Team News: Chiefs Name Side for Prem Cup Final

Exeter Chiefs host Bath Rugby this Sunday afternoon as the Premiership Rugby Cup Final takes place at Sandy Park.

The west-country rivals face off in a knockout game nearly a year after last season’s Investec Champions Cup Last 16 clash.

A strong second half at Kingston Park secured victory for Bath over Newcastle Falcons last Friday night while the Exeter men beat Championship side Ealing Trailfinders on Saturday afternoon to book their place as final hosts.

Scott Sio returns to start at loosehead with club captain Jack Yeandle leading the side at hooker and Josh Iosefa-Scott packing down with them from tighthead.

There is an international calibre second row as Argentina’s Franco Molina starts in partnership with Wales’ Christ Tshiunza. No changes are made to the back row as Ethan Roots, Jacques Vermeulen and Greg Fisilau all start.

Stu Townsend and Harvey Skinner both return to the starting line-up in the half-back slots with Joe Hawkins and Tamati Tua again selected as the starting centre pair.

Josh Hodge and Paul Brown-Bampoe bring pace to the wings with Tommy Wyatt at full back.

Coach Ricky Pellow, who has taken lead alongside Ross McMillan in this Premiership Rugby Cup block, is confident in his side’s abilities.

“With any final, there’s going to be emotion involved. Especially since we’re at home, in front of our own crowd which makes it super special. The players will get to play in front of the supporters as well as their family and friends, which does bring a little extra pressure.

“We’ve talked this week about ensuring we’re on our game and able to deal with the pressure properly. Getting our game plan in place and instilled in the players has been a big part of that.

“This Prem Cup block has given us the opportunity to look at our game and where we are as a squad. You can see now a group of players who want to play for one another and the way they’re trying to play the game is exciting.

“For this weekend, everyone that we want to select has been available so we’ve picked from the same squad we’ve had throughout the group stages. We picked a strong base group as a home final with the opportunity for silverware is something we were always aiming for and that’s been reflected in our selection.

“For the guys that have been playing well, it’s only fair. These boys have been fighting, for selection and in games, so they deserve to be playing in this final.”

Dan Frost, Kwenzo Blose and Marcus Street form the replacement front row with Lewis Pearson and Richard Capstick covering the back five of the scrum.

Tom Cairns and Will Haydon-Wood join the newly re-signed Will Rigg in covering the backline.

Exeter Chiefs:

15 Tommy Wyatt

14 Paul Brown-Bampoe

13 Joe Hawkins

12 Tamati Tua

11 Josh Hodge

10 Harvey Skinner

9 Stu Townsend

1 Scott Sio

2 Jack Yeandle (c)

3 Josh Iosefa-Scott

4 Franco Molina

5 Christ Tshiunza

6 Ethan Roots

7 Jacques Vermeulen

8 Greg Fisilau

Replacements:

16 Dan Frost

17 Kwenzo Blose

18 Marcus Street

19 Lewis Pearson

20 Richard Capstick

21 Tom Cairns

22 Will Haydon-Wood

23 Will Rigg