Leader of the Pack

They say that change is as good as a rest but Exeter Chiefs will be hoping that a change of captain will make them better than the rest and propel them into the Premiership as they embark on the first Championship season.

The Chiefs, Devon's most successful club, have been the leaders of the chasing pack for too long in the eyes of the Directors at Sandy Park and they have their sights firmly set on bringing the Guinness Premiership to the county.

Long standing captain, Richie Baxter, has "stepped down" as captain and is replaced by former Plymouth Albion second/back row Tommy Hayes with Alan Miller installed as Club Captain.

(Can anything to be read into the fact that Tommy Hayes is listed as a number 8 on the website?)

Rob Baxter's (Richie's brother) appointment as Head Coach appears to have paved the way for a number of changes at Sandy Park - something I believe could help them move from perennial runners up to Premiership elect and the first ever winners of the Championship.

There were sweeping changes at Sandy Park in March when the double header against Moseley back fired and essentially cost the club a place in the Twickenham Final and killed off all hope of reaching the Premiership.

Pete Drewett carried the can for their failings on the pitch despite, as far as I am aware, not having a large amount of input on the training field. But such is life at the top of a sporting organisation.

And it could be argued that the recruitment policy that involved cherry picking the top players in National Division One, to create an enormous squad of 50 high quality players, meant it was all or nothing for the former England Under 21 manager.

The board obviously want results and they have turned to former captain and Exeter legend Rob Baxter to provide them and I wish him well in the quest for Premiership status, something the club definitely deserve in their fantastic stadium.

I have the utmost respect for Rob, having played under him as a coach and captain, and firmly believe he has given himself the best chance of succeeding in this challenge.

Selecting a new captain and the announcement today that Nick Beaton will replace John Baxter (Rob's father) on the board gives Rob complete control of his own destiny thanks to two shrewd tactical moves.

It will certainly release some of the pressure and potential questions surrounding family loyalty that could rumble upstairs in the board room or downstairs in the changing room.

There is no doubt that Exeter are and will continue to be a very good side next year but the change in leadership could be the trump card that gives them the edge.

Richie has embodied the style of the Chiefs' play during his record 285 appearances - he is strong, organised, methodical, carries the ball hard and does the basics very well.

However, my one criticism of their style, is that, in recent years they have appeared to lack a Plan B especially in situations where the opposition have stood up and knocked them off course or taken the game to them - not often the case at Sandy Park I might add.

Effectively the Chiefs have bullied sides out of games and in some cases won the game on reputation before they have even kicked off - but in the pivotal games of the season that doesn't always cut the mustard.

You need game breakers, dynamism and flair - something that seems to have been stifled in the past - apart from the exception of Josh Drauniniu (who has subsequently left).

Has this sense of adventure been stifled by the leadership, the pressure they are under as a squad or the lack of ambition to change because, let's face it, they are still doing very well?

Whatever the answer they will need to find that edge to reach their goal and a change in captain and potentially at number 8 could provide that.

Tom Johnson, who suprisngly didn't leave for the Premiership this season, is by far the most dynamic back row forward in the league - could he play more at 8 this season?

I don't want it to appear that I think Richie's time has passed - he is a fantastic player and certainly has a big role to play in the first Championship season and will always a threat with ball in hand.

But it will be certainly interesting to see how the Chiefs' style of play unfolds and whether they have a Plan B and a gamebreaker up their sleeve when the heat is really on?

I look forward to hearing your thoughts and engaging in a discussion about the subject and any other relevant to the Championship!!!


Thanks to everyone who has voted thus far on the opinion poll too!!