Team news: Chiefs Women's pack changed up for trip to Loughborough

Exeter Chiefs Women have changed up the pack ahead of their trip to play Loughborough Lightning for Sunday’s round 14 PWR game (KO 15:00).

Flanker Maisy Allen gets a chance to start after coming off the bench last weekend following two months out with an ankle injury. She will be joined in the back row by No 8 Rachel Johnson, and Dorothy Wall, who has moved from lock where she made 24 tackles on Sunday. In fact, Wall and captain Poppy Leitch (23) made more tackles than any other player in the PWR last weekend. Maddie Feaunati misses out this week with a foot injury.

Linde van der Velden starts in the second row while the front row sees the return of Hope Rogers, who failed a late fitness test before the game against Bristol Bears Women. Cliodhna Moloney also has been given the opportunity to start at hooker.

Head coach Susie Appleby said: “Maisy has come back in; she was managed minutes last weekend, but she’s allowed more this weekend, so she gets astart. She’s a great player and needs to play.

“Tricky (Edel McMahon) coming in is well deserved. She has been waiting in the wings since she got back to fitness. She adds massively to a squad. Linde and Doro are a big presence, they are big carriers, so they go again.

“We have to keep the front row fresh, in form and playing as that’s where you can win and lose games. There’s been some movement in the pack and it will continue to move with hopefully Emily Robinson not too far away. Players need to be ready to start, to finish games and to sit out games over the next six weeks or so.”

The backline remains the same from the previous Sunday including all four try-scorers Claudia MacDonald, Liv McGoverne, Taylor Perry and Alex Tessier.

“The 10 and 12 is still work in progress but I thought Liv showed what we expected, which was some really good physicality and a good skillset, and Taylor showed glimpses of the world class player that she is,” commented Appleby. “I think it is the right thing for them to go again.”

This means McGoverne will go head-to-head with Ireland’s Alev Kelter, who beat 11 defenders, made 112 metres, and scored a try in their loss to Gloucester-Hartpury last weekend. McGoverne, though, has made more kicks in play (103) and 970 more kick in play metres (3,437) than any other player this season.

Loughborough Lightning go into round 14 in sixth place. They may have lost last week but took a win over Saracens the weekend before. Chiefs have slipped to fourth place after two losses and two rounds where they have not played.

Appleby continued: “Rather ironically, I was pleased with quite a few aspects of our game last week in what looked like a comprehensive defeat. We had 15 minutes of ball and Bristol had twice as much. We capitalised on our opportunities by putting ourselves in the right place on the field. That is positive but obviously there has been some work-ons. I think it was very evident we had not played very much and we lost against two really good sides who have been playing.

“What we are hoping for is that we can take those positives into the next six weeks and show ourselves how good we can be and really do credit to the immense amount of hard work that has gone in from the both the players and the staff over the course of the last few months. It’s a sprint to the finish now and you cannot miss opportunities but at the same time, with games back-to-back, we also have to look after individuals to make sure they get to the end goal.

“We have lost twice but it’s been over quite a lengthy period, so it feels worse. In the big scheme of things, it’s ok. We’ll regroup and have a look at Loughborough, who are a very different side from last weekend’s challenge. That’s we are about, we want challenges and Loughborough are a massive challenge.”