Team news: Feaunati back to start for Chiefs Women’s first visit to Ashton Gate

Exeter Chiefs Women’s flanker Maddie Feaunati will start Saturday’s PWR game against Bristol Bears as both sides fight it out for a place in the top four.

It will be Exeter Chiefs Women’s first visit to Ashton Gate but the second for Feaunati who has played for the Red Roses at Bristol’s bigger home ground.

Feaunati is one of just three changes in the starting line-up with Alexandra Tessier back at centre in the place of injured Gabby Cantorna, and Flo Long has replaced DaLeaka Menin, who suffered a concussion in the first minute of last weekend’s narrow loss to Quins.

On the bench, prop Charli Jacoby and Sabrina Poulin have come in to replace Long and Tessier.

This re-scheduled round nine match will see fourth placed Chiefs play the Bears, who are just two points behind in fifth place.

Last time out, Rachel Johnson made more dominant carries than any other player in the league with eight, plus 40 post-contact metres, and 17 tackles.

Tessier assisted three tries and PWR Player of the Week winger Claudia Macdonald beat more defenders (12) than any other player in round 16. She was also the only player who made five clean breaks.

Head coach Susie Appleby said: “There were lots of positives from the Quins game. The girls are really positive, so if we keep that going, we will make our own luck.

“We don’t like Shaftesbury Park, so we are really excited to be playing at Ashton Gate for the first time. Ashton Gate is not dissimilar, in terms of size of pitch, to Sandy Park and it’s grass not plastic. We’re really looking forward to it!

“As ever, our focus is on the team that’s in front of us particularly those very, very experienced players who can influence the game. Sarah Bern was on fire last weekend and Holly Aitchison is back and is a world-class player.

“Bristol will want to run the ball, but they have brought in more of a kicking game, so we need to make sure we are ready for that. Our possession against them last time was minimal so we need to make sure we get hold of the ball because that’s when we are really dangerous. It sounds simplistic, but if you can get hold of the ball and keep hold of it and minimise their possession and territory, then you give yourself a shot.”

Exeter Chiefs Women’s game against Bristol Bears will kick off at Ashton Gate at 12:15 on Saturday.