Team news: Nielson all set for 50th cap for Exeter Chiefs Women

Exeter Chiefs Women’s hooker Clara Nielson is due to make her 50th appearance for the club tomorrow as Saracens travel to Sandy Park for round five of the PWR.

The Ireland international, who also has a single England cap, is Devon born and bred, having begun her club career with Tavistock RFC.

She moved from Bristol Bears Women to Exeter Chiefs in 2020 and is now on the precipice of her 50th appearance after spending much of last season side-lined with an ankle injury.

Nielson said: “After last season, I did not think I would get to 50. I thought I would be stuck in the 40s forever! I’m super excited; I hope I do my family proud.”

Assistant coach Steve Salvin said: “She is a try-scoring machine at the moment, but Clara is also the heartbeat of the squad. She does other things than just play rugby. She does the kit and some team manager stuff; she’s always doing something to make sure the girls are well looked after.

“But she is also a very talented rugby player, I don’t think there is anyone, potentially, in world rugby, who throws the lineout better than Clara. She is absolutely world class in that area.”

Nielson will start the game on the bench along with England’s Maddie Feaunati and University of Exeter graduate Niamh Orchard.

Meanwhile, Eilidh Sinclair is back on the wing, Hope Rogers and DaLeaka are in the front-row, and Dorothy Wall will get her first start in a Chiefs jersey. Emily Robinson has moved to open-side flanker following Maisy Allen’s ankle injury with Rachel Johnson at No 8.

Salvin added: “We have changed both props this week because both Hope and DaLeaka have a huge amount of experience playing against Saracens. No refection on what the other two did last week, as I thought they both did really well.

“A lot of the girls who have started this season, so the likes of the Ebonys, Maisys, Poppys, Niamhs, do need some down-time. Ebony is having a rest this week so that gives Doro an opportunity having done well off the bench last week.

“Because of Maisy’s injury, Rachel comes back in. Rach has been our frontline No 8 for some time now and Emily gets a chance at seven. To be fair, we signed Emily as a flanker more than an eight, so she gets a chance of a run-out in her more traditional role.”

Chiefs will be hoping to continue their dominance in the lineout having won 17 last weekend, the most in round 14, plus a steal. Exeter continues to rack up the tackles with the most made by any team at 782. Emily Robinson and Allen have made the most of all the PWR players with 65 apiece.

Saracens will arrive at Sandy Park on the back of a victorious physical encounter over the current champions, Gloucester-Hartpury, last Sunday. They have also got 20 out of 20 points from the first four rounds and sit at the top of the table.

Salvin concluded: “They will bring real quality and real power. We’ve had some humdingers with Saracens over the years so I will imagine this weekend will be no different!”

Chiefs Women will kick-off at 13:00 at Sandy Park on tomorrow with supporters encouraged to don their Halloween garb. This PWR game is included in all season ticket packages or is just £11 for adults and £5.50 for 16s and under.

Exeter Chiefs Women

15 Merryn Doidge
14 Eilidh Sinclair
13 Nancy McGillivray
12 Alexandra Tessier
11 Sabrina Poulin
10 Liv McGoverne
9 Flo Robinson (vc)
1 Hope Rogers
2 Cliodhna Moloney
3 DaLeaka Menin
4 Poppy Leitch (c)
5 Linde van der Velden
6 Dorothy Wall
7 Emily Robinson
8 Rachel Johnson

16 Clara Nielson
17 Mikiela Nelson
18 Charli Jacoby
19 Niamh Orchard
20 Maddie Feaunati
21 Lucy Nye
22 Gabby Cantorna
23 Lori Cramer