Chiefs side to face Tigers

By Mark Stevens

Triumphant in the LV= Cup Final last weekend, Exeter Chiefs assistant coach Ali Hepher insists his side will have to replicate their efforts again over the remainder of the Aviva Premiership season.

With just six league fixtures remaining for the Devon club, the need to get themselves back amongst the division's top six clubs has taken on extra relevance in the light of their latest success story.

Buoyed by their 15-8 win over Northampton Saints in the Anglo-Welsh showpiece last Sunday, the Chiefs now travel to Leicester Tigers this weekend determined to build on the euphoria that surrounded that success.

Currently positioned eighth in the Premiership standings, the Chiefs are seven points adrift of Sale Sharks, who occupy the final berth in the all-important top six.

Hepher knows that the time has come for the Chiefs to crank up the gears and drive themselves back into contention following a recent sticky period in the top flight.

"We always knew the fixture schedule was going to be tough, but we've had a good few weeks playing at an intensive level of rugby and it has prepared us really well for the weekend," said Hepher. "Obviously [going to Leicester] is going to be a tough ask, but we're in good form; we're winning and the ground are firming up, so hopefully we can attack the game as we want to."

Last weekend's victory over a star-studded Saints side not only guaranteed a first piece of major silverware for Exeter, but it extended their latest winning streak to three games having previously netted wins against London Irish (league) and Bath (LV= Cup).

"Last week's win was not only great for the club, but it's great for the whole area and especially great for the players. They've put in a lot of effort this season and they've had some tough times, but they they've battled through it.

"As a team we always knew that we would, despite all those close losses, but in some ways they were were important learning tools for us. We learnt a lot from that period and coming out of it we've produced two top quality Cup performances - and now we need to take that into the league because the reality is every week is going to be a Cup Final for us.

"What we have to do following on from last Sunday is kick on and get some points in the league and get ourselves moving back up the table."

However, standing in the way of Hepher and the Chiefs this time round are a Tigers side who, even without their plethora of international names, have quietly gone about their business recording a number of notable victories to keep them firmly in the play-off picture.

English rugby's most decorated side are well versed in dealing with trophy success and they'll pose more than a passing threat to the newly-crowned Chiefs.

"You don't have to look far to see the quality they have," warned Hepher. "They have threats all over the place. They are a tough side, especially at home, but it's a great challenge for us. It's something we have got excited about before and I've no doubt we'll get excited about this weekend as well.

"As I said, we've got to pick up as many points as we can to put pressure on those sides above us. Ultimately it's out of our hands in some respects, but what we can control is our level of performance and the quality we put out on the pitch. Last weekend it was real top quality stuff, especially in defence where we really cranked it up, so it's important we continue that again on Sunday, as well as bringing in our attacking game also."

Although victorious last time out, head coach Rob Baxter has been forced to tinker with his winning formula. Up front try-scoring hooker Chris Whitehead misses out on facing his former club due to a neck injury, so Jack Yeandle returns to the Exeter front-row alongside props Hoani Tui and Ben Moon.

Behind, the Chiefs are also bolstered by the return of Irishman Ian Whitten in the centre and England winger Jack Nowell (pictured), who returns for the first time having played in all five Six Nations games for Stuart Lancaster's side. The men who miss out are Jason Shoemark and Matt Jess, the latter of whom drops down to the bench.

Joining Jess waiting in the wings will be Exeter's other England ace, flanker Tom Johnson, who like Nowell featured in the recent wins over Wales and Italy.

CHIEFS SIDE TO FACE LEICESTER TIGERS

15 Luke Arscott
14 Jack Nowell
13 Ian Whitten
12 Phil Dollman
11 Fetu'u Vainikolo
10 Henry Slade
9 Dave Lewis
1 Ben Moon
2 Jack Yeandle
3 Hoani Tui
4 Dean Mumm (capt)
5 Damian Welch
6 Dave Ewers
7 Ben White
8 Kai Horstmann

16 Luke Cowan-Dickie
17 Carl Rimmer
18 Alex Brown
19 Don Armand
20 Tom Johnson
21 Haydn Thomas
22 Gareth Steenson
23 Matt Jess