Exeter coach Rob Baxter lauds Chiefs' victory

Exeter coach Rob Baxter lauded his team for dominant 24-3 victory against Wasps as they put themselves ahead in race for a home Aviva Premiership play-off.

Baxter revealed he had applied a bit of pressure on his men to raise their game at a crucial stage of the year to which they responded pretty well.

"From my perspective, it was important that we kept things in our hands," Baxter said.

"What I am really pleased with is that we put a bit of pressure on the lads this week, saying these are the type of games we have to turn up and perform in at this stage of the year if we genuinely want to look at ourselves as contenders."

Baxter commended his team's discipline and fitness since the very beginning of the game which helped them register a commanding win at Sandy Park.

"Right from the start, our work-rate, our endeavour and discipline was fantastic. The scoreboard probably doesn't reflect the actual possession and territory dominance that we actually had.

"We looked like the team that was at home, fully fresh, firing and ready to win a big game at home, and I thought Wasps looked like a team who had just come through a couple of really tough couple of weeks, and it was a tough ask to come down here and win another big game.

"I saw us do it at Gloucester a couple of weeks ago, when we were off enough for us to lose the game."

Baxter also stated that he was confident of his side bagging the victory at half-time.

"When I looked at the two teams come in at half-time, I thought we looked like the team that was going to go and win it."

"Wasps have got threats everywhere. They are one of these horrible teams to play against because you can play really well, and all of a sudden tries start coming in out of nowhere. Things can just happen.

"But we held our shape really well. We had energy and physicality in the contact. We looked like a fresh, revitalised team and like we were enjoying our rugby."

Baxter also complimented "rampant" Dave Ewers for getting back to his best after an injury troubled season.

The Exeter's coach believes that the blindside flanker has sent a reminder to England's coach Eddie Jones ahead of their three-Test Australia tour next month.

"Dave is back to bang on form," Baxter said. "He was rampant today.

"His physicality was outstanding, and it was a reminder from him to Eddie Jones. I know he was playing bang-on at the start of the season, and it looks like he is bang-on again now. He has hit some form at a great time for us."

This resounding win for Exeter should heal their wounds from their European Champions Cup quarter-final defeat against Wasps three weeks ago.