Premiership semi-final: Exeter Chiefs vs Northampton Saints composite XV
In the second of the Gallagher Premiership semi-finals, table-toppers Exeter Chiefs take on fourth-placed Northampton Saints at Sandy Park, in an exact rematch of their Round 22 fixture just a week before.
Exeter emerged victorious that day, 40-21, but the game was tied at half time, as well as Northampton enjoying two separate leads early on in the game, which will have given the side from the East Midlands hope that they have discovered the blueprint to upsetting the Chiefs.
We have compiled a composite XV from the two sides named for Saturday’s fixture and representation certainly skews one way.
- Jack Nowell, Exeter Chiefs
To lose Santiago Cordero for a game of this magnitude is a shame, although Nowell is more than competent in the 15 jersey. His industry, footwork and ability to exploit any gaps in the defence just give him the edge over Ahsee Tuala here.
- Alex Cuthbert, Exeter Chiefs
Tom Collins is in good form and there’s not too much in this one, but Cuthbert has the experience and will bring some much-needed physicality to try and slow down Taqele Naiyaravoro. Cuthbert has had a solid debut season in the south-west and a standout performance in the playoffs would go a long way to securing his spot in the back three alongside the incoming Stuart Hogg next season.
- Henry Slade, Exeter Chiefs
Rory Hutchinson has been one of the breakout players of the season and his work in the Northampton back line should not go underestimated. Slade, though, has been playing at that level for a number of seasons now and as well as he plays for England, it always seems as if he finds an extra gear when he dons an Exeter jersey.
- Ollie Devoto, Exeter Chiefs
Another tough call, with Piers Francis probably getting this spot in 50% of people’s selections. We have gone with Devoto based the extra physicality he brings to the position, with the former Bath man more than capable of straightening the line and tying in defenders, as well as playing an expansive game through his distribution.
- Taqele Naiyaravoro, Northampton Saints
This selection comes with a bit of a caveat and that’s that Northampton don’t cough up the same possession advantage on Saturday as they did in Round 22. If Naiayravoro has the ball in his hands, he will be able to run rampant through Exeter, just as he has done against plenty of other teams, but if Exeter are holding onto the ball and the likes of Nowell, Cuthbert and Slade are able to turn the Wallaby, Chiefs could be in line for a fair bit of success of their own.
- Dan Biggar, Northampton Saints
The Welsh international didn’t come cheap for Saints, but his performances this year at the heart of a more ambitious attack under the tutelage of Chris Boyd, have been pivotal to the club’s rise up the table. In addition to that, if Northampton are able to stay out of penalty trouble at the breakdown and keep clean at the set-piece, he’ll be able to make sure they are playing their rugby in the right areas of the pitch.
- Cobus Reinach, Northampton Saints
The South African was unlucky to be pipped to the player of the season award by Danny Cipriani, but there is no doubt that he has been the standout scrum-half in the competition this season. His forays around the fringes, defensive reads and intercepts, and general tempo of his game have been the spark plug of Saints’ offensive resurgence.
- Ben Moon, Exeter Chiefs
If Exeter’s set-piece goes well, they tend to go well as a team, and Moon is critical to that. He will fancy his chances of getting an edge on Ehren Painter at the scrum and he is always a willing and energetic defender in Exeter’s patient style.
- Jack Yeandle, Exeter Chiefs
Yeandle is the epitome of consistency for Exeter and his performances rarely get the credit they deserve, with teammate Luke Cowan-Dickie England’s preferred option of the two. Similar to Moon, he can keep Exeter’s set-piece ticking over nicely and allow them to utilise their very effective driving maul.
- Harry Williams, Exeter Chiefs
Despite Painter being a player of considerable promise, Williams is ingrained as England’s second or third option at tighthead and that disparity in experience could show up at Sandy Park on Saturday. Williams will bolster that Exeter set-piece and had a strong outing against Alex Waller in the match last weekend.
- Dave Dennis, Exeter Chiefs
The Australian is another who flies under the radar at Exeter, but whose all-round performances are at the heart of the club’s success. He will bring positive impact at the set-piece, breakdown, with his defensive work rate and he can make gains as a ball-carrier, if required.
- Jonny Hill, Exeter Chiefs
Hill has been unlucky to come along at a time when England’s second row options are particularly stacked, otherwise his form in the south-west would likely have seen him win a number of caps by now. His well-rounded game is unlikely to leave any obvious chinks in his armour for Northampton to attack on Saturday.
- Courtney Lawes, Northampton Saints
This is a lonely pack for Northampton players and that probably tells you where and how Exeter will attempt to win this game. Lawes, however, gives Northampton a valuable weapon in their attempt to disrupt Exeter’s famed lineout and driving maul. There are few, if any better defensive lineout jumpers in England than Lawes and if he’s at his predatory best on Saturday, Saints could derail Exeter.
- Don Armand, Exeter Chiefs
Lewis Ludlam, like Hutchinson, has had a breakout campaign and the young openside even made our Premiership XV of the season. Overall, you’d still err towards Armand as the more influential player, but Ludlam’s rise this season has seen that gap diminish significantly and he could be a swing factor in this game, despite Armand’s obvious all-round class.
- Matt Kvesic, Exeter Chiefs
He won’t carry as explosively as Teimana Harrison, but his breakdown work is as good as you’ll see in the Premiership. Kvesic and Harrison aren’t too dissimilar as versatile back rowers, with Kvesic edging it at the contact area and Harrison shading it as a carrier, so this one has simply gone down to form, which the Exeter man has a narrow lead on.
Watch: Former Highlanders coach Tony Brown tipped to return to the franchise
Comments on RugbyPass
“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
3 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
2 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
3 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to comments