Bath vs Exeter - Sunday 3pm

[Oakboy]

A lot of the time, Exeter were undone by individual mistakes. I'd also argue that their 9/10 combination (with either Maunder) is about the weakest in the league. Yes, it all starts with the forwards but direction and organisation depends on quality halfbacks. Spencer rattled Maunder who was abysmally slow at getting the ball away from the scrum. That nervousness spread to the forwards, also not helped by crooked throws at the lineout. The 3rd/4th choice hooker was a liability. In 80 minutes, having your hooker mess up several lineouts in good attacking positions and your SH give up the ball at 2 or 3 scrums can't do much for morale. Add on a dozen or so stupid penalties and winning becomes a bit of a struggle.

[FKAS]

Agreed the Maunder brothers plus Skinner is not a good halfback combination and doesn't off the game management that was a hallmark of the Chiefs most successful period and gave their pack the platform to dominate games. Sidelining Joe Simmonds has backfired.

Baxter needs a squad overhaul which looks like it's coming. Be interesting to see who comes in.

[stepsider]

Never heard Baxter be so forthright about his players, in effect saying that several are facing the sack (though in fact they'll soon be leaving).

Chiefs need a new 10 asap as Skinner doesn't tbh look the part and Joe Simmonds (who appeared a couple of years ago to be an England possible) is now departing.

Shame Atkinson has a long-term deal with Tigers - but getting no game time with Pollard in situ - he could be good at Ex.

[Oakboy]

Never heard Baxter be so forthright about his players, in effect saying that several are facing the sack (though in fact they'll soon be leaving).

Chiefs need a new 10 asap as Skinner doesn't tbh look the part and Joe Simmonds (who appeared a couple of years ago to be an England possible) is now departing.

Shame Atkinson has a long-term deal with Tigers - but getting no game time with Pollard in situ - he could be good at Ex.

I can't help wondering about the financial situation at other clubs if a decently run outfit like Exeter is so visibly undone by the reduced salary cap.

[FKAS]

Never heard Baxter be so forthright about his players, in effect saying that several are facing the sack (though in fact they'll soon be leaving).

Chiefs need a new 10 asap as Skinner doesn't tbh look the part and Joe Simmonds (who appeared a couple of years ago to be an England possible) is now departing.

Shame Atkinson has a long-term deal with Tigers - but getting no game time with Pollard in situ - he could be good at Ex.

Atkinson will get double figure number of appearances both this and next season. He isn't sat watching games from the stands.

Will Haydon-Wood would be a good pick up for Chiefs. Only 22 and stuck playing for Massy in France following Wasps demise. Looked good at Falcons but the ill-fated move to Wasps. Would be budget friendly as well.

[FKAS]

Never heard Baxter be so forthright about his players, in effect saying that several are facing the sack (though in fact they'll soon be leaving).

Chiefs need a new 10 asap as Skinner doesn't tbh look the part and Joe Simmonds (who appeared a couple of years ago to be an England possible) is now departing.

Shame Atkinson has a long-term deal with Tigers - but getting no game time with Pollard in situ - he could be good at Ex.

I can't help wondering about the financial situation at other clubs if a decently run outfit like Exeter is so visibly undone by the reduced salary cap.

Part of Chiefs previous success was finding previously undiscovered or undervalued talent and putting it together to good use. Didn't always have to be the most skillful but physical and big workrate were a must. A golden generation from the academy helped. Recently the signings have generally not worked out and the academy hasn't provided the talent it did previously. The stalwarts are getting on as well.

The salary cap certainly won't help a team in need of a full reboot but at the same time it's not the cause of their issues.

[stepsider]

Never heard Baxter be so forthright about his players, in effect saying that several are facing the sack (though in fact they'll soon be leaving).

Chiefs need a new 10 asap as Skinner doesn't tbh look the part and Joe Simmonds (who appeared a couple of years ago to be an England possible) is now departing.

Shame Atkinson has a long-term deal with Tigers - but getting no game time with Pollard in situ - he could be good at Ex.

Atkinson will get double figure number of appearances both this and next season. He isn't sat watching games from the stands.

Will Haydon-Wood would be a good pick up for Chiefs. Only 22 and stuck playing for Massy in France following Wasps demise. Looked good at Falcons but the ill-fated move to Wasps. Would be budget friendly as well.

Good point, he's slipped off the radar since leaving Falcons for Wasps but agree he looked a good prospect.

[stepsider]

Never heard Baxter be so forthright about his players, in effect saying that several are facing the sack (though in fact they'll soon be leaving).

Chiefs need a new 10 asap as Skinner doesn't tbh look the part and Joe Simmonds (who appeared a couple of years ago to be an England possible) is now departing.

Shame Atkinson has a long-term deal with Tigers - but getting no game time with Pollard in situ - he could be good at Ex.

I can't help wondering about the financial situation at other clubs if a decently run outfit like Exeter is so visibly undone by the reduced salary cap.

