Team News: Chiefs Named to Fight for Home Quarter Final in Prem Cup

Exeter Chiefs top Pool E in the Premiership Rugby Cup and a result against Gloucester at Sandy Park this weekend could secure Rob Baxter’s men a home quarter final clash.

A seven-try performance, including four from Paul Brown-Bampoe, against Cornish Pirates last weekend secured another five-point win for the Chiefs while today’s opposition drew 7-7 in a gritty clash with Hartpury.

Scott Sio takes the captain’s armband this weekend as he comes back into the side at loosehead. Dan Frost and Josh Iosefa-Scott also return at hooker and tighthead.

With Rusi Tuima facing a spell on the sidelines with a jaw injury, Lewis Pearson and Richard Capstick construct a new second row pairing while the back row is a familiar one – Ethan Roots, Jacques Vermeulen and Greg Fisilau.

Stu Townsend brings experience at scrum half with Will Haydon-Wood starting again at fly half. Having been rested against Cornish Pirates, Will Rigg slots back into a centre partnership with Joe Hawkins.

After his try-scoring exploits last weekend, Paul Brown-Bampoe retains his starting shirt with Ben Hammersley and Tommy Wyatt rounding out the back three.

Director of Rugby Rob Baxter believes this weekend will see two squads battling hard to give themselves the best draw possible in the progression games.

“First and foremost, we want more home games. We’d love to play well enough to deserve to win the game because I imagine it will be a strong Gloucester side. They’ve changed a bit over their last couple of games, probably with an eye on this game because I can’t imagine anyone is wanting to be in the position of no rugby for the next month.

“We’re both in the same position that we want more games, so I think it’ll be two strong sides who are very motivated and going full-on to try to get an important win.”

Hooker Jack Yeandle leads the replacement front row with props Kwenzo Blose and Marcus Street. With a break week in the Six Nations, Christ Tshiunza returns from Wales camp to be named alongside Martin Moloney as cover for the back five of the scrum.

Tom Cairns and Tamati Tua rotate to the bench from last weekend’s starting XV while Josh Hodge returns from a hand injury he picked-up against Leicester Tigers in Gallagher Premiership action in January.

Exeter Chiefs:

15 Tommy Wyatt

14 Ben Hammersley

13 Joe Hawkins

12 Will Rigg

11 Paul Brown-Bampoe

10 Will Haydon-Wood

9 Stu Townsend

1 Scott Sio (c)

2 Dan Frost

3 Josh Iosefa-Scott

4 Lewis Pearson

5 Richard Capstick

6 Ethan Roots

7 Jacques Vermeulen

8 Greg Fisilau

Replacements:

16 Jack Yeandle

17 Kwenzo Blose

18 Marcus Street

19 Christ Tshiunza

20 Martin Moloney

21 Tom Cairns

22 Tamati Tua

23 Josh Hodge