Premiership
Team News: Baxter Names Chiefs for Investec Champions Cup Third Round
Rob Baxter has made five changes to his starting line-up for Chiefs’ Investec Champions Cup Round Three clash against Glasgow Warriors at Sandy Park on Saturday, January 13.
The changes begin in the front row with the familiar face of Alec Hepburn. The loosehead prop makes his first start of the season having featured off the bench in recent weeks following his return from glandular fever.
Jack Yeandle captains the side from hooker with Ehren Painter the other side of him in the tighthead berth.
Rusi Tuima and Lewis Pearson start in the boiler room of the second row as Dafydd Jenkins is absent from the matchday side.
The hard-hitting back row remains intact as Jacques Vermeulen and Ethan Roots start on the flanks with Greg Fisilau at eight.
Tom Cairns returns to the starting line-up, as Stu Townsend moves to the bench. Harvey Skinner starts alongside Cairns at fly-half. There is a new-look centre partnership on the field as Rory O’Loughlin partners Henry Slade with Joe Hawkins on the bench.
The back three is becoming a familiar one as Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Ben Hammersley start on the wings with Tommy Wyatt at fullback.
Director of Rugby Rob Baxter says his side are looking to keep momentum as they head back into the prestigious competition this weekend.
“Obviously there was some emotional disappointment following the Northampton game last weekend, there were some learnings for us, but I think we’ve dealt with those things now and we’re ready to move on.”
“In recent years, we’ve had a lot of ambition to do well at the frontline of the Investec Champions Cup competition. It’s always peaked our interest and peaked our energy.”
“The truth is the lads are really excited about these two weeks – they’re looking forward to the Glasgow game and the Bayonne trip. First and foremost, we want to put a big performance on the pitch. Everything around them is positive at the moment, but a lot of what happens is down to them and how hard they’re working.”
Dan Frost, Nika Abuladze and Josh Iosefa-Scott form the replacement front row. Matt Postlethwaite and Ross Vintcent can then be called upon for the second and back row.
For backline cover, Townsend and Hawkins are named alongside Zack Wimbush.
Exeter Chiefs:
15 Tommy Wyatt
14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso
13 Henry Slade
12 Rory O’Loughlin
11 Ben Hammersley
10 Harvey Skinner
9 Tom Cairns
1 Alec Hepburn
2 Jack Yeandle (c)
3 Ehren Painter
4 Rusi Tuima
5 Lewis Pearson
6 Ethan Roots
7 Jacques Vermeulen
8 Greg Fisilau
Replacements:
16 Dan Frost
17 Nika Abuladze
18 Josh Iosefa-Scott
19 Matt Postlethwaite
20 Ross Vintcent
21 Stu Townsend
22 Joe Hawkins
23 Zack Wimbush
Content & Images from – Exeter Chiefs Rugby
Sale Sharks can confirm that fly-half George Ford suffered a tear to his right quad during the early stages of the Gallagher Premiership round two game at Saracens on Saturday. Following a positive consultation with a specialist it was decided that George does not require surgery and he will now begin his rehab ahead of a busy period for club and country.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
Alex Sanderson has made six changes to his starting XV to face Gloucester Rugby in the first game of the season under the Salford Stadium Friday night lights, while summer signing Le Roux Roets appears in a matchday squad for the first time (Discovery+, 7.45pm KO).
Josh Beaumont, Ernst van Rhyn and Rouban Birch come into the pack following the round two defeat at Saracens, while Sam Bedlow, Will Addison and Arron Reed are picked in the backs to face George Skivington’s men.
In total, 12 of the XV and 19 in the matchday 23 have come through or spent time in the Sharks Academy.
The Sharks front-row remains intact from the trip to the StoneX as England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie lines up once again between 20-year-old Asher Opoku-Fordjour and loosehead Si McIntyre.
Al has picked a towering second-row as Ben Bamber teams up with Josh Beaumont.
With Ben and Tom Curry as well as JL du Preez all missing as they undergo their return to play protocols following head injuries, Ernst van Rhyn returns alongside fellow flanker Sam Dugdale and Birch at number 8.
Gus Warr starts again at scrum-half but with George Ford injured (quad) he’ll have skipper Rob du Preez for company at half-back. After coming on as a replacement against Saracens, Bedlow starts alongside Addison, who makes his first start since re-joining the club in the summer.
Speedster Arron Reed makes his first appearance of the season alongside Tom Roebuck and full-back Joe Carpenter.
Hooker Ethan Caine, and props Tumy Onasanya and James Harper cover the front row from the replacements bench with England U20s lock Tom Burrow and summer signing Le Roux Roets covering the rest of the forwards. Nye Thomas, Tom Curtis and Waisea Nayacalevu cover the backs.
Sale Sharks starting XV:
15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Will Addison, 12. Sam Bedlow, 11. Arron Reed, 10. Rob du Preez, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Si McIntyre, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4. Ben Bamber, 5. Josh Beaumont 6. Ernst van Rhyn, 7. Sam Dugdale, 8. Rouban Birch.
Replacements:
16. Ethan Caine, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. James Harper, 19. Tom Burrow, 20. Le Roux Roets, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Tom Curtis, 23. Waisea Nayacalevu.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
Injuries have forced Alex Sanderson to make three changes to his starting XV to face Saracens at the StoneX on Saturday (3.05pm KO, Saturday 28th September, live on TNT Sports).
Si McIntyre replaces last week’s Player of the Match Bevan Rodd (hamstring), while Ben Bamber and Sam Dugdale come in for Ernst van Rhyn and Tom Curry who are both undergoing their return to play protocols after leaving the field during the round one win over Harlequins.
With Sam Bedlow returning to the bench to make a 5-3 split, the matchday squad features 16 players who have come through or been involved with the Sale Sharks Academy.
In the front-row, England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie lines up between 20-year-old Asher Opoku-Fordjour and returning loosehead McIntyre.
Al has picked a towering second-row as Bamber teams up with Hyron Andrews.
Openside flanker Ben Curry captains the side again and he and Dugdale will pack down either side of Jean-Luc du Preez at number 8.
The backs are unchanged from the narrow win over Quins, with Gus Warr starting again at scrum-half alongside fly-half George Ford, and Rob du Preez and Waisea Nayacalevu outside them in the centres.
Alex has picked a familiar back three once again with Tom O’Flaherty, Tom Roebuck and full-back Joe Carpenter hoping to provide the spark.
The replacements bench is an exclusively Sharks Academy affair with hooker Ethan Caine, and props Tumy Onasanya and James Harper covering the front row. Josh Beaumont and Rouban Birch make up the rest of the forwards, while Nye Thomas, Bedlow and Will Addison cover the backs.
Sale Sharks Starting lineup:
15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Waisea Nayacalevu, 12. Rob du Preez, 11. Tom O’Flaherty, 10. George Ford, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Si McIntyre, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4. Ben Bamber, 5. Hyron Andrews, 6. Sam Dugdale, 7. Ben Curry ©, 8. Jean-Luc du Preez.
Replacements:
16. Ethan Caine, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. James Harper, 19. Josh Beaumont, 20. Rouban Birch, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Sam Bedlow, 23. Will Addison.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
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