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Post-exodus Exeter name radically changed 39-man double team for Bristol
By Ian Cameron
Exeter Chiefs have named a 39-man squad to play Bristol Bears in a pre-season match that will feature two separate starting teams and a shared bench.
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It’s the first game they will play since the exit of Sam and Joe Simmonds, Jack Nowell, Dave Ewers, Jannes Kirsten, Harry Williams and the retirement of Scotland fullback Stuart Hogg.
Summer arrivals Ehren Painter, Matt Poslethwaite and Ethan Roots will make their first starts for Exeter.
“It feels very much like a start of an adventure in a lot of ways, I’m looking forward to watching the game, and I’m also looking forward to re-watching the game and assessing where the individual players are and getting the opportunity as a group of coaches to sit down and work with them to talk about where we can go forward,” said director of rugby Rob Baxter.
“I’m really excited about it, more excited about it than I have been in a little while, certainly in a different way.”
“I’ll say to the lads on Friday that there will be some of them sat in the changing room, who will be some of the people who will lift Exeter’s next major trophy and that’s the opportunity you get, that should be incredibly exciting for all of them.”
The team will feature a number of former internationals, not least former England centre Ollie Devoto, Ireland centre Rory Rory McLoughlin and Wallabies prop Scot Sio. Henry Slade, who was not picked by Steve Borthwick for the Rugby World Cup, is not listed in the 39-man matchday squad.
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“One with we have spent a huge amount of time on is our set piece, in the last couple of seasons one thing that has been a traditional strength for us has not been a strength, if anything it has been something that has broken up our game.
FIRST HALF: 15. Josh Hodge, 14. Ben Hammersley, 13. Tom Hendrickson, 12. Ollie Devoto, 11. Tom Wyatt, 10. Harvey Skinner, 9. Tom Cairns, 1. Scott Sio, 2. Tom Yeandle, 3. Ehren Painter, 4. Matt Postelwaite, 5. Lewis Pearson, 6. Ethan Roots, 7. Richard Capstick. 8. Greg Fisilau
SECOND HALF: 15. Charlie McCaig, 14. Cian Gentry, 13. Rory McLoughlin, 12. Chester Ribbons, 11. Arthur Relton, 10. Will Haydon-Wood, 9. Will Becconsall, 1. Billy Keast, 2. Max Norey, 3. Patrick Schickerling, 4. Jack Dunne, 5. Ross Tuima, 6. Aidon Davis, 7. Jacques Vermeulen, 8. Ross Vintcent
REPLACEMENTS: 16. James Kenny 17. Oli Burrows 18. Marcus Street 19. Alfie Bell 20. Junior Kpoku 21. Joe Bailey 22. Kane James 23. Joe Snow 24. Kofi Barton-byfield
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Go Chiefs!