Drawing the Heineken Cup’s reigning champions two years on the bounce might dishearten some coaches. But Rob Baxter is warning Exeter’s Premiership rivals that playing against the very best that Europe has to offer will once again make his side a formidable proposition come the return of domestic league action.
The Chiefs won six of their final seven matches in the Premiership last season, an impressive finale that Baxter attributes to the hard lessons that Exeter learnt during their maiden Heineken campaign.
Last season, Exeter were twice beaten by 2012 Heineken champions Leinster and given a double thrashing by Clermont Auvergne. This season, 2013 winners Toulon await the Chiefs, along with Pro12 high-fliers Glasgow Warriors and Cardiff Blues.
“I think a few people think that last season’s Heineken Cup hurt us in some way, but the reality is that last year was fantastic for us,” Baxter told me.
“We had a tough group and we played every game to try and win and we learnt a heck of a lot, and I think that was reflected in the run of games we had at the end of the season.
“We were one of the form teams of the Premiership at the end of the season. We won six out of seven games and one of those games was a three-point loss to Leicester.
“That’s not a bad run of form and I believe a lot of that was down to the lessons we learnt from playing in the Heineken Cup – physically and mentally – and getting used to that kind of intensity.
“That’s why I want to be in the Heineken Cup again. Not because I’m sitting here saying I want us to win it, but because I want us as a team to keep getting better, and you keep getting better as a team by being in the best competitions.”
Baxter admits qualification to the Heineken Cup’s knock-out stages is a tall order, but believes the battle-hardening experience is invaluable.
“People have spoken about progression from the Heineken Cup, but the reality is we’ve still got Toulon – the current champions – just as we had Leinster last year,” said the Exeter head coach, whose side kick off their Heineken Pool 2 campaign on Sunday by hosting the Blues.
“Cardiff seem very buoyant on their new pitch and Glasgow were one of the form teams in the Pro12 last season.
“It’s not necessarily about where we finish but about how we perform and the attitude we show.
“I’m not too worried about the Heineken Cup as regards what it brings us in rewards as an individual competition. What’s important is that we go after every game flat out like we did last year.”
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