Preview – Exeter Chiefs 2021/22
“Everyone has upped their game in the last couple of seasons and there are no easy rounds. You have to be on it every week and it has been good to have a proper pre-season again after the two-week turnaround last year”
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RT @exeterchamber: The team at Winslade Park invite you to come and toast two @ExeterChiefs legends! 🏉 @nowellsy15 and @Sladey_10 are exci… -
RT @exeterchamber: The team at Winslade Park invite you to come and toast two @ExeterChiefs legends! 🏉 @nowellsy15 and @Sladey_10 are exci… -
The team at Winslade Park invite you to come and toast two @ExeterChiefs legends! 🏉 @nowellsy15 and @Sladey_10 are… https://t.co/wsQ16QlwPo
Season Expectation: 1st
Key Signings: Sam Nixon, Ryan McCauley
The Devon based club has developed a team from the ground up of such calibre that last season’s title-less campaign was a massive disappointment. They lost the Premiership final in a thrilling affair where Rob Baxter conceded that Harlequins had ‘’that bit more emotion, that bit more never say die, they had a little bit more than we brought to the table’’.
This year the objective doesn’t change and they will no doubt be competing for domestic and European glory. Baxter has stated that the final loss ought to be a turning point for the club to reach the next level and they will be looking forward to turning the pre-season grind into another successful campaign and third Premiership title.
The offseason has not brought great changes with only complimentary additions to a largely unchanged core. Only Josh Iosefa-Scott (Waikato), Sam Nixon (Bayonne), Ryan McCauley (Waratahs) Sean O’Brian (Connacht) replace Alex Cuthbert (Ospreys), Thomas Francis (Ospreys) and Corey Baldwin (Scarlets). The changes around the edges do not alter the powerhouse club that Rob Baxter has developed. The pack will be as potent as ever and their depth is such that they will not suffer during the international windows despite the likely absence of Luke Cowan-Dickie, Jonny Hill, Jonny Gray and Sam Simmonds. The backline will benefit from constant front-foot ball and continue to be lethal. If anything, it will be interesting to see Baxter utilise the up-and-coming young crop of Chiefs players such as the likes of former England U20 captain Aaron Hinkley, and Rus Tuima – if you’ve ever woken up sweating dreaming about what kind of damage a more mobile Will Skelton could do then don’t watch Tuima’s highlight reel. Also keep a look out for the academy promotion of fan favourite Jack Nowell’s versatile younger brother; Frankie.
The Chiefs season as ever will depend mainly on how they manage the dual ambition of the Champions Cup and Premiership. Given how gruelling the two competitions are, Chiefs will welcome the bye’s in the Premiership to refresh their guns, expect them to place a lot of trust in the aforementioned youngsters during the International and Champions Cup windows. Despite the balancing act for Baxter’s men I can’t fathom them being outside the Top 4 come the business end of the season.
The introduction of new laws will not change Exeter’s ‘build the pressure’ and ‘choking’ style of Rugby. Although the ‘flying wedge’ law making pre-binding of three or more players illegal will require some adjustments as Exeter did make the latch tap and go fashionable again. The 50/22 will augment the opportunities of the Chiefs setting camp in the opponent's 22 and unleashing their effective rolling maul from which they have scored many of their league leading 103 tries last season. The new laws will promote more running rugby and Exeter certainly have the personnel to carve-up out wide after punishing you inside. The Chiefs will be back better than ever this year.