Team News: Chiefs Name Side for Ealing Semi-Final Clash

Exeter Chiefs will take on Ealing Trailfinders for the very first time in this Saturday’s Premiership Rugby Cup semi-final at Sandy Park.

Rob Baxter’s men booked the home advantage with a 50-14 win over Sale Sharks last weekend in Devon while a confident Trailfinders side clinched their semi-final spot with a win over Northampton Saints on the road.

The front row has the first change for Chiefs as Kwenzo Blose comes in to start at loosehead. Jack Yeandle captains the side from hooker a week on from his 300th appearance and Josh Iosefa-Scott, who this week announced his re-signing, packs down at tighthead.

With Dafydd Jenkins away on international duty, Richard Capstick comes into the second row alongside Christ Tshiunza. The back row of Ethan Roots, Jacques Vermeulen and Greg Fisilau is untouched.

Tom Cairns takes the number nine shirt as Ben Coen retains his fly-half spot having made his club debut in the quarter-final.

The remainder of the backline features no changes – Tamati Tua and Joe Hawkins start in the centres, Josh Hodge and Paul Brown-Bampoe on the wings with Tommy Wyatt at full back.

Director of Rugby Rob Baxter is aware of the threat Ealing can pose in this knockout match.

“If you watch some of their games this season against Premiership sides, then it’s clear that they are going to be a tough challenge. Probably the biggest thing for us to deal with this week has been getting our mentality right.

“Our challenge will be getting out there and going flat out. Northampton possibly got things slightly wrong last weekend, and that gave Ealing momentum to get into the game which they then completely exploited.

“We’re very aware we’ve got to be good mentally and physically to make sure we use the home advantage to get the result we want.”

Hooker Dan Frost with props Billy Keast and Marcus Street form the replacement front row. Martin Moloney comes into the matchday squad to cover the back five of the scrum alongside Franco Molina.

Niall Armstrong and Harvey Skinner are the bench half-back duo with Will Rigg rounding out the 23.

Exeter Chiefs:

15 Tommy Wyatt

14 Paul Brown-Bampoe

13 Joe Hawkins

12 Tamati Tua

11 Josh Hodge

10 Ben Coen

9 Tom Cairns

1 Kwenzo Blose

2 Jack Yeandle (c)

3 Josh Iosefa-Scott

4 Richard Capstick

5 Christ Tshiunza

6 Ethan Roots

7 Jacques Vermeulen

8 Greg Fisilau

Replacements:

16 Dan Frost

17 Billy Keast

18 Marcus Street

19 Franco Molina

20 Martin Moloney

21 Niall Armstrong

22 Harvey Skinner

23 Will Rigg