Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter expressed dissatisfaction with his team's performance despite their 42-14 victory over Northampton. Although the Saints fielded a second-string team focusing on the European Champions Cup final, Exeter's frontline squad managed a bonus-point win. However, numerous errors marred the game, frustrating Baxter.

"We've got to just grow up a little bit," Baxter told BBC Radio Devon. "I think it's almost like everything that goes wrong is a bit unfair. The only things that went wrong in today's game are the things we let happen or made happen."

Baxter, who has taken over coaching duties following the removal of head coach Rob Hunter and the suspension of backs coach Ali Hepher after a record 79-17 loss to Gloucester, emphasized the importance of high standards.

"If I can get on top of the lads then we've got a bit of a chance. But I'm not going to back down from setting high standards for the players," he added.

Sunday's victory marked only Exeter's fourth league win this season. Despite this, the Chiefs remain second-from-bottom, their worst position since promotion in 2010. Baxter remains optimistic, viewing the upcoming matches against Harlequins and Sale as opportunities to assess and build a team capable of a top-four finish next season.

"This is a really good opportunity for us now because we are going against two teams, and I have expectations of us being top-four next season," Baxter said. "The first thing I'm going to say on Tuesday is 'let's see who the men are, who are the kind of players who can be a top-four person are, because right here and now some of you are almost refusing to do basic things that look after you', and we've got to get over that very, very quickly."

Baxter, who has led Exeter to two league titles and the 2020 European Champions Cup, is determined to move the team forward despite this challenging season.