Exeter Chiefs coach Rob Baxter was determined to keep his feet on the ground after a dream Premiership start.
Gloucester boss criticises 'unacceptable' display
Exeter Chiefs coach Rob Baxter was determined to keep his feet on the ground despite his side's 22-10 win over Gloucester at Sandy Park in their first game in the Aviva Premiership.
Fly-half Gareth Steenson scored 17 points to sink the Cherry and Whites and give the Chiefs a dream start in the top division.
Baxter said: "I am very aware that Gloucester had many try-scoring opportunities, missed a number of goal kicks and they were slightly off form.
"We are the Premiership new boys and the home game first up suited us more than them. I am in fact a little disappointed as I felt that had we moved the ball more in the first 20 minutes we could have opened up a bit more daylight. We should have backed ourselves more as it's a big wide pitch and we need to maximise the use of it.
"I said at half-time that he first 10 minutes after the interval was crucial and we needed not to concede during that period and as we didn't I felt we would win from the end of that 10 minutes.
"We've not won or lost anything today - the next three to four weeks are important as we have to see that we are improving and can meet the continuing demands of the season."
Outstanding
Steenson added: "Our pack was outstanding today and it's my job to put the ball over the bar. It is not the easiest place to kick a goal and I have had plenty of bad days (mostly in training). It takes a bit of getting used to, especially in winter, as we hope to make this ground a fortress for us."
Gloucester coach Bryan Redpath admitted: "Our performance was not acceptable. Exeter were everything I expected but we couldn't do the simple basics.
"The players have embarrassed themselves in front of all our supporters who came down to watch.
"We needed everything today and Nick (Robinson) compounded all the other errors with those misses. A number of our players need to face up to their responsibilities with only (try-scorer James) Simpson-Daniel showing any form."
