Exeter Chiefs produced a stunning late surge to secure a 30-24 victory over Saracens in the Premiership, leaving head coach Rob Baxter in awe of his team’s resilience. Trailing 24-13 with just 20 minutes to go, the Chiefs scored three tries in the final quarter to snatch an incredible away win against their big rivals.

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Baxter Hails ‘Incredible’ Team Spirit

Speaking after the match, Baxter praised his side’s determination:

“I kind of don’t know how the lads keep doing it. Sooner or later we’re going to run out of that ability to just see things off. But I’m going to keep congratulating them and keep taking it while we can because it’s something incredible to behold.”

This comeback was Exeter’s second in as many away games, following a remarkable 27-26 victory over Sale Sharks, where they overturned a 20-point second-half deficit.

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Key Moments of the Match

Exeter faced multiple challenges during the game, including two yellow cards and conceding 16 penalties, more than double that given away by Saracens. Despite these setbacks, the Chiefs showed remarkable composure:

• Henry Slade, who had earlier seen an intercepted pass lead to a Saracens try, scored the winning try for Exeter.
• Three late tries in the final 20 minutes swung the game in Exeter’s favor.
• Defensive efforts and quick turnovers helped the Chiefs claw back the deficit.

Baxter reflected on the team’s ability to overcome mistakes:

“Most of our wounds today were kind of self-inflicted. The yellow cards are relatively soft and they’re on the back of other pressure that we don’t need to put ourselves under. And yet we’re weathering it and we’re bouncing through it and coming out the other side.”

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Exeter Chiefs’ Premiership Revival

Coming off their worst season as a top-flight club, where they finished second-from-bottom, Exeter have made a remarkable turnaround. The Chiefs have now won five and drawn one of their seven league games, amassing 28 points, just one shy of the total they earned last season.

Baxter credited the team’s fighting spirit for their competitiveness late in matches:

“The lads never look down and out. They get on with it, get up, fight, and sometimes just getting off the floor, making a tackle, forcing a knock-on, you force one more error. Today was a perfect example. We stayed in the fight long enough for things to go our way, and eventually they did.”

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Premiership Implications

Exeter’s victory temporarily moved them to second place in the Premiership, just behind Bath, who regained top spot after defeating Newcastle. The Chiefs now look forward to a home clash against Leicester Tigers on 28 December, aiming to build momentum heading into the busy festive period.

The Chiefs’ combination of resilience, tactical awareness, and late-game composure has made them one of the most exciting sides in the Premiership this season, signaling that Exeter may finally be turning the corner after a challenging campaign last year.