SUNDAY 19TH NOVEMBER
South West Derby – Exeter Chiefs vs Gloucester Rugby (15:00 KO, Sandy Park)
Closing out this weekend of derby matches, Exeter Chiefs host Gloucester Rugby for an enticing battle at Sandy Park. After starting their season with back-to-back matches, Gloucester have since lost three games on the bounce and have slipped down the league table to eighth. Exeter have had a better start than their South West rivals, with three wins and two losses, however, the Chiefs are also searching for a return to form.
Two of these Chiefs victories have been impressive landslide triumphs, against last season’s Premiership finalists. Exeter ran out a 43-0 win over Sale Sharks a fortnight ago, and also racked up a 65-10 thrashing of an internationally weakened Saracens side, with the latter match stands as the heaviest Premiership defeat in Sarries history. Looking at the line-up, and Henry Slade hopes to continue his return to hot form, as he battles against new-coming England hopeful, in Gloucester’s Seb Atkinson.
Exeter Chiefs Director of Rugby Rob Baxter has made five changes to his side, including an new-look front row of Scott Sio, Jack Yeandle and Ehren Painter. Scrum half Stu Townsend has been named on the bench, looking for his first Chiefs appearance of the season.
Rob Baxter said: “I think Gloucester will be disappointed with last week as they really had the momentum of the game at half time, and they almost looked like the team who were ready to cut loose. They will be smarting from it a little and will be wanting to respond.” The great thing when we play Gloucester is they bring a lot of travelling support, which’ll be a great atmosphere at Sandy Park.”
Gloucester Head Coach George Skivington makes just two changes in the Cherry and Whites side, with scrum half Micky Young set for his debut two weeks after arriving from Toulon. Louis Rees-Zammit starts on the wing, with the Welsh speedster replacing Jonny May, who has been cited and suspended following the match against Bath.
RUCK Prediction: Exeter Chiefs 22 – 18 Gloucester Rugby
EXETER CHIEFS
15. Tommy Wyatt 14. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso 13. Henry Slade 12. Joe Hawkins 11. Ben Hammersle 10. Harvey Skinner 9. Tom Cairn 1. Scott Sio 2. Jack Yeandle 3. Ehren Painter 4. Rusi Tuima 5. Dafydd Jenkins (c) 6. Ethan Roots 7. Jacques Vermeulen 8. Aidon Davis
16. Dan Frost 17. Nika Abuladze 18. Josh Iosefa-Scott 19. Lewis Pearson 20. Ross Vintcent 21. Stu Townsen 22. Will Haydon-Woo 23. Olly Woodburn
GLOUCESTER RUGBY
15. Santi Carreras 14. Louis Rees-Zammi 13. Chris Harris 12. Seb Atkinson 11. Ollie Thorley 10. George Barto 9. Micky Youn 1. Mayco Vivas 2. George McGuigan 3. Fraser Balmain 4. Freddie Clarke 5. Matias Alemanno 6. Albert Tuisue 7. Lewis Ludlow (C) 8. Jack Clement
16. Santi Socino 17. Harry Elrington 18. Ciaran Knight 19. Arthur Clarke 20. Freddie Thomas 21. Stephen Varney 22. Mark Atkinson 23. Louis Hillman-Cooper