Chiefs quartet line-up in BUCS Super Final
By Harry Scott-Munro
13/4/22
Exeter Chiefs youngsters Dan John, Arthur Relton, Oli Burrows and Dafydd Jenkins will all start for Exeter University in tonight's BUCS Super Rugby Final against Durham University at Worcester's Sixways Stadium.
In what should be a mouth-watering showdown between the top two sides in the competition, hopes are certainly high that the title will be heading back to the Devon campus come the final whistle.
Both John and Relton have played key roles in helping Keith Fleming's side to the final, whilst Burrows and Jenkins both return to the fold after recovering from recent injuries.
Burrows’ return to fitness is a timely boost for Exeter after Chris Moore was ruled out of the final with a broken jaw.
It is a bitter pill to swallow for the Irish-qualified hooker Moore, who knows that once injury-free, he will then be able to link up with Munster ahead of his first season as a professional player.
As for Burrows, the Welsh Under-20s international last pulled on a university shirt in November, but he has still remained a key part of the group whilst recovering from injury.
“It’s a nice one to return for,” laughed Burrows. “It’s been a long four and a half months since I last played. But I’m ready, fit and firing and ready to gun for these boys on Wednesday. Even though I haven’t been playing, it’s been good to be part of the environment,” he admits.
It is an environment that has helped take Exeter to their first BUCS final since 2017, with a seismic clash against league champions Durham awaiting the side on Wednesday evening.
For all of the squad, it will be their first time playing in a university final and, whilst Burrows and several of the side have experienced international and professional match0day environments, the hooker was open enough to admit that a real buzz was building ahead of kick-off.
“There’s a lot of excitement. We haven’t really focused too much on Durham. It’s about focusing on ourselves and looking at our own jobs. We have to get those right going into Wednesday.”
Both Durham and Exeter have served up two thrilling encounters this season, with the Palatinate stealing a 23-20 victory at Hollow Drift back in October thanks to a last-minute penalty, before Exeter and Alec Lloyd-Seed returned the favour in a 20-18 win at Topsham before Christmas.
That match remains the only game that Durham have lost this season and Burrows believes that it is only right that the top two in the league should be facing off for the title.
“You wouldn’t expect anything less from a cup final. It speaks for itself really. It’s probably the two strongest teams this season and you wouldn’t want it to be a one-sided event. You want it to be tight, to be a real tussle and a good standard of rugby.”
The semi-final at Topsham a fortnight ago against Cardiff Met, is seen by many as one of the matches of the season. After racing away in an enthralling opening quarter, Exeter dealt with the body-blows of losing captain Olly White and Chris Moore to injury, as they kept the Welsh side at arms-length to secure a 44-33 triumph.
Burrows was on the sidelines for that clash and praised the support that the side received from the rest of the club and the university, as the semi-final delivered in every way possible.
“[Performances and support] go hand-in-hand. There were a fair few boys making some racket over on the far side for the semi-final, so hopefully in Worcester it will be more of the same again.”
Ahead of kick-off EURFC have made several changes to the side, which will be captained by Will Yarnell. Whilst the backline remains unchanged from the semi-final, both White and Moore miss out due to injury. With Burrows slotting in at hooker, captain White’s 7 jersey is taken by the imperious Toby Smith, who like Burrows, will mark his return from long-term injury by starting in a final.
The last time Smith was seen in a BUCS Super Rugby match was the Anglo-Welsh Varsity clash against Cardiff Met at Sandy Park in October. The flanker put in a heroic performance throughout the match, as his ability and tactical nous at the breakdown saw him named as Man of the Match.
The only other change to the starting line-up sees Jenkins return to the side, having been a key player for Exeter Chiefs throughout the Six Nations period, with Milo Hallam reverting to the bench.
A fast track at Sixways should allow for Exeter’s elusive backs to enjoy themselves with ball in hand and, whilst Burrows was quick to joke about how a fast-paced game may affect him, he feels it’s an area that Exeter could profit from.
“I don’t know if my legs will be too happy with that! But if we get the ball into Dan’s hands and Arthur’s hands, it should be a nice track for them to show their pace on.”
Everything that has gone before is now irrelevant, with eighty minutes to decide the fate of the title. As Exeter prepare for their first since 2017, Burrows also took the time to highlight just how important it was for the whole club, to have secured a place at Sixways.
“It’s massive. There’s been times where little things just haven’t gone our way but it’s nice for Keith to be back in a cup final after all these years. It’s a big event for the club but hopefully we can go and do the club justice.”
EXETER UNIVERSITY SIDE TO FACE DURHAM UNIVERSITY
15 Dan John
14 Jordan Bond
13 Tom Eelman
12 Tom Hitchcock
11 Arthur Relton
10 Alec Lloydseed
9 Will Yarnell (capt)
1 Jared Williams
2 Oli Burrows
3 Fin Richardson
4 Arthur Thomas
5 Dafydd Jenkins
6 Sam Higginson
7 Toby Smith
8 Archie Hosking
16 Luke Bury
17 Tom Harris
18 Archie Owlett
19 Milo Hallam
20 Tom Addison
21 Niall Armstrong
22 Josh Barton
23 Benjy Joseland