Chiefs side to face Sale Sharks

It’s the best start the Chiefs have ever had to a Champions Cup campaign, but Director of Rugby Baxter knows there is still plenty to do in the final three rounds, starting with another big performance against Premiership counterparts Sale.

In what is the second leg of the annual European double-header, Baxter has spent this week instilling into his players the importance of backing up last week’s win at the AJ Bell Stadium, as well as understanding the potent threat of the Sharks, who would love nothing better than to take a bite out of their hosts and ignite their own qualification hopes.

“Everyone is aware of the story of double-headers,” said Baxter. “The story is one team goes ahead and wins the first game, then the other team come back and bite them in the second game.

“Having said that, this is a slightly different scenario in which we’ve gone away, yes we won, but there were enough issues in that game for us to work on and make sure we play better this week. Obviously the goals and what the players want to achieve in terms of winning the game are huge, so I would like to think that those things, along with us as a coaching staff not being afraid to tell them, pretty much in every coaching session this week, not to let this opportunity slip through their hands will mean the guys turn up on Sunday.”

A dominant first half display against the Sharks laid the foundation for their latest European success, but the Chiefs were made to force dig deep - particularly in the last quarter - to fend off a strong Sharks attack late on.

“I’m not saying we got complacent last week, because I don’t think we did, but in the second half we had some really good opportunities to put that game to bed, yet we found a variety of ways not to do that,” said Baxter.

“I wouldn’t swap this for anything else,” explained Baxter. “We are well set in the pool, we have three rounds left, and this weekend we can give ourselves a huge step up into where we want to go in regards of the competition. I just think we have to be prepared to talk about it like that.

“I think the days when all I remember talking about as a coach were about talking games down, we’re years past that now. We have got to be prepared as a club, as a team, and as a coaching group to talk games up and this is huge opportunity for us. We should expect to go out and perform well, it’s as simple as that!

“Over the years we have learnt steadily - and surely - that positive pressure Is good for us. This weekend’s game is a perfect example to see if Heineken Cup pressure is a positive thing for us.”

Heading into the game Baxter is buoyed by the fact that summer signing Stuart Hogg has been passed fit for selection, despite coming off just moments after scoring his first-ever try for the club last weekend.

The Scotland and British Lions star was instrumental in Exeter’s opening two tries, his searing break creating the opening for the penalty try, after which he turned on the after burners to claim his own score.

Sadly, he withdrew from the action shortly after, but Baxter says the full-back has gone through all the return to play protocols this week and is fit and raring to go in a completely unchanged Chiefs match-day squad.

Tickets for Sunday’s Round Four encounter are still available, click here to purchase.