Bristol welcome back key duo from long-term injury

Veteran Bristol back-rower Steven Luatua has been selected to start Saturday’s crunch clash at Exeter, while 2024/25 PREM Dream Team winger Gabriel Ibitoye makes the bench.

Ibitoye has been sidelined since the opening game of the season against Leicester after suffering a hamstring injury which required surgery.

Former All Black Luatua has missed the last three months because of a lower leg injury, but will make his fourth appearance of the season at Sandy Park.

However, Saturday was seen as too soon for lock James Dun, who is back in the selection after overcoming troublesome shoulder injuries.

The pair are two of three changes to Pat Lam’s matchday 23 as the Bears go in search of fifth straight league win, with experienced Argentina international Matias Moroni coming into the midfield to partner Benhard Janse van Rensburg.

Meanwhile, new England call-up, Greg Fisilau, is the only uncapped member of the Exeter pack picked by DoR Rob Baxter, as the third-placed Chiefs host the side that sit just below them in the PREM table.

Fisilau is joined in the back-row by England’s Ethan Roots and Wallaby Tom Hooper. Ahead of them, Dafydd Jenkins captains the side and is partnered in the engine room by Italy lock Andrea Zambonin.

The all-international front-row is made up of Scott Sio, Joseph Dweba and Bachuki Tchumbadze.

The Chiefs’ backline has a familar look to it, other than the absence of Stephen Varney at scrum-half.

Exeter Chiefs: 15 Olly Woodburn; 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Will Haydon-Wood, 11 Paul Brown-Bampoe; 10 Harvey Skinner, 9 Charlie Chapman; 1 Scott Sio, 2 Joseph Dweba, 3 Bachuki Tchumbadze, 4 Dafydd Jenkins (c), 5 Andrea Zambonin, 6 Tom Hooper, 7 Ethan Roots, 8 Greg Fisilau

Replacements: 16 Jack Yeandle, 17 Will Goodrick-Clarke, 18 Jimmy Roots, 19 Lewis Pearson, 20 Richard Capstick, 21 Tom Cairns, 22 Ben Hammersley, 23 Campbell Ridl

Bristol Bears: 15. Louis Rees-Zammit; 14. Noah Heward, 13. Matias Moroni, 12. Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 11. Kalaveti Ravouvou; 10. Tom Jordan, 9. Harry Randall; 1. Ellis Genge, 2. Gabriel Oghre, 3. George Kloska, 4. Pedro Rubiolo, 5. Joe Batley, 6. Steven Luatua, 7. Fitz Harding (c), 8. Viliame Mata.

Replacements: 16. Harry Thacker, 17. Max Lahiff, 18. Jimmy Halliwell, 19. Joe Owen, 20. Santiago Grondona, 21. Kieran Marmion, 22. James Williams, 23. Gabriel Ibitoye.