Aviva Premiership
Rob Baxter praises Exeter's two try-hero Waldrom
ESPN Staff
May 10, 2015
Thomas Waldrom
Thomas Waldrom© Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images

Exeter boss Rob Baxter praised England No.8 Thomas Waldrom after his two-try haul helped the Chiefs to a 24-20 win at Saracens on Sunday.

The win keeps Exeter's play-off hopes alive and central to their impressive win at Allianz Park was the performance of Man of the Match Waldrom. Of Waldrom, Baxter said: "He's a very good footballer at the heart of an improving pack. He could have had a few more over the season but for a number of penalty-try awards.

"England appear to be well served in that area with Ben Morgan and Billy Vunipola but both he and Dave Ewers have been in fine fettle."

Exeter's win means three teams are now vying for the final two spots in the Aviva Premiership play-offs. Northampton and Bath have already secured home semi-finals but heading into the final round of the Premiership Leicester, Exeter and Saracens will all be hoping to take the final two spots.

The Chiefs host Sale in Round 22 and Baxter has called for his team to excel on their home turf. "Next week will be biggest game of rugby Exeter will have been involved in," he added. "We have to be mentally tough, not crumble and stand strong on our own patch. Leicester were mightily impressive yesterday [against Wasps] and it shows what intensity you have to play at in the final stages of the season.

"I'm very pleased for the players to come through this in the way we did as we've not been at our best in recent matches. We've been in tight games against Saracens before but they normally nick it so it was nice to come out on the right side."

Had Saracens won, they would have all but booked their spot in the play-offs but the defeat means they have to go into the final round still looking to cement their spot in the top four. "I'm hugely disappointed," Saracens boss Mark McCall said. "It was not good enough to let them score three tries in the manner in which they did.

"We didn't take some big chances, didn't show enough composure and we missed the muscle of Billy Vunipola."

© ESPN Staff

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