baxter, like all of English rugby, will see what happens over the next 24 hours. But for now, his focus - and that of his team - is on securing more silverware.
“It would be just reward, I feel, for this group of players, for what they have committed to over the last five years, if we can do the double,” added Baxter.
“I am hoping that will be enough of a driver for us. I think we can play better than we did (against Racing), and we will need to, actually.
“I think Wasps are ready to go, and I think it is going to be a tough game for us, another game when I will be chewing my microphone and cursing and wondering what we are doing, but that’s what finals are like.
“When we had to, we saw it through. We’ve done it at the first attempt, and it is great for this group of players.”
If the Chiefs manage to win the final game on Saturday, they will become the fourth Premiership team to achieve the double after Leicester Tigers, Wasps and Saracens.
