Chiefs side to face Bristol Bears

By Mark Stevens
27/9/22

Exeter Chiefs coach Ricky Pellow has challenged his young side to go out and ‘lay down a marker’ when they kick-off their Premiership Rugby Cup campaign away to Bristol Bears tomorrow night (7:45pm).

The Chiefs will make the short trek up the M5 looking to build on what has been an encouraging start to the season for the Devonians, who have collected three wins from there in the Gallagher Premiership.

Equally, the Bears themselves have an equally impressive record and are level with their rivals at the summit of the table.

Tomorrow, however, both sides will change things up and it will be down to others within their respective squad to stake their claim, whilst at the same time look to secure a promising start to their domestic Cup campaign.

“I think as a group we’re all really excited about Wednesday night,” said skills coach Pellow. “With the A League not on the agenda this season, this competition offers a great opportunity for some of those young lads, including those out at loan clubs, to come in and pull on a Chiefs jersey.

“That is still a big thing for players and it’s a huge part of their development pathway. They need to experience what it’s like to play for the Chiefs in a competitive match and this competition offers them just that.

“Equally, it’s an opportunity for some of those senior players who are on the fringe of first team selection to also go out and lay down a marker. We’ve seen over the years how guys who have played in this competition and who have done well, then get a chance in the Premiership or Europe and go on to really contribute that way.”

Standing in the way of the Chiefs will be a Bears outfit who, like their rivals, are also blending youth an experience together for their opening fixture in the competition.

“Whenever you go to Bristol you know you’re going to be in for a tough match,” warned Pellow. “It’s a local derby, there will be lots or pride and passion, but there are also points to be won.

“Bristol, we know, like to play with ball in hand and attack from anywhere on the field. What we have to do is make sure we combat their threats as best we can, whilst at the same time imposing our own game on them.

“Training this week has been good and the boys look like they are ready to go up there and put in a big performance, which is all we can ask of them.”

Hooker Jack Innard will lead the Chiefs into battle and he will be joined in the front-row by Josh Iosefa-Scott and debutant Fin Richardson. Behind them, Lewis Pearson and Cory Teague form the second-row pairing, whilst in the back-row No.8 Rus Tuima is joined by University of Exeter duo Ollie Leatherbarrow and Ross Vintcent, the latter of whom is captain of Italy’s Under-20s.

Behind the scrum, Sam Maunder - fresh from helping the Chiefs defeat Harlequins at the weekend - teams up with Will Becconsall at half-back, whilst in the centre there is plenty of thrust from the experienced Solomone Kata and Sean O’Brien.

Completing the Chiefs starting line-up, Facundo Cordero, Arthur Relton and Dan John provide a lively, pacy and attacking back three combination.