In a strategic shift following the departure of long-time assistants Rob Hunter and Ali Hepher after a disappointing defeat at Gloucester, head coach Baxter has stepped up with a more active role in leading the team.
The loss marked a low point in a challenging season for Exeter, who struggled in European competition, failing to secure any wins and only managing four victories in league play—two of which came against Saracens and Northampton, both fielding weakened sides.
However, in recent matches, Exeter has shown signs of resurgence, coming close to winning against Sale, who were vying for their fourth playoff appearance in five seasons.
Baxter emphasized the importance of pivotal moments, stating, “The Gloucester match served as a crucial turning point for us. A lot of teams require a definitive start to spark change.”
He added, “Players can’t come to me saying everything is fine when it’s clearly not. We need to eliminate any lingering doubts about our performance not meeting standards.”
“We reached a point where we needed to confront the reality that our performance was unacceptable, and that’s exactly what has occurred. You can sense the shift in momentum now, and it’s encouraging.”