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Exeter Chiefs star drops out of 23 as Feyi-Waboso returns for PREM Final
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Exeter Chiefs boss Rob Baxter has recalled England winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso for tomorrow’s Gallagher PREM final against Northampton Saints at Twickenham.
Feyi-Waboso, as expected, takes his place in the starting line-up after recovering from a facial injury he suffered in last month’s win over Leicester Tigers at Welford Road that required an operation.
He will be partnered on the wing by Campbell Ridl, with Paul Brown-Bampoe, who started the 27-26 semi-final win over reigning champions Bath last weekend, dropping out of the 23 altogether.
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Ethan Roots has been selected in the back row, having completed his return-to-play protocol from a head knock suffered against Saracens in the last round of the regular season at Sandy Park, at the expense of Christ Tshiunza, who leaves for Sale Sharks this summer.
Tshiunza is joined on the bench by Will Haydon-Wood and Kane James as Baxter opts for a Chiefs 6-2 split, with Zack Wimbush and Ben Hammersley joining Brown-Bampoe in the stands for their first final in five years.
Baxter admits he will need the Chiefs internationals to step up and help the players who haven’t played on the big stage before.
“When you start to go through the team, you’ve got quite a few guys who’ve experienced big games internationally and club-wise now in these types of environments. I think that’s going to be important. We’re going to need those guys to step up.
“The excitement of days like this, though, is also for some of the guys who haven’t been in big games like this before, so it’s about them getting there and showing the best of themselves. The combination of that energy and emotional control, that’ll decide whether it’s us or Northampton that secures it.
“Every team is dangerous with quick ball, and Northampton are probably the most dangerous. We’ve got to fight in all areas, we can’t give up the ball too much because the way you nullify their attack is by them not having the ball.
“Ahead of this season, the crucial, most important thing in our DNA that we had to rediscover was that competitiveness that if you can’t win, you draw.
“I think the boys bought into that very early in pre-season, and I think that’s been one of those key areas that, having learned it, allowed us to get to the scenario that we did at Bath last weekend. This is going to be a tough game, but the lads are aligned in their purpose. That makes you stronger as a group.”
Exeter Chiefs: Olly Woodburn, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Henry Slade, Len Ikitau, Campbell Ridl, Harvey Skinner, Stephen Varney, Scott Sio, Max Norey, Josh Iosefa-Scott, Dafydd Jenkins (c), Andrea Zambonin, Tom Hooper, Ethan Roots, Greg Fisilau
Replacements: Joseph Dweba, Ethan Burger, Bachuki Tchumbadze, Christ Tshiunza, Ross Vintcent, Kane James, Tom Cairns, Will Haydon-Wood
