Chiefs Women name side for Allianz PWR semi-final
Exeter Chiefs Women have named their side ahead of Sunday’s Allianz PWR semi-final, including a starting place for flanker Maisy Allen, who will collect her 50th club cap.
Allen, who has just completed her sports & exercise science degree at the University of Exeter, made her debut against Harlequins at the start of the 2021/22 season. She has scored 25 tries since then and earned a call-up to the Red Roses ahead of this season’s WXV1 campaign.
The 21-year-old has been enjoying the run-up to the semi-final: “It’s been really good energy here this week. Everyone is really sharp and really switched on. It’s not a nervous or stressed energy; it’s really calm and composed, but you have got the fun and buzz around before and after training. Everyone is really excited.”
Touted as a re-run of last year’s final at Kingsholm, Chiefs Women face a talented Gloucester-Hartpury side that has lost just one game in the regular season. This will be the third consecutive semi-final Chiefs have played in.
Allen added: “Our experience last year was a stressful one from the players’ and coaches’ perspective. But we have been doing this for almost 40 weeks now so why should we change how we behave this week? So, we are sticking to our processes and trying to stay relaxed.”
The Chiefs 23 to take on league leaders Gloucester-Hartpury sees the coaching team keep the faith with younger England qualified players with university students Connie Clarke and Katie Buchanan selected on the wing, and Naomi Brennan on the bench.
Changes from last week’s team include Alex Tessier moving to full-back and Merryn Doidge switching to outside centre in the place of Kanako Kobayashi, who picked up a head injury against Leicester Tigers Women.
This means Robyn Wilkins will start at fly-half while Rachel Johnson returns to the No 8 spot following her return from the Pacific Four Series.
Head coach Susie Appleby said: “Last year’s final was a big challenge in front of The Shed last year. The noise was unbelievable. It was a cauldron, and we need to be ready for that, as it’s going to be pretty warm again on Sunday.
“When you go away to the team that has topped the league, it’s a tough test but that’s the great thing about a knock-out game because that’s exactly what it is. You give it everything, and if you deserve to come out the other side then you do.
“We need to believe. We are repeated semi-finalist and finalists, therefore there has got to be belief in this squad that is not massively different from last season’s or the season before.
“We need to be ourselves, not to try to counteract Gloucester-Hartpury. Obviously, we respect them for who they are and what they bring, but we have to be Chiefs. We have to do what we are really good at and if we do that and we come out second best, we put our hands up and say, ‘Ok, we were beaten by the better team on the day,’ but I know if we are ourselves, we can beat them.”
Exeter Chiefs’ PWR Allianz Gallagher semi-final kicks off against Gloucester-Hartpury at 16:30.
Exeter Chiefs Women
15 Alex Tessier
14 Kate Buchanan
13 Merryn Doidge (vc)
12 Gabby Cantorna
11 Connie Clarke
10 Robyn Wilkins
9 Brooke Bradley
1 Hope Rogers
2 Emily Tuttosi
3 DaLeaka Menin
4 Linde van der Velden
5 Poppy Leitch (c)
6 Ebony Jefferies
7 Maisy Allen
8 Rachel Johnson
16 Cliodhna Moloney
17 Demi Swann
18 Lizzie Hanlon
19 Niamh Orchard
20 Maddie Feaunati
21 Harriet Millar-Mills
22 Taz Bricknell
23 Naomi Brennan