Team news: Feaunati starts at No 8 for Saracens' visit

Madde Feaunati will start at No 8 this weekend, just a day after her new contract with the club was announced.

The England Red Rose’s inclusion is the only change to the starting line-up, from the team that defeated Trailfinders Women last weekend, to take on Saracens at Sandy Park (KO 15:00).

On the bench, prop Abby Middlebrooke is back along with Ireland co-captain and flanker Edel McMahon. Chiefs’ Canadian and US players are still absent due to the ongoing Pacific Four Series.

Head coach Susie Appleby said: “It is always a fast, physical game against Saracens and their back row is full of exceptional talent. Maddie is a pacey, powerful ball-carrier who’s raring to go and will relish a run in the sun back on home soil.”

With Exeter Chiefs away at Leicester the day before, Sunday’s game is an ideal opportunity for fans who would normally watch the men’s game to come and support the women.

And with the rugby season also over for youth teams at junior clubs, who would normally play on Sundays, and as the match is billed as Exeter Chiefs Community Game to recognise the sport’s unsung heroes, the team is hoping for plenty of local support.

Appleby added: “We all love playing at Sandy Park. We have a hardcore unit of Superfans who follow us everywhere, but we are always happy to welcome new people who may not have watched women’s rugby before. Games like these can inspire players of the future who have yet to pick up a ball yet. It is always a cracking game against Saracens, so I would urge anyone who may be missing their rugby fix this weekend to come along and support us.”

Home advantage has been an important factor between these two teams in the last four seasons with both winning all their home games.

Chiefs go into this round 16 Allianz PWR game with the highest lineout (86.6%) and scrum (96.7%) success. They have also retained possession from a higher share of their own rucks (97.3%) and have the league’s quickest attacking ruck speed (2.97s).

In reply, Saracens and Red Roses captain Marlie Packer has scored the most tries in the league this season with 11, and they have highest tackle evasion rate (28%) and have made the most metres per carry (7.1m) compared any other side in the league this season.

Chiefs will start Sunday’s game in third place just three points behind Saracens as the battle for a home semi-final begins to get serious.

Appleby said: “Anyone can see that both teams will be battling hard to get a win on Sunday, but I am more interested in performance. We need to make sure we hit the semi-finals, no matter who or where we are playing in three weekends’ time, on the back of decent performances where we have played the best we can. I am always excited when we play at Sandy Park; always excited when Saracens come to town. It’s going to be a great day.”

Sunday’s game is £11 for adults and £5.50 for children 16 and under. This game is included in all season ticket holder packages.

Exeter Chiefs Women:

15 Merryn Doidge (vc)
14 Eilidh Sinclair
13 Kanako Kobayashi
12 Sophie Langford
11 Katie Buchanan
10 Robyn Wilkins
9 Brooke Bradley
1 Demi Swann
2 Cliodhna Moloney
3 Lizzie Hanlon
4 Linde van der Velden
5 Poppy Leitch (c)
6 Ebony Jefferies
7 Maisy Allen
8 Maddie Feaunati

Replacements:

16 Clara Nielson
17 Abby Middlebrooke
18 Hannah Sams
19 Niamh Orchard
20 Edel McMahon
21 Taz Bricknell
22 Naomi Brennan
23 Danielle Preece