Greg Fisilau returns for Exeter side facing 'unique experience'

Exeter Chiefs are boosted by the return of Greg Fisilau to the back-row for Saturday’s PREM play-off semi-final at Bath, with the England hopeful replacing Ethan Roots at No.8.

Otherwise Exeter’s starting XV is unchanged from the 32-12 victory over Saracens, which secured them their first-ever away tie at this stage of the season. Ross Vintcent for Kanes James is the only alteration to a 5-3 bench.

Chiefs’ director of rugby Rob Baxter admits his side will “have their work cut out” against the reigning champions.

“We looked resilient and strong last weekend against Saracens, so that is good prep for Bath because it’s going to be even more emotionally-charged this weekend,” he said.

“This will be a unique experience even for me because we’ve been in plenty of Prem semi-finals, but never away from home, so it’ll be another interesting challenge for us.

“Bath are a quality side. They’re not second in the table and got to the Investec Champions Cup knockouts for no reason. We’ve got our work cut out for us, but we’re in the final four of the Prem, so it was always going to be tough.

“We’ve got to prepare to show the best of ourselves, because you can always walk away from any game well if you’ve done that.”

A week on from making his final run-out at Sandy Park, Scott Sio starts alongside Josh Iosefa-Scott on either side of hooker Max Norey in the front row.

Dafydd Jenkins captains the side from his successful second row partnership with Andrea Zambonin, with the Italian fresh from selection to the Prem Team of the Season.

Fisilau slots into the No.8 position vacated by Ethan Roots, who has to complete his return to play protocol following a head knock against Saracens. Tom Hooper and Christ Tshiunza man the flanks.

Fixture

Gallagher Premiership

Bath

07:00

13 Jun 26

Exeter Chiefs

All Stats and Data

Having been newly crowned the Exeter Chiefs Supporters’ Club’s Player of the Season, Stephen Varney starts at scrum-half with one of the league’s top try-assists men, Harvey Skinner his partner in the fly-half spot.

Len Ikitau will make his first appearance at The Rec this season having missed out on the January away clash through injury. The Australian partners Slade in the centres.

Last weekend’s back three is left intact as Campbell Ridl and Paul Brown-Bampoe take to the wings with Olly Woodburn, the former Bath man, at full-back.

Baxter added: “I certainly don’t feel like we don’t have a chance, we’ve got a good opportunity. Where we’ve been good this season is being competitive against the top teams away from home.

“I think we’ve got a bit of confidence that, turning up away from home as underdogs has brought out the best in us at times this season. So, we’ve got to try to prepare in such a way that we give ourselves the best chance of that again.”

Exeter Chiefs:
15 Olly Woodburn
14 Paul Brown-Bampoe
13 Henry Slade
12 Len Ikitau
11 Campbell Ridl
10 Harvey Skinner
9 Stephen Varney
1 Scott Sio
2 Max Norey
3 Josh Iosefa-Scott
4 Dafydd Jenkins (c)
5 Andrea Zambonin
6 Tom Hooper
7 Christ Tshiunza
8 Greg Fisilau

Replacements:
16 Joseph Dweba
17 Ethan Burger
18 Bachuki Tchumbadze
19 Rusi Tuima
20 Ross Vintcent
21 Tom Cairns
22 Zack Wimbush
23 Ben Hammersley