Chiefs side to face Leicester Tigers

By Mark Stevens
23/12/16

Exeter head coach Rob Baxter has challenged his players to “take hold of their season” ahead of what is a crucial block of Aviva Premiership fixtures for the Chiefs.

It begins tomorrow with the visit of Leicester Tigers to a packed out Sandy Park (3pm), before the journey continues with successive away days at Bath (Dec 31) and Saracens (Jan 7).

Baxter is well aware of the importance of all three games, particularly as all of his side’s rivals lie above them in the current standings, but he insists this is what being in English’s rugby top flight is all about and wants his players to stand up in the face of battle.

“If we could beat Leicester this weekend we will probably move into the top four,” he said. “If you move into the top four the truth is you can run around and talk about it in all different kinds of ways, but once you get yourselves into the top four at any stage in the season, whether you are going to win the Premiership final or not, things start to drop into your hands.

“If you keep winning your games, you stay in the top four, and if you stay in the top four you get into a semi-final, which if you win that you get into a final and all of a sudden you put things back into your court. For me, I want the players to take hold of the season and the only way you do that is by winning games like Saturday.”

Buoyed by last weekend’s first-ever European Champions Cup victory in France, the Chiefs – who triumphed 20-12 against Bordeaux-Begles – head into the game in bullish mood, having won five of their past six fixtures.

The sole blip was a home defeat to the Frenchmen a fortnight ago, but Baxter saw enough in that display to know recent momentum had not been derailed in anyway.

“Our momentum didn’t die just because of that one result, it’s all performance based as far as we are concerned,” added Baxter. “On how many other days do we convert one, two, three or four opportunities that we created that day.

“Fair play to Bordeaux as well, I thought they defended as though their lives depended on it, and one visit from them into our half, off a poor tactical decision on our part, and they scored what proved the all-important score. Yes, we were disappointed with the end result, but overall the momentum of recent weeks stayed in place and that was important.”

Like the Chiefs, the Tigers displayed their own fighting spirit last weekend, bouncing back from a 38-0 mauling away to Munster to gain sweet revenge on the Irish province at Welford Road, winning 18-16 thanks to a late Owen Williams penalty.

Suitably impressed by that performance, Baxter needs little reminding of the threat the Midlanders will pose to his team tomorrow.

“We are aware they’ve had a very good, very big emotional performance against Munster last week,” said the Exeter leader. “I thought that was a fantastic response to what happened the week previous, but at the same time that’s a very typical response from Leicester.

“That is what they are capable of in almost any scenario, they can grit and grind things out. I’m not saying that don’t play good rugby, because we know they do, but they have that emotional experience to get through some tough scenarios.

“They are one of our best competitors in the Premiership and over the years we have had some fantastic games with them. One of those was a battling win here against them last year and it’s those types of games that are what the Premiership is all about.

“We know they always come here and play well, so we have to be ready for them. The fact it’s a Christmas game, it’s a sell-out crowd, this is what it’s all about for me and I think it’s a fantastic opportunity for all of us.”

With the Tigers lying a place above the Chiefs in fourth spot, Baxter will be hoping to kick-off this festive block on a high note, helping to shunt his side up the table heading into the New Year.

“The truth is things don’t come down to one or two fixtures, but at the same time we are playing teams up and above us in the league,” said Baxter. “That means if we want to keep climbing the table, which we do, we need to win some of these games otherwise they will start to pull away from us.

“To start off with a home win is very important for us. The guys have trained well this week, we’re in good form, and we’re all looking forward to that game. That is all we can do, so I’m really hoping we show our true qualities and we play our part in what I’m sure will be a fantastic game.”

Team news for the Chiefs sees Baxter recall a number of his frontline stars having given them a break from the action in Bordeaux last week. In the pack, Ben Moon, Jack Yeandle and Tomas Francis form a new-look front-row, while there is also a recall in the engine room for youngster Jonny Hill.

Behind, Gareth Steenson returns at fly-half to skipper the side, whilst in the midfield Ollie Devoto comes into partner Henry Slade, who shunts across from the number ten jersey.

Supporters are reminded the game is a complete sell-out and that no tickets will be available to purchase.

CHIEFS SIDE TO FACE LEICESTER TIGERS

15 Phil Dollman
14 Jack Nowell
13 Ollie Devoto
12 Henry Slade
11 Olly Woodburn
10 Gareth Steenson (capt)
9 Will Chudley
1 Ben Moon
2 Jack Yeandle
3 Tomas Francis
4 Mitch Lees
5 Jonny Hill
6 Dave Dennis
7 Don Armand
8 Thomas Waldrom

16 Luke Cowan-Dickie
17 Carl Rimmer
18 Greg Holmes
19 Ollie Atkins
20 Kai Horstmann
21 Jack Maunder
22 Sam Hill
23 James Short