Team News: Chiefs Named for South African Clash

Exeter Chiefs have named their side for their 2024/25 Investec Champions Cup opener against Hollywoodbets Sharks in Durban on Saturday afternoon.

Chiefs, who were drawn in Pool One earlier this year, will play host to Stade Toulousain next weekend before confronting fixtures in the new year against Union Bordeaux-Begles at Sandy Park and Ulster Rugby at the Kingspan Stadium.

For this weekend’s Round One fixture, Rob Baxter has named a side which includes four men preparing to make their Investec Champions Cup debuts – Franco Molina, Tamati Tua, Jimmy Roots and Will Rigg.

The front row is an experienced one as Scott Sio – who has competed on South African soil before with the Wallabies – takes the loosehead shirt, Dan Frost packs down at hooker and Marcus Street at tighthead.

Richard Capstick and Los Pumas international Molina are named in the second row. The back row is a physical one with Ethan Roots and match captain Jacques Vermeulen on the flanks and Greg Fisilau at number eight

Scrum half Stu Towsend starts in the half-back berth with Will Haydon-Wood at fly-half as Henry Slade has a rest week following his Autumn Nations Series campaign with England Rugby.

Ben Hammersley pairs Tua in the centres with Tommy Wyatt, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Josh Hodge rounding out in the backline.

Director of Rugby Rob Baxter believes a tough challenge in the opening round could fuel his squad’s desire throughout the remaining pool stage matches.

“Starting our campaign out in South Africa might be one of the toughest ways to start but I think we saw the benefit of a start like this last season out in Toulon – a win really fired our whole campaign.

“When you’re away from home, the pressure on you is to get something from the game. It starts to create a good feeling for the rest of the competition. So, that’s our real challenge at the weekend – to play in a way that gets us the best opportunities. If we get something this weekend, then that keeps things very interesting for us next weekend against Toulouse.

“Sharks are a very good side with world-class individual players and that contributes massively to what they’re capable to achieve as a team. Looking across the pack and back line, you realise you’ve got to try to stop them everywhere.

“We’ve just got to try to create a game with movement and tempo that develops an uncomfortable environment for them. That’s really all we can do. Fluidity and movement with some good rugby being played is our best chance of challenging them.”

On the bench Jack Innard and Will Goodrick-Clarke – who previously played Investec Champions Cup rugby with London Irish – form the replacement front row with the younger Roots.

An international pairing of Wales’ Christ Tshiunza and Italy’s Ross Vintcent are then named to cover the remainder of the pack, ready to face-off against some of the men they have confronted in Springboks jerseys before.

Alongside Rigg, Will Becconsall and Harvey Skinner are named in the backs’ replacements – both of whom have experienced European clashes against the likes of DHL Stormers and Vodacom Bulls before.

Exeter Chiefs:

15 Josh Hodge

14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso

13 Ben Hammersley

12 Tamati Tua

11 Tommy Wyatt

10 Will Haydon-Wood

9 Stu Townsend

1 Scott Sio

2 Dan Frost

3 Marcus Street

4 Franco Molina

5 Richard Capstick

6 Ethan Roots

7 Jacques Vermeulen (c)

8 Greg Fisilau

Replacements:

16 Jack Innard

17 Will Goodrick-Clarke

18 Jimmy Roots

19 Christ Tshiunza

20 Ross Vintcent

21 Will Becconsall

22 Harvey Skinner

23 Will Rigg

Unavailable through injury: Jack Dunne, Dafydd Jenkins, Olly Woodburn