Exeter full-back Josh Hodge has revealed that the team has refocused on fundamental skills after a challenging period. This shift comes under the guidance of Rob Baxter, who stepped in as acting boss following significant coaching changes. The adjustments were prompted by Exeter's record 79-17 loss at Gloucester, marking their worst Premiership season since 2010.

Rebuilding from the Ground Up

"As you could see in that Gloucester game, we probably weren't there with our basics - catching and pass handling errors were quite high," Hodge told BBC Radio Devon. "So we've stripped it back to basics with Rob, putting in the hard work early on, to then bide ourselves time in attack and get some front-foot ball."

A Renewed Team Spirit

The team has been working diligently to improve their performance. "The boys are working a lot harder now and it's looking good," Hodge added. Despite the setback, Hodge managed to score one of Exeter's three tries in the loss at Kingsholm.

Preparing for Northampton

With a fortnight to prepare, Exeter is gearing up for their upcoming match against Northampton. The reigning Premiership champions are coming off a historic European Champions Cup semi-final win over Leinster in Dublin. Hodge is optimistic about their chances, especially as they return to play in front of their home fans.

Unity and Focus

"I think we're just at a point in the season where we need to come together as a playing group," Hodge explained. "You see the teams that are doing well in the Premiership and they're a tightly connected playing group. The players should be joined together working towards the same goal, and I think we were probably just off on that day and just got outplayed."

Looking Ahead

Exeter Chiefs are determined to turn their season around, focusing on unity and fundamental skills to regain their competitive edge in the Premiership.