PAUL Gustard admitted his side endured a ‘death by a thousand cuts' at the hands of the clinical, merciless Premiership and European champions at The Stoop.
Quins boss claimed: “The game was tight
The disappointed
until the final ten minutes and we were still well in a real fight with them.
“Our defence had been outstanding for the majority of the game but, unfortunately, we didn't stick to what we were trying to do and we saw what happened at the end.
“If you spend too much time in your own 22 against Exeter and give away penalties and give them the chance to apply pressure, it will be death by a thousand cuts.
“They are a tough team to break down but we lost crucial ball in the middle of the field and also the discipline battle. If you do that they will punish you.”
Delighted Rob Baxter enthused: “It would have been easy for the guys to use the short turnaround as an excuse but they turned up emotionally and physically. “They hardly had time to celebrate winning the title because lockdown started shortly after the final.
“But now they can have a beer on the bus tonight knowing one job is done before moving on to the second one.”
