Exeter coach Rob Baxter welcomes back Test trio for Challenge Cup semi-final Ulster clash

Baxter, who has been at the Devon-based side since 2009 has experienced significant highs and lows with the club. Baxter has led Exeter to the Premiership, Champions Cup and PREM Rugby Cup titles throughout his time in charge, and would be delighted to add the Challenge Cup to his honours list.

In response to completing the collection of available trophies with the club, Baxter said “I’d like it, but I’d like it more for this group of players, they have worked exceptionally hard."

On the back of a couple of tough domestic weeks in the PREM, losing at home to Northampton and then having a shock defeat to a struggling Gloucester outfit, Baxter has the comfort of recalling three international players back to his side ahead of the trip to Northern Ireland.

The returning faces include Wales’s Dafydd Jenkins, Australia’s Scott Sio and Italy’s Andrea Zambonin. However, despite the luxury of having the trio back in camp, the Chiefs took significant blows, with Paul Brown-Bampoe ruled out with a head injury, and Ethan Roots suspended for an open-hand strike.

Baxter described the chaotic end to the Kingsholm clash as their “performance in a nutshell”, as the Chiefs were looking to win the game with a penalty advantage. The outcome of the disciplinary will happen tomorrow.

Furthermore, club veterans Jack Yeandle and Olly Woodburn are still in the medical room, with Yeandle awaiting the news of his scan whilst Woodburn is back on the training park.

Another area the Chiefs want to improve on after that narrow loss to Gloucester was the scrum.

“It was frustrating and disappointing to be honest; we didn’t set the emotion of the match” said Baxter as the scrum and the forwards have seen significant improvement over the course of the season.

However, there was a positive for Baxter, with Wallabies centre Len Ikitau returning to the side and linking up with Henry Slade in the midfield.

“I don’t expect miracles from players, he needed to knock some rust off, he’s a very good player, gives us a lot of thickness in the midfield.” Upon reflection for Baxter, Ikitau “didn’t have a poor game but didn’t dominate – he’s got the ability to dominate games.”

“Success would be losing the final if we beat Ulster. But stick with what I said in pre-season, and we have to be competitive, the only promise is, watch Exeter and [watch] us be competitive.”

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