Team News: Chiefs Make Changes for Kingsholm Trip

Rob Baxter has made four changes to his Chiefs side to travel to Kingsholm to take on Gloucester in Round 16 of the Gallagher Premiership this Sunday afternoon, April 28.

Chiefs head on the road for the Premiership fixture which is a re-match of the Premiership Cup semi-final which was played back in February and won by the cherry and whites.

There’s a change in the front row as Marcus Street brings physicality to the tighthead shirt with Scott Sio at loosehead and Jack Yeandle in the middle of the two in the hooker berth.

Irishman Jack Dunne makes a return to the starting line-up to partner captain Dafydd Jenkins in the second row. The back row is a familiar one from earlier season games with Ethan Roots and Jacques Vermeulen on the flanks and Greg Fisilau packing down at eight.

Tom Cairns and Harvey Skinner remain in place at scrum half and fly half while Henry Slade this weekend partners the returning Joe Hawkins in the centre pairing.

There’s rotation in the back three as Dan John comes into the matchday side to start at full-back with Olly Woodburn and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso on the wings.

Director of Rugby Rob Baxter says his side will look to be clinical in the small parts of the game to ensure a more rounded end-product.

“What we need to be very careful of is not creating a scenario where we create a load of pressure during a game because the game feels like it’s not quite going our way and then we forget the processes we need to have in place and how we need to play.

“That probably happened a little bit against Bath. We put a lot of effort into the game, it was a really physical game. But we may a lot of small errors in big moments in the game.

“This weekend is a slightly difficult one. Against us in the semi-final of this season’s Premiership Cup and in last year’s fixture, Gloucester started very well, putting a lot of energy into the early period and quite deservedly won the game based on what they got right in the first half.

“So, we’ve obviously got to be prepared for that – the intensity at the start of the game. The feeling of what it is like to play at Kingsholm – which is fantastic, it’s one of the best stadiums to play a game of rugby in with the crowd and the atmosphere – we’ve got to be ready for.

“We also need to be much more focused on our individual and collective details without losing our intensity.”

Hooker Max Norey helps to form the replacement front row with props Danny Southworth and Ehren Painter. It’s an all-international duo providing cover for the second and back row as Wales’ Christ Tshiunza and Italy’s Ross Vintcent lie in wait.

There could be a return to the field from injury for scrum half Niall Armstrong who is named alongside Will Haydon-Wood and Zack Wimbush as cover for the backs.

Exeter Chiefs:

15 Josh Hodge to Dan John

14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso

13 Henry Slade

12 Ollie Devoto to Joe Hawkins

11 Olly Woodburn

10 Harvey Skinner

9 Tom Cairns

1 Scott Sio

2 Jack Yeandle

3 Ehren Painter to Marcus Street

4 Lewis Pearson to Jack Dunne

5 Dafydd Jenkins (c)

6 Ethan Roots

7 Jacques Vermeulen

8 Greg Fisilau

Replacements:

16 Max Norey

17 Danny Southworth

18 Marcus Street to Ehren Painter

19 Jack Dunne to Christ Tshiunza

20 Ross Vintcent

21 Stu Townsend to Niall Armstrong

22 Will Haydon-Wood

23 Zack Wimbush