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Exeter name same team to face a Toulouse team forced into one change
Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter has named an unchanged team to take on Toulouse on Sunday from the one that he believes put in their performance of the season against Bath last week.
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The Chiefs overcame Bath at Sandy Park in wild conditions in the Investec Champions Cup last 16, with Baxter praising the maturity of his young squad.
The 2020 Champions Cup winners travel to one of the unhappiest hunting ground for visitors in Europe, the Stade Ernest-Wallon, on Sunday and will face a Toulouse side that have made only one change to their XV after dismantling Racing 92 last week.
Paul Costes comes in for the injured Pierre-Louis Barassi in the midfield for the reigning Top 14 champions in the starting XV, while France fullback Thomas Ramos will make his return from injury and start on the bench.
“I think the performance against Bath Rugby was possibly one of our best of the season in a lot of ways,” Baxter said after naming his side.
“They’re a good side and they’ve had a couple of good results against us this season. They’re one of the form teams in the Gallagher Premiership – home and away – so we’re very pleased with the result.
“The way the lads got into the game the way we wanted to and the way they dealt with the scoreboard pressure and the conditions was really good as well. I think it kind of shows a level of maturity a bit beyond where the team could or should be. So, I think it bodes well for where we’re heading as a Premiership team. Now our test this weekend is seeing where we’re heading as a European team as well.
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“We said in the changing room that, as a team, the players have got to do one of the hardest things you do in sport which is to get yourself to a very competitive level two weeks running. At the same time, that’s how you win trophies. Winning trophies and getting to big games is when you put back-to-back performances in. So, that’s the next step for us to try to achieve.”
Exeter Chiefs XV
15 Josh Hodge
14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso
13 Henry Slade
12 Ollie Devoto
11 Olly Woodburn
10 Harvey Skinner
9 Tom Cairns
1 Scott Sio
2 Jack Yeandle
3 Ehren Painter
4 Rusi Tuima
5 Dafydd Jenkins (c)
6 Ethan Roots
7 Christ Tshiunza
8 Ross Vintcent
Replacements
16 Jack Innard
17 Danny Southworth
18 Marcus Street
19 Lewis Pearson
20 Greg Fisilau
21 Stu Townsend
22 Will Haydon-Wood
23 Zack Wimbush
Toulouse XV
15. Blair Kinghorn
14. Juan Cruz Mallia
13. Paul Costes
12. Pita Ahki
11. Matthis Lebel
10. Romain Ntamack
9. Antoine Dupont (c)
1. Cyril Baille
2. Peato Mauvaka
3. Dorian Aldegheri
4. Richie Arnold
5. Emmanuel Meafou
6. Jack Willis
7. François Cros
8. Alexandre Roumat
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Replacements
16. Julien Marchand
17. Rodrigue Neti
18. Joel Merkler
19. Thibaud Flament
20. Joshua Brennan
21. Paul Graou
22. Thomas Ramos
23. Santiago Chocobares
Comments on RugbyPass
Safas are so triggered by Ireland. 3 consecutive losses, incl RWC. 8 losses out of last 12 Tests. Always excuses, of course, with Bok fans. Now Rassie with his “88%” nonsense, the Claytons Excuse is an embarrassment to Bok teams of the past when every test mattered. Their fickle mojo will be on edge for the Ireland tour. Have the referees been appointed yet ? They will need security. Have WR laid out strict guidelines for TMO’s and replays on the stadium screens ? Will the constant stoppages from Bok forwards for cramps and bootlaces be tolerated ? We’re not talking a dominant Springbok team here, they won the LOTTO Cup and they know it whether they admit it or not. The Disney doco has their fans positively fermenting internally, its going to be a nasty hangover if they get beaten on home soil. What will the excuses be then……
68 Go to commentsGreat role model.
2 Go to commentsOne significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
8 Go to commentsWouldn’t be a bad move if Ireland pulled into SA with a young side. Particularly in Pretoria. Invaluable experience getting thumped in the bosveld.
68 Go to commentsIreland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
68 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
68 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
68 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
2 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
68 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
68 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
68 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
68 Go to commentsGrant, the first time I have seen an article written by you. Maybe I have missed your previous stuff. These days all professional players effectively play a common season so all top players are equally tired, or rested. That is the job of the coaching ticket to build squad depth and juggle resources so players are ‘ fresh’ when the big games come. Possibly Ireland are less inclined to juggle squad compared to Rassie, who is prepared to take the risk to rest players as well as build depth throughout the year so come WC he has a full squad, experienced and rested enough to win 7 games. After all, to win WC you need to get through the tournament and then win the final big 3 games. Ireland should try and build a bit so come final 3 they are ready. So far only played final 1(QF). I am so looking forward to the Irish tour. Hopefully Rassie has enough time to align his guys, as he draws them from across the globe, and not from 2 sides locally( eg Leinster, Munster). No excuses, going to be exciting.
68 Go to commentsIn football, teams get fined and sometimes docked points for deliberately fielding weakened teams yet Leinster can pretty much do as they please with no comebacks. Could it be because Ireland run the URC? Could it be that Ireland run the ERC? Whichever it is, it stinks!!
6 Go to commentsIreland are only the People’s Champions in Irish eyes. The rest of the world do not care for them very much because of attitudes of people like Gordon, Ferris, Best, Jackman…I could go on!!
68 Go to commentsNot sure how Karl Dickson can ever ref a Quins game, he played for the club for 8 years as understudy to Care and is still close friends with half the team
3 Go to commentsAre bookies taking bets on how many times Vunipola's eventual statement will use the term “elders"? My money is on at least 4 times.
4 Go to comments