Chiefs side to face Saints
By Mark Stevens
17/5/19
Rob Baxter has challenged his Exeter Chiefs to show their worth ahead of tomorrow’s Gallagher Premiership encounter with Northampton Saints at Sandy Park (4pm).
Having used the past month to rest and rotate his various playing options, Devon’s finest will be at full-strength for this final encounter of the regular season.
Buoyed by the return of a number of key personnel, the Chiefs’ Director of Rugby says this Round 22 battle will offer the perfect test for his team ahead of next week’s much-anticipated semi-final showdown.
Just who the Chiefs will tackle in the last four remains up for grabs, but tomorrow’s visitors - who occupy the last berth - will be looking to not only ensure they are in the semi-final mix, but at the same become the only club this campaign to pull off a league double against Baxter’s men.
Northampton won the corresponding fixture up at Franklin’s Gardens back in December and the Chiefs leader insists that reverse, coupled with the fact that his side still need to lock down top spot for a consecutive season, will ensure minds are fully focused ahead of kick-off.
“It’s probably the first time in three or four weeks where we have been able to give the squad some real clarity on what we are expecting of them,” said Baxter. “We are going to pick our best, fit 23 for this game, and we’re expecting to see those players picked for the weekend get ready to play in a Premiership semi-final.
“Once we got that statement out of the way first thing on Monday, we haven’t talked a huge amount about Northampton outside of our normal preview and build-up to the game. That’s because what we are aware of is we have to hit this game flat out, not be thinking of semi-finals or whatever may happen down the line, but have a real focus on this game.
“Northampton beat us away from home earlier in the season and they are the only side who can do the double on us this season. For us, that’s a big pride issue. It’s also the last regular season game at home, where we’re playing in front of our supporters, so we want to put in one of those big Chiefs performance.
“Although we beat Harlequins last time here, we weren’t at our best.The time before that, we lost to Wasps, and we don’t like that happening at home. I think that has niggled us a bit and coupled with losing up at Northampton over the Christmas period, it has got us focused on this game and I am expecting to see us go flat out, fly out of the traps, and really go after Northampton from minute one.
“The fact it’s going to be a really competitive game - Northampton still have fourth place to fight for - is perfect for us. We want this to be a really competitive game because we want to really challenge ourselves and see the levels we can compete at coming into this last stage of the season.”
Whilst some believe tomorrow’s encounter offers the ideal pre-cursor for next week’s semi-final, Baxter is not quite so sure, adding: “It’s not a dress rehearsal for us as it’s not an all or nothing game for us. It is for Northampton, they know they have to come here and get a result, but I can try and dress it up a bit like that, but in reality it’s not for us.
“That said, we have faced some tough challenges before, against teams with plenty to play for, and we have shown our determination and our energy to come over the top of that. That’s our challenge this week and we have to show we want the game more than Northampton. As I said, it’s a fantastic opportunity for us to lock ourselves down at the right end of the season.”
With Baxter able to call upon a virtually fully-fit squad, the sight of Jack Nowell back at full-back, plus Sam Skinner and Sam Simmonds on the bench, is a welcome sight for the home side, who also include Don Armand, who will be making his 100th Premiership appearance for the club.
“Part of the reason we have manipulated the group we have over the past month is so that we have the group we have now,” explained Baxter. “Now what we have to decide is which of them have the right amount of game time in them to get them on the field now and see how things go.
“Watching training it looks like we have our largest, competitive training group we’ve had all season. Guys like Sam Simmonds and Sam Skinner are flying around, Santi Cordero is back pretty much where he needs to be. That’s a fantastic position to be in at this stage of the season, so full credit to the players for the way they have worked, but also to the medical and conditioning staff for their efforts as well.”
Tomorrow’s clash is a sell-out, Exeter’s 10th of the season so far. Supporters attending the game are asked to allow extra travel time due to the Devon County Show.
CHIEFS SIDE TO FACE NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
15 Jack Nowell
14 Alex Cuthbert
13 Henry Slade
12 Ollie Devoto
11 Olly Woodburn
10 Joe Simmonds
9 Nic White
1 Alec Hepburn
2 Jack Yeandle (capt)
3 Harry Williams
4 Dave Dennis
5 Jonny Hill
6 Dave Ewers
7 Don Armand
8 Matt Kvesic
16 Luke Cowan-Dickie
17 Ben Moon
18 Tomas Francis
19 Sam Skinner
20 Sam Simmonds
21 Jack Maunder
22 Gareth Steenson
23 Sam Hill