Hogg left out as Exeter name team to take on a stacked Leicester
Rob Baxter has had no hesitation slotting England internationals Henry Slade and Sam Simmonds straight back into his Exeter team following the completion of the Guinness Six Nations last weekend, but there is no return for Scotland pair Stuart Hogg and Sam Skinner following their country’s round five loss to Ireland.
Jonny Gray, a starter in Dublin last Saturday, is included in the Chiefs XV to host Leicester on Sunday in the Gallagher Premiership. The Tigers are travelling with their England contingent of Ellis Genge, Ollie Chessum, Ben Youngs and Freddie Steward all set to start, as does Joe Heyes with Nic Dolly on the bench.
However, it’s the resting of Scottish skipper Hogg by Exeter that most piques the interest after the way the Test level captain’s Six Nations campaign unravelled. Hogg was one of six players disciplined by Scotland boss Gregor Townsend after they left the team hotel in Edinburgh to go for a drink on the Sunday after the round four win over Italy.
This revelation emerged just 24 hours before the kick-off at Aviva Stadium and the full-back was distinctly uncomfortable when talking about the incident post-game. The 29-year-old explained that he had apologised for his actions but it has been much speculated since then that Hogg could well lose the captaincy when Scotland assemble at the end of the season for their three-Test trip to Argentina.
Despite deciding to rest him this Sunday’s Exeter match, Baxter had backed Hogg when asked on Thursday at his weekly media briefing for his view on the controversy that unfolded with Scotland. “People are trying to make out there has been a clear breach of team rules – there has not been,” he said.
“There was a little bit of ambiguity over what was supposed to happen when he got back to the hotel. That ambiguity was cleared up with a phone call asking the guys to come back. It was one of those things – sometimes it can happen – but it all got cleared up very quickly, almost within minutes of the incident.
“It’s not like anyone has gone out and got drunk and got into a fight or come back at six o’clock in the morning or missed training, so I can probably understand why the Scottish people involved are a little frustrated that this has been a big issue because it clearly hasn’t been.”
Friday’s Exeter team announcement media release stated: “Baxter wastes little time in drafting back the England duo of Sam Simmonds and Henry Slade to his starting line-up, while Scottish international Jonny Gray is also in from the start against the Tigers. Fellow Scots Sam Skinner and Stuart Hogg are rested this week, but could well return for next week’s home engagement with local rivals Bath.”
EXETER: 15. Josh Hodge; 14. Olly Woodburn, 13. Henry Slade, 12. Ian Whitten, 11. Tom O’Flaherty; 10. Joe Simmonds (capt), 9. Sam Maunder; 1. Alec Hepburn, 2. Jack Innard, 3. Harry Williams, 4. Richard Capstick, 5. Jonny Gray, 6. Dave Ewers, 7. Jacques Vermeulen, 8. Sam Simmonds. Reps: 16. Jack Yeandle, 17. Billy Keast, 18. Patrick Schickerling, 19. Will Witty, 20. Santiago Grondona, 21. Jack Maunder, 22. Harvey Skinner, 23. Facundo Cordero.
LEICESTER: 15. Freddie Steward; 14. Chris Ashton, 13. Guy Porter, 12. Dan Kelly, 11. Nemani Nadolo, 10. George Ford, 9. Ben Youngs; 1. Ellis Genge, 2. Julian Montoya, 3. Joe Heyes, 4. Harry Wells, 5. Eli Snyman, 6. Ollie Chessum, 7. Hanro Liebenberg, 8. Jasper Wiese. Reps: 16. Nic Dolly, 17. James Whitcombe, 18. Nephi Leatigaga, 19. Calum Green, 20. Tommy Reffell, 21. Jack van Poortvliet, 22. Freddie Burns, 23. Matias Moroni.
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“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.
24 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
4 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.
10 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…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 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)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments