Chiefs side to face Sale Sharks
By Mark Stevens
4/3/22
Exeter Chiefs Director of Rugby Rob Baxter is set to welcome back some heavy artillery ahead of his side’s Gallagher Premiership battle with Sale Sharks this Sunday (3pm).
South African powerhouse Jacques Vermeulen is one of a number of names added by Baxter for what should be an explosive encounter at Sandy Park.
The all-action flanker hasn’t played all season after undergoing surgery twice on an injured hamstring. However, he returns as one of five changes Baxter has made to his starting line-up from that which won against Northampton Saints last Sunday.
Vermeulen comes into the back-row at the expense of Santiago Grondona, whilst other changes up front see starts for Jack Yeandle and Marcus Street in the front-row and Scottish international Sam Skinner is brought in at lock.
Exeter’s other change sees Stuart Hogg return from Test duty to start at full-back in an exciting back three, which includes in-form wingers Tom O’Flaherty and Olly Woodburn.
On the bench, there is also a welcome return to action for England international Harry Williams and lock Will Witty, the latter of whom scored in the corresponding fixture at the AJ Bell Stadium back in October.
“It’s been a while for a few of them, especially Jacques after his double injury,” said Baxter. “That said, he looks great in training; he’s chomping at the bit to get out there, as is Harry Williams. Stu Townsend is another week out in training and Will Witty is back also, so we’re starting to see the squad thicken out a little bit, particularly around the back five of the scrum.”
The quintet join a Chiefs side that is in a rich vein of form having collected recent wins over Gloucester, Newcastle Falcons and Northampton Saints to move them back into the play-off picture after 18 rounds.
Last Sunday success at Franklin’s Gardens extended Exeter’s winning run to three games and has helped lay the foundations for what Baxter hopes will be another huge challenge this weekend against the Sharks, who themselves harbour high hopes of being amongst the top four again come the end of the season.
“Over the years we’ve had some proper battles with them, including last season in the semi-finals,” said Baxter. “People are aware they are a big physical side, who really challenge you in all facets of the game.
“You can see Alex Sanderson had added a real confrontational side to them in defence, they start games well, they score points, and they have threat all over the field. When you put all that together, they are what I would call a proper Premiership side, so it’s going to be a tough game for sure.”
Baxter, though, has seen in recent weeks – particularly the two away victories – that his side are themselves more than happy to roll their sleeves up and has called on his players to replicate the qualities they have shown in those performances.
“We’re certainly playing better and the stats are backing that up,” added the Chiefs leader. “One of the most pleasing things from last week was that our physical stats were just outstanding. When we reviewed them after the game, they were some of the best distances and high intensity metres we have produced over the last two years.
“It wasn’t just the odd individual, it was groups of players that were performing to that standard, and it’s that upward curve we have to keep driving if we want to be competitive and stay at the level we are.”
Exeter’s work-rate has been clear to see, but so too has the desire they have shown to keep going until the final whistle.
“People may not have realised it, but winning up in Newcastle in those conditions was a top-quality performance from us,” added Baxter. “We could easily have gone up there, looked at the conditions, seen that Newcastle had an extra week to prepare for the game, and just not turned up.
“The fact we didn’t and that we were willing to just get on with things probably gave us the backbone to do what we did at Northampton last week. In a strange way, that gave us the springboard to really attack last weekend’s game – which was played in totally different conditions – in a much different manner.
“We knew before the game last week that we would have to play in a much different way – and that was very much the case up at Northampton. Both sides really attacked the game and even when we conceded two quickfire tries after the break, we didn’t buckle. Instead, we got on with things, we reset ourselves and we did what we had to do haul ourselves back into the game.”
More of the same will be needed against the Sharks on Sunday.
