There's still work to do despite win says Baxter
Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter insists his side still have areas to work on ahead of the new season despite defeating Bristol 51-7 in their latest pre-season friendly at Sandy Park.
In a dominant display from the Premiership club, the Chiefs simply had too much for their Championship rivals as tries from Ben White, Ian Whitten, Tom Johnson, Fetu'u Vainikolo, Sam Townsend, Tom James and Henry Slade (2) secured a comfortable success.
Bristol countered with a late converted try through centre Fatua Otta, but that was to be a rare moment of joy on a tough afternoon in Devon for Andy Robinson's men.
Although content with the victory - a second in pre-season following their 23-15 triumph at Scarlets the week previous - Baxter expects a much sharper display when the club entertain Glasgow Warriors this Saturday (3pm).
Afterwards the Chiefs coach said: "After last week the conditions today were a lot more conducive to seeing the ball get played around the pitch a little bit, which obviously suited us, and huge parts of our game we were really pleased with.
"We've scored 50 odd points, so that's always a positive, and other than leaking that late try defensively we looked sound in both our organisation and in our desire to make tackles."
He continued: "There were times today when we looked quite sublime attacking-wise, but that said we still have some major work-ons to get through in these next couple of weeks. Our line-out wasn't great at any stage, our scrum was good for most of the game, but we still had a couple of dodgy ones that you wouldn't be able afford in the Premiership.
"On the whole, though, it was a fairly decent 80 minutes and there were some good individual performances thrown in there as well."
Up 36-0 at the break, Baxter was certainly impressed with the attacking endeavour of his team and admits he want to see more of the same as the countdown to the new season draws ever closer.
"At times we looked very dangerous on the ball," added Baxter. "We looked like we could score tries from almost anywhere when we got things right, plus I thought for most of the game our discipline, our communication and the way we played was very good.
"You could see things we worked on in pre-season coming off and the balance for us now is can we ram those things home again next week against Glasgow in what will be a higher level fixture because that is what we have to do.
"As a coaching team we now have to sit down for a long time this week, get our selections right going into that game, and make the most of the training opportunities we have this week so that we can iron out the last few wrinkles and keep the enthusiasm the boys are showing high going into the season."
With competition for places intense right across the Chiefs squad, Baxter admitted there were a number of players who had impressed from their on-field roles.
"Up front Dave Ewers stood out very well, he carried well and was big and physical throughout," said Baxter. "He was part of a back-row I thought went very well. Also Tom Hayes pulled together a pack that hasn't played too much together very well; whilst in the backs it was great to see both Haydn Thomas and Dave Lewis out on the pitch and Ceri Sweeney getting some game time too.
"Also Henry [Slade] did well at fly-half and at 12 and I was pleased to see our wingers scoring tries. Jack Arnott at the back was another who did well, we've not seen him too much in that position, but he stood up very well and he did well under the high ball.
"Now, as a squad this week, we just have to keep pushing forward and being physical. As I said, there are elements - particularly the set-piece - which we have to improve, but as a whole our game is coming together nicely."
