Chiefs Name Side for Return to Premiership Action at The Rec

November 29, 2024
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Ultimate Rugby

Exeter Chiefs have named their side for the return of the Gallagher Premiership as they travel to the Recreation Ground to take on Bath Rugby in Round Seven on Saturday evening.

Following a dominant performance against Gloucester in the third round of the Premiership Rugby Cup – in which the Chiefs scored five tries in a bonus point win – the forward pack remains completely unchanged.

In the front row, Scott Sio starts at loosehead, Dan Frost at hooker and Marcus Street at tighthead prop.

Rusi Tuima and Richard Capstick partner in the second row with a back row of Ethan Roots on the blindside flank, Jacques Vermeulen on the openside and Greg Fisilau at number eight.

Henry Slade returns from international action with England to slot straight into the starting line-up. However, for the first time since April 2022, he will line-up at fly-half alongside Stu Townsend at scrum half.

Following impressive performances in cup competition, Will Rigg retains his starting shirt to partner Tamati Tua in the centre. There is another international return in the backline as Immanuel Feyi-Waboso comes onto the wing with Tommy Wyatt and Josh Hodge rounding out the back three.

Director of Rugby Rob Baxter believes his players have taken confidence from their Premiership Rugby Cup performances and that they should be ready to put their best foot forward in the league.

“The cup block and the results we’ve had has allowed the lads to play some good rugby, see what opportunities are there for them and has enabled them to use their own individual strengths. That’s what we’ve tried to harness and now we just need to see if we can maintain that as we head back into the Premiership.

“Bath have been playing very well. Obviously, they were finalists last year and they have built one of the form teams, one of the strongest squads in the Premiership. Johann [Van Graan] has done a fantastic job. You can tell he’s a very switched-on guy around how they produce their performances, and I’ve got a lot of respect for what he’s done there.

“It’s going to be a tough challenge for us but I think we need that now. This is what it should be about. After all, you’re in the Premiership to have tough games. It should be the best rugby you can play.

“I’m looking forward to it. The only messages I’m going to give the players is to get their heads up and just play. I don’t want them to be in the scenario where they think because it’s a Premiership game they have to play differently. There will be elements of it that will be a bit tougher but it’s still a game of rugby.”

There could be a Premiership debut for Jimmy Roots as he is named in the replacement front row alongside Jack Innard and Will Goodrick-Clarke. Franco Molina and Ross Vintcent return from Los Pumas and Azzurri camps to be named as replacements.

The backs are then covered by Will Becconsall, Will Haydon-Wood and Ben Hammersley.

Exeter Chiefs:

15 Josh Hodge

14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso

13 Tamati Tua

12 Will Rigg

11 Tommy Wyatt

10 Henry Slade

9 Stu Townsend

1 Scott Sio

2 Dan Frost

3 Marcus Street