By Graham Thomas
Exeter Chiefs have been such a reliable conveyor belt for Welsh talent in recent years, it hardly seemed necessary to check it was still powered up.
But this season, someone appears to have unplugged things down at Sandy Park.
After four matches in the Gallagher Premiership, the Chiefs are bottom but one in the table, having lost the lot.
The club that currently provides the day job for a Welsh contingent of Dafydd Jenkins, Christ Tshiunza and Joe Hawkins – plus youngsters Oli Burrows, Dan John, Iestyn Harris, Kane James, Orson James and Iwan Jenkins – seems to have curdled its Devon cream.
Jenkins is still out injured following surgery on his shoulder and will miss Wales’ autumn internationals.
It leases him powerless to prevent Exeter from sliding to a possible fifth straight defeat if they lose away at Newcastle Falcons on Friday night.
It might get worse than that. If the Falcons were to win with a bonus point, then Exeter – for so long the main challenger to Saracens and others at the top end in English rugby – would fall to the bottom of the table.
“The break has given me time to reflect on things I have probably not achieved,” says Jenkins.
“I have never been more motivated to get back on the pitch and put it all right. The break has definitely made me more hungry than I’ve ever been.
“We’re disappointed with how we’re seeing out games. We’ve been in a few of them and that’s the most disappointing aspect.”
They are, though, not considered to be as poor as opponents Newcastle, who are also winless after four matches and have conceded 137 points.
How Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter handles this mini crisis could also have consequences that ripple back to Wales on top of the impact on his Welsh players.
The Englishman has plenty of admirers within Welsh rugby circles and is likely to be among the frontrunners should Wales part company with Warren Gatland at some stage this season, following the New Zealander’s desperate record over the past 12 months.
Baxter ruled himself out of the running to succeed Eddie Jones as England coach two years ago. But having been in charge at the Chiefs since 2009, it might be he would now consider the fresh challenge of international rugby.
“This will be our biggest challenge and if we come through it positively and I think it’s one of those things that will only will only serve us well in the future,” says Baxter of Exeter’s current predicament.
When Baxter was recently asked if he still retained his motivation after 15 years at the Chiefs, he gave a prickly response that suggested the fires are still burning brightly.
“I’m only 53. There are a lot of DORs and coaches out there who are a damn sight older than I am.
“I don’t see them being asked every five minutes if they’re still energetic and enthusiastic about the game.
“If I’d moved jobs three times in those 15 years, I probably wouldn’t get asked that. I’m a decent way from retirement and I still think there’s an awful lot to achieve here.”
Whilst Baxter tries to rouse the Chiefs – and their Welsh foot-soldiers – there is another Welsh story over the border which is rather more positive.
Gareth Anscombe has played in all four matches for Gloucester so far this season and looks fit, healthy and in-form – enough to suggest he is in line for a Wales recall when Gatland announces his squad for the autumn Tests next Monday.
Anscombe had not previously played for 11 months after suffering a groin injury playing at the World Cup in France.
The former Ospreys star could miss out against Leicester this Sunday, however, after taking a blow to the head last week against Bath.
