Team news: Kobayashi returns for PWR clash at the StoneX

Exeter Chiefs Women have brought in Japan international centre Kanako Kobayashi to take on Saracens tomorrow as the team’s injury list continues to mount.

Last weekend’s game saw centre Alex Tessier suffer a facial fracture to add to a list that already features Maisy Allen (ankle), Gabby Cantorna (ankle), Flo Long (back), Edel McMahon (hamstring), Cliodhna Moloney (calf), Mikiela Nelson (knee) and Taylor Perry (hamstring).

Kobayashi has been playing for Exeter Athletic while waiting for her chance to play for Chiefs. She has had two stints at the PWR club, making 29 appearances and scoring eight tries since September 2021.

Head coach Susie Appleby said: “Kanako has not featured much this season but because of our midfield injuries, she has come back in. Her skillset is unbelievable, and she is just a wonderful person. When we told her she would be playing on Tuesday, she was crying…the whole room was crying and cheering, which is a testimony to how special she is as a person. I am hoping we can get a couple of good games into her to send her off on her World Cup aspirations.”

There is good injury news though with the return of Canadian prop DaLeaka Menin, who suffered concussion in the first minute of the game against Harlequins. Flanker Emily Robinson will also get her first start after recovering from an ankle injury after winning three turnovers in just 30 minutes from the bench last weekend.

Meanwhile, her sister Flo made the most line breaks against Bristol, made 73 carry metres and scored a try. She was also voted Player of the Day by Exeter Chiefs Women’s fans.

Appleby added: “Flo is doing a really brilliant job and it’s definitely been noticed by England, so there will be inclusion in camps at the very least, but I am nudging them to cap her, but why wouldn’t they? She’s a standout nine. I am just really pleased that she came back here having not played a lot at Quins but has shown a really good version of who she really is.”

Chiefs go into Saturday’s game in fifth place, three points behind fourth-placed Bristol Bears. Bristol head to Twickenham Stoop tonight as Harlequins battle for a home-tie in the semi-finals. However, whatever the result against Saracens, Chiefs have a game in hand over Bears and will head to Mattioli Woods Welford Road to play Leicester Tigers Women in the final round of the regular season under the Friday night lights.

Appleby continued: “It’s survival of the fitness at this stage but, and this is the biggest but, we want to perform. We have let ourselves down at key moments recently; these two games are all about performance. If we perform like we are capable of, like we did for 70 minutes against Quins, then things start to take care of themselves.

“You’ve got two really good sides going at it tomorrow. We’ve had some disappointing results but that does not take away from the fact that we’ve got some amazing players and we’re a good side. We are ready to give it our best shot.”

Exeter Chiefs Women’s PWR game against Saracens Women will kick off at 17:30 tomorrow. If you cannot make it to the StoneX, the game is being streamed on YouTube.

Exeter Chiefs Women

15 Merryn Doidge
14 Claudia MacDonald
13 Kanako Kobayashi
12 Nancy McGillivray
11 Katie Buchanan
10 Liv McGoverne
9 Flo Robinson (vc)
1 Hope Rogers
2 Emily Tuttosi
3 DaLeaka Menin
4 Poppy Leitch (c)
5 Linde van der Velden
6 Maddie Feaunati
7 Emily Robinson
8 Rachel Johnson

16 Clara Nielson
17 Demi Swann
18 Charli Jacoby
19 Dorothy Wall
20 Niamh Orchard
21 Taz Bricknell
22 Sabrina Poulin
23 Georgina Tasker