Get Newsletter

England's leaders brace themselves for Kolbe's Toulouse

SPOTLIGHT: Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter knows that his team will have a mammoth task on their hands when they face Toulouse in their Champions Cup semifinal on Saturday.

ADVERTISEMENT

Although Exeter, who sit at the top of England’s Premiership, cruised to a 38-15 home victory in their quarterfinal against English rivals Northampton Saints last Sunday, four-times European champions Toulouse had earlier demolished Ulster 36-8 at home.

Cheslin Kolbe was the star of the show again for Toulouse with his two tries and he will be a concern for the home side when he runs out onto Sandy Park.

Right now for Baxter, it is about getting his team ready for another tough challenge ahead.

“It’s important now that we recover well and get ourselves mentally and physically right to start preparing for that game,” Baxter told the Exeter website.

“We know it will be tough, but equally we’re at home and we won’t have to worry about things like travel.”

He added: “What we can do as a group is review this game, prepare for next week and really look forward to knuckling down and getting ourselves in the best possible condition for a European semifinal.

“I’ve no doubt we will be stronger again next week. That group of players needed a tough game of rugby and that’s what they got. Now, we must get ready for another tough, maybe tougher, game against Toulouse.”

In Saturday’s other semifinal, Racing 92 are at home to defending champions Saracens.

ADVERTISEMENT

Source: @ExeterChiefs & @ChampionsCup

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Write A Comment