Part of Chiefs previous success was finding previously undiscovered or undervalued talent and putting it together to good use. Didn't always have to be the most skillful but physical and big workrate were a must. A golden generation from the academy helped. Recently the signings have generally not worked out and the academy hasn't provided the talent it did previously. The stalwarts are getting on as well.

The salary cap certainly won't help a team in need of a full reboot but at the same time it's not the cause of their issues.

Yet they did win the Prem Rugby Cup so must be getting something right. IIRC the replacement scrum half, despite slightly silly haircut, was firing out bullet passes from which the first XV would benefit.

PS: just in...Hogg retires post RWC

[Spiffy]

I didn't mean any of that to be a dig at you. My satire needs work, clearly. I'm sincerely sorry for the lost in translation mate. I know you understand the tomahawk chop and crowd moanage to be patently ridiculous.

Cheers - the hatchet (tomahawk ?) is buried.

[Banquo]

Never heard Baxter be so forthright about his players, in effect saying that several are facing the sack (though in fact they'll soon be leaving).

Chiefs need a new 10 asap as Skinner doesn't tbh look the part and Joe Simmonds (who appeared a couple of years ago to be an England possible) is now departing.

Shame Atkinson has a long-term deal with Tigers - but getting no game time with Pollard in situ - he could be good at Ex.

I can't help wondering about the financial situation at other clubs if a decently run outfit like Exeter is so visibly undone by the reduced salary cap.

nearly all are hanging on by the skin of their teeth and goodwill

[Cameo]

Not biting Paddy, sorry. "Native Maori Haka". Aren't you adorable?

My post was an obvious joking response to yours but I think you missed it.

I use the term "native" in its proper context of original inhabitant and not as a derogatory term, so you can forget your not so subtle implication that I may have some kind of racist agenda. I don't. I hate the Chiefs stuff too. Makes me squirm. (And I talk about native Celts. re Ireland - again with no slur or insult intended, and never any taken)
In the light of this thread, I do see the irony of Anglo Saxon rugby players descended from colonists doing another culture's war dance. It's a bad fit. I realize others may not see that irony.

As for the adorable - Thanks, you're quite cute yourself.

Don't know why I'm getting involved but isn't it a false comparison. On the one hand you have an unconnected team misappropriating a mocked up version of another culture because they think it's cool. On the other, you have a team from a country embracing a part of that country's culture with the buy in of the community from where the cultural practice in question originated. In fact, the popularity of the haka is given some credit for the perseverance of the Maori language when it was strongly discouraged elsewhere. You also ignore the Maori (and pacifika) heritage of a significant number of AB players. If Exeter were based in the states, were genuinely trying to engage with a part of native American culture, had some native American players and had the buy in of the wider native American community, I'd agree with you there would be some irony in criticising them and not the all Blacks. As it is, I don't see it.

It's like saying the Chiefs tomahawk chop song is the equivalent of the All Blacks singing the first verse of the national anthem in Maori. In very different circumstances that could be true, but in the real life context it is not.

That is the tricky thing with the idea of cultural appropriation, it is all contextual.

Btw, not really having a dig at you, I just see a lot of whataboutism when it comes to the idea of cultural appropriation which is often misconceived (as well as propopents of the idea using it where I think it is ridiculous).

[Beasties]

Just saw Cocka’s try on the highlights. Quite impressive how he finished that off, and looked to be moving quickly before the tackles came in. He might be timing his run nicely. A good end of season and he’s back in the conversation.

[Mikey Brown]

Sure he might do some good rugby occasionally in the premiership, but is he a training camp animal?

[stepsider]

Never heard Baxter be so forthright about his players, in effect saying that several are facing the sack (though in fact they'll soon be leaving).

Chiefs need a new 10 asap as Skinner doesn't tbh look the part and Joe Simmonds (who appeared a couple of years ago to be an England possible) is now departing.

Shame Atkinson has a long-term deal with Tigers - but getting no game time with Pollard in situ - he could be good at Ex.

Atkinson will get double figure number of appearances both this and next season. He isn't sat watching games from the stands.

Will Haydon-Wood would be a good pick up for Chiefs. Only 22 and stuck playing for Massy in France following Wasps demise. Looked good at Falcons but the ill-fated move to Wasps. Would be budget friendly as well.

NostraFKAS! Great call!
https://www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/news/chi ... -wood-move

[FKAS]

Never heard Baxter be so forthright about his players, in effect saying that several are facing the sack (though in fact they'll soon be leaving).

Chiefs need a new 10 asap as Skinner doesn't tbh look the part and Joe Simmonds (who appeared a couple of years ago to be an England possible) is now departing.

Shame Atkinson has a long-term deal with Tigers - but getting no game time with Pollard in situ - he could be good at Ex.

Atkinson will get double figure number of appearances both this and next season. He isn't sat watching games from the stands.

Will Haydon-Wood would be a good pick up for Chiefs. Only 22 and stuck playing for Massy in France following Wasps demise. Looked good at Falcons but the ill-fated move to Wasps. Would be budget friendly as well.

NostraFKAS! Great call!
https://www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/news/chi ... -wood-move

If only I could use those skills on Euromillions eh.