Team news: Chiefs Women make four changes ahead of Trailfinders’ visit

Exeter Chiefs Women’s coaching team have made four changes ahead of Trailfinders’ visit to Sandy Park tomorrow (KO 15:00).

Returning Canada WXV captain Alex Tessier will start the game alongside Nancy McGillivray in the centre, while in the front-row, prop Charli Jacoby and hooker Cli Moloney have been selected next to last week’s double try-scorer Mikiela Nelson. Lastly, Linde van der Velden returns to the second row.

Meanwhile, a bench featuring six internationals will look to make an impact with Hope Rogers, Dorothy Wall and Rachel Johnson in the mix following WXV duty.

Head coach Susie Appleby said: “We’re three games in and they have been pretty full-on games, especially for the younger players, so we are giving Niamh a rest this week. That gives a Doro a chance to slide in and for Linde to get some more minutes under her belt.

“In the backrow, they have been doing awesome, but again we’re conscious they have played five on the bounce effectively, so Rach is sliding back in as well to get her reintegrated.

“Cli is getting a start too, and Hope is coming back in. That is pretty massive; it’s an exciting bench!

“The backs remain the same apart from Tess having a start and Gabs coming off the bench after a full 80 last week off the back of tour.”

Appleby continued: “Everyone has been doing well but the ante has upped a bit and there are people we need to get back up and running. There’s loads of competition, which is a good thing.

“As we keep saying, it’s about how we reintegrate these players, how fluid we can remain, and how we can adjust things that we’ve not been very good at for the last few weeks. Our defence has got us out of a lot of sticky situations, but we need to be better with ball in hand.”

Chiefs go into round four with three wins on the bounce with defence still a key element of their game. Maisy Allen made more tackles in round three than any other player with 24 and missed none. Teammate Emily Robinson also made 21.

In the backs, Liv McGoverne made a round-high 547 metres with her kicks in play last weekend, including 42 metres from the only 50/22 of the round.