Baxter admits the pressure is on
Exeter Chiefs boss Rob Baxter says the pressure is on his team ahead of the match against Newcastle this weekend.
Exeter has started the season positively with a good win over Gloucester on the opening day and a gutsy display during the defeat to Leicester. Baxter believes the way his team has played now makes them
favourites for the game with Newcastle.
Exeter is still tipped to be relegated from the Premiership by a lot of pundits but the side has shown that the club is capable of competing. It's important the club maintains this early momentum with
a win over the Falcons.
Baxter said: "In a lot of ways I think this is the biggest game of the three. The emotional build up we had for the Gloucester and Leicester games was a big part of how well we did. There's a bit of pressure
on us to perform out there, that's what Premiership rugby is about and I'm enjoying the fact that people think we're going to do quite well now."
Exeter will face many dangers now the coach believes the pressure is on his side to perform. How the club deals with this pressure may go a long way in deciding whether Exeter avoids the drop at the end
of the season.
Dangers of pressure
Exeter has approached the first two games of the season with a nothing to lose attitude. There is now expectation around the club and players will feel pressure when they didn't before.
This is dangerous because more Exeter players will be on edge before a game. Nerves and pressure can force mistakes and opposition sides can exploit this.
Sides will start to pay more attention to Exeter. Clubs will spend longer working out tactics and strategies to beat the Chiefs. This means the club will start finding it more difficult to compete in games
as the season goes on.
The real test
The real test for Exeter is just about to begin. The club has to cope well with the extra attention and pressure to avoid relegation. If the club crumbles over the next few games then it could be difficult
for Exeter to stay in the Premiership.
Exeter will face further problems away from the field. The club has been fortunate not to pick up key injuries or suspensions. These will happen at some point and the club will have to cope well through
periods where important players are missing.
Baxter added: "That creates a different scenario for us as a team and I think Newcastle will target us in different ways than Gloucester and Leicester. There's no point running away from it, we're one
of the sides they'll target to get points from for their Premiership campaign. That makes it a very important game for us."
Betting advice
Exeter should be safe from relegation by the time next spring arrives. The club has shown that there are very good players in the team and this team has the ability to wear down and beat much bigger sides.
Don't be scared to back the side to stay up right now. However, a better option could be a match by match approach. This will let you see how the side handles the pressure of being considered favourites
for certain matches.
The kicker in the side will score a lot of points throughout the season. The kicker will keep Exeter within touching distance of opponents in tough matches. Back the person that has this role in the team
because he will be a solid bet to be top scorer at the club.
Tags: