Team News: Chiefs Name Side to Host Table Toppers Bath Rugby

Exeter Chiefs have named their side to take on Gallagher Premiership league leaders Bath Rugby at Sandy Park on Saturday afternoon.

Chiefs come into the game having had two weeks to prepare while Bath Rugby were competing in an EPCR Challenge Cup knockout match against Gloucester Rugby at the Rec last weekend.

For this week’s clash, the Chiefs forward pack is led by an experienced front row of Scott Sio at loosehead, club captain Jack Yeandle in the hooker berth and tighthead Marcus Street.

Dafydd Jenkins captains as second row partner Rusi Tuima makes his first start since returning to the pitch against Falcons having suffered a broken jaw back in February.

After winning back-to-back Player of the Day poles for his performances in March’s Premiership matches, Martin Moloney starts in the back row alongside Richard Capstick and Greg Fisilau.

For the first time since Chiefs’ away fixture in Hartpury, Tom Cairns and Harvey Skinner form the starting half-back partnership. Joe Hawkins returns to the matchday side to start at inside centre with Henry Slade on his shoulder.

Josh Hodge claims the fullback shirt, making way for Ben Hammersley to start on the left wing with Paul Brown-Bampoe on the right.

Director of Rugby Rob Baxter acknowledged this week that it will be a tough game for his squad but that he wants them to have the mindset of attacking the clash head-on.

“Every game is important but particularly at this stage in the season. We’ve made some changes, and the good thing is that Rob Hunter has had a couple more weeks with the squad in training, guiding the players towards the way he wants to do things.

“We’ve had a couple of really good training weeks, but it will take a bit of bedding-in time. We’ve got to be careful that we don’t just expect everything to click immediately.

“That said, my expectation is that we’ll be very competitive against Bath. We were very competitive against their full-strength side away from home, competing for 80 minutes to get the losing bonus point, but we were probably a little frustrated we didn’t get more out of the game.

“We’ve got to make clear that we’re playing with ambition, pace, drive and bravery. The important message for us is going to be ‘let’s make sure we’re attacking the game, not remaining in our shells just waiting to see what they’ll bring’.”

The replacement front row features hooker Max Norey with props Kwenzo Blose and Jimmy Roots. Ross Vintcent is then poised to make his first appearance since the Guinness Six Nations as he is named with Jacques Vermeulen to cover the back five of the scrum.

Cover for the backline is provided by Niall Armstrong, Will Haydon-Wood and Will Rigg.

Exeter Chiefs:

15 Josh Hodge

14 Ben Hammersley

13 Henry Slade

12 Joe Hawkins

11 Paul Brown-Bampoe

10 Harvey Skinner

9 Tom Cairns

1 Scott Sio

2 Jack Yeandle

3 Marcus Street

4 Rusi Tuima

5 Dafydd Jenkins (c)

6 Martin Moloney

7 Richard Capstick

8 Greg Fisilau

Replacements:

16 Max Norey

17 Kwenzo Blose

18 Jimmy Roots

19 Jacques Vermeulen

20 Ross Vintcent

21 Niall Armstrong

22 Will Haydon-Wood

23 Will Rigg