Team news: Baxter names Chiefs for pre-New Year trip to Ashton Gate

Rob Baxter has made eight changes to his starting line-up for Chiefs’ Gallagher Premiership Round Ten trip to Ashton Gate to take on Bristol Bears Friday, December 29.

Underneath the Friday night floodlights, Nika Abuladze will start alongside Dan Frost and Josh Iosefa-Scott in the front row. Rusi Tuima returns to the start line-up alongside the evening’s captain, Dafydd Jenkins in the second row.

Ethan Roots and Greg Fisilau remain in place in the back row while youngster Ross Vintcent is brough into the starting XV as Jacques Vermeulen moves to the bench to accommodate the switch.

Stu Towsend starts at scrum half alongside Harvey Skinner at fly half. Ollie Devoto starts alongside Henry Slade in the centre pairing for a second consecutive week.

There is then some juggling of position in the back three as Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Olly Woodburn return to the line-up on the wings and Ben Hammersley slots into the fullback berth.

Director of Rugby Rob Baxter is looking for his squad to continue with the positive and hard-working attitude they have brought to recent fixtures as they head to Ashton Gate to take on the Bears in front of a large crowd for the last fixture of 2023 for both teams.

“We’re really looking forward to it. When you’re on a bit of form then the days and the weeks go by quickly, so we’re ready to get into things. Hopefully we’ll maintain our recent momentum and go up there to play well in front of a great crowd and what should be a great atmosphere.”

“We’re expecting them to be preparing to put on a big show in front of a home crowd. That hopefully will bring the best out of us to be competitive and hopefully the crowd will bring us energy as well.”

“We’re ticking along ok. We’re on a decent bit of form, the lads are turning up week-in, week-out and I can’t ask them to do much more than that. Conditions for tomorrow we aren’t quite sure of, but we’ll go up there and get on with things. We’ll give it our best shot and just focus on ourselves to see what we can turn our way.”

The replacement front row on the bench boasts youth alongside experience as Max Norey at hooker is joined by props Alec Hepburn and Marcus Street.

Lewis Pearson joins Vermeulen as the cover options for the second and back row.

The backline is covered by Tom Cairns, Joe Hawkins and Zack Wimbush – fresh from his Premiership debut in last weekend’s storing victory over Leicester Tigers at Sandy Park.

Exeter Chiefs:

15 Ben Hammersley

14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso

13 Henry Slade

12 Ollie Devoto

11 Olly Woodburn

10 Harvey Skinner

9 Stu Townsend

1 Nika Abuladze

2 Dan Frost

3 Josh Iosefa-Scott

4 Rusi Tuima

5 Dafydd Jenkins (c)

6 Ethan Roots

7 Ross Vintcent

8 Greg Fisilau

Replacements:

16 Max Norey

17 Alec Hepburn

18 Marcus Street

19 Lewis Pearson

20 Jacques Vermeulen

21 Tom Cairns

22 Joe Hawkins

23 Zack Wimbush