Tigers vs Exeter - Saturday 18th September 2021 - 1500

[RagingBull]

Exeter Chiefs: 15 Josh Hodge, 14 Jack Nowell, 13 Tom Hendrickson, 12 Ollie Devoto, 11 Tom O’Flaherty, 10 Joe Simmonds, 9 Jack Maunder; 1 Alec Hepburn, 2 Jack Innard, 3 Harry Williams, 4 Will Witty, 5 Sean Lonsdale, 6 Jannes Kirsten, 7 Don Armand, 8 Rus Tuima.

Replacements: 16 Jack Yeandle, 17 Ben Moon, 18 Sam Nixon, 19 Ryan McCauley, 20 Christ Tshiunza, 21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 22 Harvey Skinner, 23 Ian Whitten, 24 Jordan Poole, 25 Billy Keast, 26 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 27 Aaron Hinkley, 28 Will Yarnell, 29, Iwan Jenkins, 30 Sean O’Brien, 31 Facundo Cordero.

[kpj tiger]

Personally I think this is the best time for us to be playing Exeter, they're missing their English Lions stars at the very least, they've only played one pre-season game (and lost) and on top of that we'll have an extra couple days rest going into the game due to playing on Thursday evening. That being said Exeter are obviously good enough to get the win still

[Ashurstwoodtiger]

Last comments on game from Devon Live web site. Didn't read whole of report but was 12 all at half time. Maybe our fitness and match time will help next week. As the new in slogan goes "it is what it is" at least I think that how it goes

Defeat for Chiefs in their one and only pre-season game.

There were plenty of positives but Exeter are going to have to be considerably better next weekend against Leicester.

19-31

[kk20gb30]

Last comments on game from Devon Live web site. Didn't read whole of report but was 12 all at half time. Maybe our fitness and match time will help next week. As the new in slogan goes "it is what it is" at least I think that how it goes

Defeat for Chiefs in their one and only pre-season game.

There were plenty of positives but Exeter are going to have to be considerably better next weekend against Leicester.

19-31

(My Bold)

This does appear to be the general consensus amongst Exeter fans online ..... kind of ironic, both sets of supporters seemingly somewhat less than impressed and saying the same thing.Guess we shall see who improves the most...

[ABClub]

It's a good week to play Chiefs. With Simmonds not being in the EPS his rest period is 5 weeks not 10 so they could technically field Simmonds from next week, same with Hogg. Cowan-Dickie and Hill are EPS members so have longer rest periods. Gray, Ewers and Vermuelen are also unavailable due to injury. The back 5 of their scrum that is usually so strong will be stretched a bit.

1.Hepburn 2.Yeandle 3.Williams 4.Witty 5.Skinner 6.Kirsten 7.Armand 8.Tuima
9.Maunder 10.Simmonds 11.O'Flaherty 12.Devoto 13.Slade 14.Nowell 15.Hodge

16.Innard 17.Moon 18.Street 19.Lonsdale 20.Hinckley 21.Hidalgo-Clyne 22.Skinner 23.Whitten

They could still field something like that though which will still be very competitive. Aaron Hinckley is one to watch this season having regained full fitness. Rus Tuima is a big unit as well.

1.Genge (c) 2.Dolly 3.Cole 4.Wells 5.Henderson 6.Martin 7.Reffell 8.Liebenberg
9.JvP 10.Ford 11.Saumaki 12.Kelly 13.Scott 14.Potter 15.Steward

16.Youngs 17.Leatigaga 18.Heyes 19.Green/Snyman 20.Chessum 21.Youngs 22.Burns 23.Nadolo

I'd go for something such as that. Plenty of experience on the bench.

[Ian Cant]

Is Heyes also injured! Clare and Brink out for some considerable time but Chiefs, apart from the Lions’ players haven’t got any problems.
They did hold a strong Munster side to 12-12 until making wholesale changes at half time. Sarries also lost to Ulster so along with us didn’t show any form going into the season.
I’m hoping Montoya ( as he didn’t play much last season) will be back for Saints away but fear we will miss Wiese, Moroni, Van Staden, ( possibly rested until a November!)Clare, Wells and if injured, Reffel and Heyes against all opposition.
Hope the squad prove me wrong.

[ABClub]

Baxter has confirmed that Chiefs are missing the below first XV players for the Tigers game.

Luke Cowan-Dickie
Jonny Hill
Jonny Gray
Dave Ewers
Jacques Vermeulen
Sam Simmonds
Stuart Hogg

I think that Sam Skinner and Henry Slade are fit but just weren't selected for their warm-up game.

So it isn't a gigantic absentee list in terms of number of players but that is arguably their entire first choice 4-8 from last season all missing for this game. Given their second row and back row are usually a massive strength with depth from the bench meaning they remain as effective for 80 minutes it's a lot of key absentees.

[sam16111986]

Is Heyes also injured! Clare and Brink out for some considerable time but Chiefs, apart from the Lions’ players haven’t got any problems.
They did hold a strong Munster side to 12-12 until making wholesale changes at half time. Sarries also lost to Ulster so along with us didn’t show any form going into the season.
I’m hoping Montoya ( as he didn’t play much last season) will be back for Saints away but fear we will miss Wiese, Moroni, Van Staden, ( possibly rested until a November!)Clare, Wells and if injured, Reffel and Heyes against all opposition.
Hope the squad prove me wrong.

