Story Of The Season - Exeter Chiefs

It is fair to say that the Exeter Chiefs have exceeded expectations more than any other Aviva Premiership side this season. In the 2013/14 season they finished in eighth place with 9 wins to their name having scored 40 tries. It was respectable result however it was also tinged with the very strong sentiment of ‘what if’ for after taking the LV Cup Title Baxter’s side went on a run of near misses. The latter part of the season caused the side to overtly state that the 2014/15 campaign was about ‘learning how to take their opportunities and close out games’. They have certainly achieved their goal with 14 wins, 70 tries and a season ending points total that matches Saracens and the Leicester Tigers.

The Exeter way stems from focused application as Dean Mumm described to me at the Aviva Premiership launch back in September; ‘We are a hard working side and the points and wins that we do get we work for.’ It is this work rate and the ability of Rob Baxter to gain the very best from his players that has proved to be a lethal combination over the past twenty two rounds. As a squad Exeter are solid as a rock and following their big statement in Round 1 against London Welsh they went onto to achieve much greater heights including their first league doubles over the Northampton Saints and Saracens.

Thomas Waldrom has had the season of his Aviva Premiership life, as he has made more meters, with his distinctive running style, than any other forward in the competition and outscored everyone else with 16 tries. It is the manner in which he has slotted into Exeter’s system that will have delighted Rob Baxter the most and Waldrom has set an extremely high benchmark to live up to next year. The man alongside him, Dave Ewers has turned all of our heads with his all around game. Ewers' work rate is akin to England's finest and alongside his physicality at the breakdown he is a fine ball player and carrier. Tomas Francis has made a few people sit up and take notice of him with his growth and following an intense and elongated  pre-season he should return fitter than ever and ready the 2015/16 season. 

Behind the scrum Exeter’s home grown talents have blossomed beautifully in particular the trio of Henry Slade, Sam Hill and Jack Nowell. Jack Nowell has benefited tremendously from having two fully working knees and the confidence that comes from England's backing and playing well in the Red Rose. The Slade and Hill partnership is becoming innate with the former doing more than enough to earn himself a place in Stuart Lancaster’s wider Rugby World Cup Training Squad.

It has been a season that hasn’t been without its disappointments, for Exeter did let a few games slide notably against the Leicester Tigers at home in Round 2, at the Ricoh in Round 20 and their European Challenge Cup Semi Final against Gloucester. However, on the whole I simply can’t knock them. The Chiefs have set themselves a firm platform for next year, they graft and work extremely hard for their spoils. Dean Mumm's departure back to  Australia is a loss due to his emphatic leadership and character however I'd put money on him back being at some point in the future. Of course the European Champions Cup Rugby will stretch Baxter's men but they’ll relish the challenge like they always do and put their best foot forwards.

Key Men - Thomas Waldrom, Henry Slade and Rob Baxter himself
Most Impressive Result - 24 - 20 victory away at Saracens in Round 21 
Strongest Signings for 15/16 Season - Julian Salvi & Geoff Parling 
Overall Assessment - Matured before our very eyes and you sense there's more to come from Baxter's battalion. Top job!!