Exeter Chiefs director Rob Baxter remains calm after Bristol defeat

Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter has dismissed concerns regarding his team's position in the Premiership Rugby table following a 20-7 loss to Bristol at Ashton Gate. The defeat leaves the Chiefs second from the bottom after winning only one of their first four league matches.

Despite the result, Baxter argued that the team's performance levels are comparable to last season, noting that their points accumulation in matches against Bath and Newcastle aligns with previous trends. He specifically highlighted that the loss to Bristol is not an anomaly compared to their prior season's performance.

The match was played in stormy conditions, with Bristol establishing a 10-point lead by halftime through a Gabriel Ibitoye try and a James Williams penalty. Although Greg Fisilau scored for Exeter from a driving maul to narrow the gap, Bristol secured the win with a late try by Luca Ivanishvili, preventing Exeter from earning a losing bonus point.