However, they again demonstrated their vulnerability when in front and incredibly left Devon with only two points to show for their efforts compared to three for Exeter, who managed four tries.

“It was a performance from us that had everything – good, bad and ugly,” said Baxter. “We conceded some pretty soft points and gave up the ball pretty softly on a few occasions, but to be able to come back and score three times in the last 15 minutes to draw the game shows a fantastic amount of character.”

The Gloucester director of rugby, David Humphreys, commented: “It was a big step up in intensity for us, which we needed to do against a strong side like Exeter. We played some very good stuff, but careless errors let Exeter back into the game. We are pleased to get two points but incredibly frustrated at once again not winning.”

Gloucester grabbed a 12th-minute lead with a try by Scotland international centre Matt Scott after a missed tackle at the front of a line-out, with Greig Laidlaw adding the conversion.