Chiefs side to face Saracens
By Mark Stevens
21/10/22
Two of English Rugby’s biggest tribes will ‘go to war’ again this weekend in what will be a mouth-watering Gallagher Premiership encounter at Sandy Park tomorrow (3pm).
It’s fair to say that over the years Exeter Chiefs and Saracens have enjoyed a rivalry of varying sorts.
Premiership Finals, Salary Cap scandals and just traditional rivalries have all helped create a potent pre-game mix that ensures this remains one of the most eagerly anticipated clashes on the domestic calendar.
This weekend Rob Baxter’s Chiefs will welcome the unbeaten league leaders to Devon for Round Seven of the competition, which in recent weeks has lost two of his competitors in the form of Worcester Warriors and Wasps.
The latter of those two teams were due to run out at Sandy Park last weekend, but following the announcement that they were set to go into administration that game was cancelled and the Chiefs were forced to hastily arrange a friendly fixture with near neighbours, Bristol Bears.
Over 6,000 supporters turned out for the match, which provided a healthy spectacle in an otherwise difficult week for the English game.
Tomorrow, however, expect a much different kind of encounter as two of England’s heavyweight clubs collide in the pursuit of league points.
“This is a game we all look forward to,” said Baxter, the Chiefs’ Director of Rugby earlier this week. “It’s obviously got a bit of history around it, what with us facing each other in Premiership finals and the salary cap stuff, but it’s still a big game for both clubs. As a league, these are the fixtures you want to see. You want every game to be a big occasion and attractive for not just the people to watch, but also the TV broadcasters and the sponsors as well.
“Any time you come up against Saracens, you know it’s going to be a challenge. Over the years we’ve had some great battles with them, particularly here at Sandy Park, and I’ve no doubt this weekend will be much the same. For us to win, though, you know you have to be on your game and get a lot of what I would call the ‘bread and butter’ around your game spot on.
“Everyone knows Saracens are probably the team most renowned for creating pressure and keeping it on teams for long periods of the game. This year they seemed to have added a bit more to their game in terms of offloading, but they are still very good at the basics and doing what they need to keep pressure on you as an opposition.”
Certainly, early season form indicates that the Londoners are going about their business well, particularly in the wake of them losing last season’s Premiership final in the dying embers to Leicester Tigers. Five bonus point victories from as many games has given them the perfect start to the campaign, but Baxter believes his side can provide them with the ‘acid test’ tomorrow.
“There are things they do in their game which are very good, but equally we are adding strings to our bow all the time,” he added. “We’ve had a decent start to the season ourselves and we’ll be looking to build on that again this weekend. Yes, it was frustrating not being able to build on the Bristol game against Wasps, but that’s where we are at this moment in time.
“What the last few years has shown us is that rugby players are pretty resilient these days and they kind of just get on with things if they have to. I have to say a huge thanks to Pat Lam and Bristol for stepping in last week and - even at the last minute - being willing to adjust to whatever scenario arose.
“What could have been a very negative weekend, actually turned out to be the total opposite. Not only did we have a good game of rugby to put on, but around the ground the whole atmosphere was fantastic. Those senior boys who weren’t featuring did a lot around the stadium and in the corporate areas; the fans really enjoyed themselves; and overall we had a great rugby occasion.”
Now, the Chiefs faithful will be hoping for more of the same from their team, who have already clocked up home wins against Leicester Tigers and Harlequins in their opening two fixtures at Sandy Park.
Team news for the Chiefs sees Baxter go with a fully-loaded line-up, which will be spearheaded by English international Luke Cowan-Dickie, who skippers the side from hooker. He is joined in the front-row by Alec Hepburn and Harry Williams; whilst behind them there is plenty of bulk in the form of Ruben Van Heerden, Jonny Gray, Dave Ewers, Christ Tshiunza and Jacques Vermeulen.
Jack Maunder will continue at scrum-half alongside fellow half-back Harvey Skinner, while in the centre the experienced Ian Whitten and Henry Slade team up together once more. The back three is completed with wingers Olly Woodburn and Jack Nowell with Stuart Hogg at full-back.
