Worst start in 15 years for Exeter Chiefs

It is definitely not a time for panic, there is no shame in defeats to Leicester, Northampton and now Saracens, but it does place extra emphasis on the Westcountry clash with Bristol this weekend.

Three straight defeats represents the worst start to a season in 15 years for the Chiefs and it doesn’t get any easier with Bristol currently second, three points behind leaders Saracens, but this is an Exeter side, and fanbase, that has become accustomed to success in recent years.

After a tight start to the game, Sarries unleashed a four-try flurry on the Chiefs to take a powerful 24-7 lead into the half-time interval, Josh Hodge dotting down for the one moment of cheer for Exeter.

The Chiefs improved defensively in the second half, although Saracens still controlled the match and seemed content their work was done. Hodge did finish off an excellent team move for his second try of the afternoon and the Chiefs will know it is a long season ahead, plenty of time to recover, but that process needs to start soon.

Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter told BBC Radio Devon: "We've got to learn to just stick at things for a little bit longer with a little bit more accuracy.

"When you look at all the stats and all the output we're putting together, we're putting together physically, territorially, opportunities-wise probably more than we've created at many other times, but we're just not quite seeing things off.

"A lot of that is for positive reasons - and I know people will laugh and say 'How can that be?' It's because the guys are desperate to win games of rugby.

"They're probably taking a little bit on individually that's collectively not having a positive outcome for us.

"We've just got to stick at the process of us learning as a team and learning as individuals and hopefully that'll take us in the right direction."

It was a tense opening-day victory for Exeter Chiefs Women, triumphing 8-7 at Harlequins in the first game of the new PWR campaign. Fly-half Live McGoverne slotted a late penalty to give Exeter the narrowest of victories in a tense game.

Prior to the fixture, Exeter boss Susie Appleby expressed her understandable bemusement that the Women’s Premiership has started with international players still away on duty for their various nations.

In the case of the Chiefs, it has meant starting the season with 16 elite players unavailable, and she said: "It doesn't make any sense. It should be an opportunity for other players, but sadly we haven't got enough players across the league that can make this league look really good with all those players missing.”