Steve Salvin’s time leading the Exeter Chiefs has commenced in an exceptionally positive manner.
Entering the seventh round of the 2025/26 Premiership Women’s Rugby season, the Chiefs hold third place and are set to host Saracens, who are currently in second, at Sandy Park this coming weekend.
This prominent fixture, scheduled for live broadcast on TNT Sports on Saturday afternoon, presents Exeter with another chance to improve upon their current season record of three victories, two stalemates, and a single defeat.
Salvin has opted to keep the starting lineup unchanged for the match against Saracens, retaining the team that triumphed over Bristol Bears with a score of 41-10. This marks the first occasion this league season that Salvin has selected an identical starting fifteen for consecutive weeks.
“As a new head coach, I’ve typically approached most matches with a sense of apprehension,” Salvin commented. “However, this week, there’s a considerably greater feeling of excitement and less apprehension. I believe this weekend offers us a chance to truly show what we’re aiming for as a team.”
“On the other hand, Saracens also have a significant opportunity, as securing a win at Sandy Park presents a formidable task for them,” he added. “My predominant sentiment regarding this upcoming weekend is pure exhilaration.”
Rouet’s Impact
Confirmation came yesterday that Kévin Rouet, the head coach for Canada, has taken on an assistant coaching role with Saracens for the current season.
Having been in North London since the Women’s Rugby World Cup ended in September, the 39-year-old French coach has revitalized the North London club’s offensive strategies during his time there.
Due to his previous collaborations with Rouet and the Canadian team, Salvin possesses insight into some of the challenges the Chiefs will encounter at home this Saturday afternoon.
“One can truly observe Kevin’s impact on Saracens’ style of play,” Salvin stated. “They boast several excellent Canadian players, and Alex (Austerberry, Saracens’ Director of Rugby) and Kevin have forged a strong working relationship, having collaborated at both the international and now club levels. Consequently, their playing approach now exhibits a distinct identity.”
Salvin anticipates the London team will aim for rapid ball movement to unleash their backline. This swift ruck speed has significantly benefited scrum-half Liv Apps, who has been a standout performer in Saracens’ five consecutive undefeated games.
While Exeter understands what awaits them in Round 7, halting a Saracens team performing at its peak is a completely distinct challenge and one that is being treated with utmost seriousness.
“Generally, English rugby tends to be quite structured compared to rugby elsewhere globally,” Salvin explained. “Kev is French, and his coaching philosophy is distinctly French, excelling in unstructured play. Currently, they are arguably the best team in the competition at executing this style.
“This style is incredibly hard to counter. One can be aware of it and devise strategies to stop it, but it remains exceptionally demanding, especially given the high caliber of players Saracens possess. However, a positive aspect from our viewpoint is that we are also observing an evolution in our own attacking game.”
“Despite our awareness of Saracens’ playing style, I don’t exclusively view this match as Exeter’s defense versus Saracens’ offense. I believe the scope is much wider. Both teams possess the capability to exert pressure on their adversaries.
“Another crucial element we haven’t discussed is the set-piece. This will be immensely important this weekend. I believe whichever team gains dominance in that area could heavily influence the match’s result.”
Maintaining Momentum
Any encounter featuring two teams vying for the top spots in a competition naturally attracts attention. This weekend’s game is no exception, and regardless of the final score, Exeter’s renewed vigor will remain intact.
This season, the Chiefs have successfully integrated the offensive strategies introduced by Oli Bishop with a well-developed defensive system. After narrowly missing the play-offs last season by only two points, they have undoubtedly established a strong groundwork for another pursuit of championship success in 2025/26.
Maisy Allen has already distinguished herself as the PWR’s most in-form player, and other athletes such as Liv McGoverne, Hope Rogers, and Emily Robinson have also experienced strong starts to their seasons.
Although Salvin acknowledges satisfaction with the team’s advancements, he emphasizes that there is always scope for further improvement.
“I would likely characterize our current standing as satisfactory,” Salvin remarked. “We feel quite pleased. We probably would have accepted this position, frankly, because we had no clear expectation of how things would unfold.
“When I first assumed this role, there was a substantial amount of work to be done. A lot has transpired since then, including both difficulties and significant achievements. Considering all these factors, we are fairly content. However, if you become complacent and think ‘this is our desired state,’ you risk others surpassing you.”
