Exeter Chiefs make 14 changes to starting side for Bristol Bears
Whilst it may be seen as a step into the unknown for some, Rob Baxter says the challenge of getting his Exeter Chiefs squad primed and ready for midweek fixtures is something that is largely ‘exciting’ for him and his players.
Just four days after claiming maximum reward from their 32-22 win at Sale Sharks, the Chiefs travel to local rivals Bristol Bears tomorrow night for their Round 15 Gallagher Premiership encounter at Ashton Gate (7:45pm).
In what is the second of three fixtures in just over a week for the table-topping Chiefs, Baxter – like his coaching counterparts across the division – will have to mull over a series of selection quandries, given no player is able to start all three games in this block.
Having stuck largely with an unchanged starting XV for their bonus point victories against Leicester Tigers and Sale Sharks, only winger Olly Woodburn remains in place from those two games for tomorrow’s short trip up the M5.
“It’s a little bit of a trip into the unknown,” explained the Exeter Chiefs Director of Rugby. “Tomorrow is our first midweek fixture, which is interesting in itself, and it’s our first short turnaround from a game at the weekend.
“When you look at it, it’s probably going to be the first time where teams will genuinely make a lot of changes, because there are the regulations for these midweek blocks where you have that element of limiting game minutes for players and also that no players can start all three games.
“It will be interesting to see what teams do and how they approach it, but at the same time it’s also very exciting. Going to Bristol at any time should be exciting, but because it’s a top of the table clash in the Premiership it just adds to everything.
“I said to the players yesterday, what you have to remember with all of this is, this is still a Premiership fixture!
“It’s not a run-of-the-mill midweek game, nor is it like an A League or Premiership Cup game, this is a Premiership game – albeit played at a different time – but we have to approach it in exactly the same manner as we would a weekend game, That means I expect the guys to commit all of their time, their energy and their emotion into producing a big performance on Tuesday.”
“The collection of points we’ve had helps ease the pressure, but we need to keep challenging ourselves,” he added. “What will be good to see against Bristol is that we have a new group of players involved, who we not only want to up the standards, but help move us forward week by week.
“As I said, it’s a big Premiership game of rugby between the top two sides in the division. Whatever happens on Tuesday won’t define the season for either side, yet there is an opportunity for points and when you are a side in and around that top four, that top six, every point is precious.
“Having picked up ten points is fantastic and it keeps us on the trajectory we want to be on, especially with things like the European quarter-final coming up as well. What’s funny, though, is after Sunday’s game we will have already played four games, that’s halfway through the rounds, so things are coming thick and fast right now and we’re starting to see the end of the season already.”
“I guess the most pleasing thing about Friday’s win was the way in which we grew as a team through the game,” he continued. “What that highlights is you have to be willing to fight and work as hard as you can, for as long as you can in the game. If you do that, ultimately your rewards will come.
“The important work you do early will count at some stage. At the time it may not feel like that, but it will come. What we’re getting very good at is understanding the work we do 5, 10, 15, 20 minutes into the game will reap it’s rewards later in the game.”
Aside from Woodburn, the Exeter Chiefs have made 14 changes to their starting line-up from that which won at the AJ Bell Stadium. Skipper Jack Yeandle heads up a pack which sees Welsh International prop Tomas Francis make his first league start since May 2019.
Behind, Scottish international Sam Hidalgo-Clyne gets his first start in the No.9 jersey for his new club, while fellow newcomer Josh Hodge will also make his Premiership debut at full-back.
EXETER CHIEFS SIDE TO FACE BRISTOL BEARS
15 Josh Hodge
14 Tom O’Flaherty
13 Phil Dollman
12 Tom Hendrickson
11 Olly Woodburn
10 Gareth Steenson
9 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne
1 Alec Hepburn
2 Jack Yeandle (capt)
3 Tomas Francis
4 Dave Dennis
5 Sam Skinner
6 Jannes Kirsten
7 Don Armand
8 Sean Lonsdale
16 Jack Innard
17 Billy Keast
18 Marcus Street
19 Will Witty
20 Richard Capstick
21 Joe Snow
22 Harvey Skinner
23 Tom Wyatt
Comments on RugbyPass
The Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
3 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to comments