I've not heard any suggestion Heyes is injured. IIRC then Heyes played in the first two friendlies so he'd got his game time in and it was Leatigaga's turn against the Scarlets.

[Redstripeman]

Here we go again.. can't wait for this one. Lots of game time for players during pre-season. Still missing some big names like Montoya, Van Staden, Wiese and Moroni (all first choices for me) but we have far better strength in depth this year so I think we have every chance. Exeter missing a few key players too (Luke Cowan-Dickie, Jonny Hill and Sam Simmonds, Stuart Hogg).

Much like the suggestion by RB in a previous topic, I imagine we will go for something like this:

1. Genge
2. Youngs
3. Cole
4. Wells
5. Snyman
6. Martin
7. Reffell
8. Liebenberg

9. Youngs
10. Ford
11. Saumaki
12. Scott
13. Kelly
14. Potter/Nadolo
15. Steward


...would like to see Nadolo come inside as he is pretty much wasted out wide!!!
He either plays on the wing and comes in centrally to support in attack as he would give us the power and speed with the ability to offload in the tackle a skill not really used enough or we decide to play him in a central position and bring someone else in on the wing.
16. Dolly 17. Leatigaga 18. Heyes 19. Henderson 20. Chessum 21. JVP 22. Burns 23. Porter.

Hope we go for JvP on the bench and not Wigglesworth. Tough call on the wingers but I'd go for Saumaki and Potter but maybe Nadolo might feature.

Come on you Tigers!

[Noggs]

I'll go with a home loss

Ever the optimist

The first game of the season is always a difficult one to predict, particularly when it is against a team like the Chiefs, but we have a good playing squad and a home fixture giving us a reasonable chance of a win. I look forward to seeing SB's selection and watching what I expect to be a tight and entertaining game.

In the words of the late Bill, 'Keep the Faith'

[Chobbsy]

Here we go again.. can't wait for this one. Lots of game time for players during pre-season. Still missing some big names like Montoya, Van Staden, Wiese and Moroni (all first choices for me) but we have far better strength in depth this year so I think we have every chance. Exeter missing a few key players too (Luke Cowan-Dickie, Jonny Hill and Sam Simmonds, Stuart Hogg).

Much like the suggestion by RB in a previous topic, I imagine we will go for something like this:

1. Genge
2. Youngs
3. Cole
4. Wells
5. Snyman
6. Martin
7. Reffell
8. Liebenberg

9. Youngs
10. Ford
11. Saumaki
12. Scott
13. Kelly
14. Potter/Nadolo
15. Steward

16. Dolly 17. Leatigaga 18. Heyes 19. Henderson 20. Chessum 21. JVP 22. Burns 23. Porter.

Hope we go for JvP on the bench and not Wigglesworth. Tough call on the wingers but I'd go for Saumaki and Potter but maybe Nadolo might feature.

Come on you Tigers!

I am worried about this one if we couldn't beat Scarlets at home

[shedhead1]

Shedhead 1 here:

Please please beat the Chiefs as we have a huge double on Tiggers and Irish to win

Its only money....last year we were millionaires

Bob

[sam16111986]

Here we go again.. can't wait for this one. Lots of game time for players during pre-season. Still missing some big names like Montoya, Van Staden, Wiese and Moroni (all first choices for me) but we have far better strength in depth this year so I think we have every chance. Exeter missing a few key players too (Luke Cowan-Dickie, Jonny Hill and Sam Simmonds, Stuart Hogg).

Much like the suggestion by RB in a previous topic, I imagine we will go for something like this:

1. Genge
2. Youngs
3. Cole
4. Wells
5. Snyman
6. Martin
7. Reffell
8. Liebenberg

9. Youngs
10. Ford
11. Saumaki
12. Scott
13. Kelly
14. Potter/Nadolo
15. Steward

16. Dolly 17. Leatigaga 18. Heyes 19. Henderson 20. Chessum 21. JVP 22. Burns 23. Porter.

Hope we go for JvP on the bench and not Wigglesworth. Tough call on the wingers but I'd go for Saumaki and Potter but maybe Nadolo might feature.

Come on you Tigers!

I am worried about this one if we couldn't beat Scarlets at home

Pre season games are rarely a good indicator of form due to the fact it's more about getting players minutes under their belt than winning.

[bendy]

1.Genge (c) 2.Dolly 3.Cole 4.Wells 5.Henderson 6.Martin 7.Reffell 8.Liebenberg
9.JvP 10.Ford 11.Saumaki 12.Kelly 13.Scott 14.Potter 15.Steward

16.Youngs 17.Leatigaga 18.Heyes 19.Green/Snyman 20.Chessum 21.Youngs 22.Burns 23.Nadolo

I'd go for something such as that. Plenty of experience on the bench.

Murimurivalu not even making the bench is harsh IMO. I think having him as 22/23 and potentially shifting Steward to the wing if needs be, might be behind Borthwick's Scarlets selection? He (Muri) looked a threat all last season, to ditch him from the 23 feels a big stretch to me.

[AViewFromLe2]

Looking forward to this one! Should be a real close game against decent opposition. In this week’s episode of The Rolling Maul, we’ve previewed the game, predicted our starting line up’s & helped give Steve ideas on how to win!

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t ... 0535238295