Premiership
Team News: Chiefs Change Matchday 23 for Trip to Reigning Champions
Exeter Chiefs head to cinch stadium Franklin’s Gardens this Saturday to take on the reigning Gallagher Premiership champions, Northampton Saints, in Round Two.
After a frustratingly narrow loss in Round One at home, Chiefs have made a handful of changes to the side which came up against Leicester Tigers last weekend.
The front row remains unchanged as Scott Sio once more captains the side with Dan Frost at hooker while Ehren Painter prepares to come up against his former side.
Richard Capstick moves to the back row for this weekend to open up room for Christ Tshiunza to come into the starting pack – the Welshman will pack down with Rusi Tuima in the second row. Ethan Roots and Ross Vintcent then round out the back row at flanker and number eight.
Sam Maunder makes his much-anticipated return to the Gallagher Premiership as he starts at scrum half with Harvey Skinner comfortable in the fly half berth.
While Ben Hammersley recovers in the return to play protocol from his HIA against Tigers, Olly Woodburn brings his experience into the centre partnership with Joe Hawkins.
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Josh Hodge are then joined by Paul Brown-Bampoe in the back three – the latter having featured for 75 minutes in his league debut last weekend.
Director of Rugby Rob Baxter spoke ahead of the game about how, despite the result against Leicester, his side have assessed the areas of improvement and are ready to challenge themselves on the road.
“We’re ready to go this weekend. We think we’ve got a formula to be competitive away from home. We weren’t great away at Northampton last season, so we’ve talked about that and talked about changing the process that meant the game got away from us that last time.
“Our focus, for obvious reasons is winning, but you have to give yourself the initial chance to win before you are able to do it. It’s the processes and foundations that, if you get them right, give you a chance.
“Despite the result at Bath, I think Northampton probably feel there’s an energy, a pace and a vibrancy that they can bring to a game at home – like they did last year – which will deal with most of the issues they had against Bath. We’ve got to make sure that’s not the case.
“I think they will want to get the show on the road at home. While it will be a big challenge for us, it is one I’d kind of prefer coming this week. I think to go up there and give ourselves a chance to stick in for 80 minutes will be a good test of us away from home and it’s something that I am personally looking forward to.”
Marcus Street returns to the line-up, named on the bench alongside fellow front-rowers Jack Yeandle and Will Goodrick-Clarke. Jack Dunne is then joined by Martin Moloney to provide cover for the rest of the pack with the former Leinsterman in line for a Premiership debut.
Tom Cairns, Will Haydon-Wood and Will Rigg are named as the backs replacements.
Exeter Chiefs:
15 Josh Hodge
14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso
13 Olly Woodburn
12 Joe Hawkins
11 Paul Brown-Bampoe
10 Harvey Skinner
9 Sam Maunder
1 Scott Sio (c)
2 Dan Frost
3 Ehren Painter
4 Rusi Tuima
5 Christ Tshiunza
6 Ethan Roots
7 Richard Capstick
8 Ross Vintcent
Replacements:
16 Jack Yeandle
17 Will Goodrick-Clarke
18 Marcus Street
19 Jack Dunne
20 Martin Moloney
21 Tom Cairns
22 Will Haydon-Wood
23 Will Rigg
Content & Images from – Exeter Chiefs 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
Denis Buckley makes 250th appearance for home province
David O’Connor handed Connacht debut
Finlay Bealham, Niall Murray, Shane Jennings come into side
Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins has named his matchday squad for tomorrow’s BKT United Rugby Championship clash against the Hollywoodbets Sharks at Dexcom Stadium (k/o 7.35pm).
There are four changes from the side that narrowly lost to Munster last week. Niall Murray and Shane Jennings come in for the injured Joe Joyce and Shayne Bolton, while Finlay Bealham and debutant David O’Connor replace Jack Aungier and Darragh Murray, who were both selected in the Emerging Ireland tour of South Africa.
Meanwhile it’s a landmark appearance for prop Denis Buckley who will make his 250th appearance for the club. The Roscommon man becomes just the third player to reach the milestone – after John Muldoon and Michael Swift – and lines out in a front row of three double centurions, with Dave Heffernan and Bealham alongside him.
The only change on the 6-2 bench sees Paul Boyle wear the number 23 shirt in place of Sean Jansen who has also linked up with Emerging Ireland.
The game is sold out for what will be the first competitive fixture at Dexcom Stadium during the redevelopment, however limited hospitality tickets are still available at connachtrugby.ie/tickets.
Head coach Pete Wilkins says:
“I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s game. Our intensity and overall performance last week was encouraging despite the bitter disappointment of the result. Against a very strong Sharks team we will require a repeat of that effort along with evidence of growth in our game from round one.
Picking up home wins in such a tight league will be crucial, and I know the sold out Dexcom crowd will provide huge energy to the lads regardless of the slightly different surroundings.
It’s an important day for two of our players for very different reasons – with Denis earning his 250th cap and David O’Connor his debut. We’re determined to give them a fitting performance.”
CONNACHT RUGBY MATCHDAY 23 VS HOLLYWOODBETS SHARKS
19:35, Saturday 28th September 2024 @ Dexcom Stadium
Number/Name/Caps (* denotes uncapped)
15. Santiago Cordero (3)
14. Mack Hansen (33)
13. Piers O’Conor (1)
12. Cathal Forde (32)
11. Shane Jennings (14)
10. Josh Ioane (1)
9. Ben Murphy (1)
1. Denis Buckley (249)
2. Dave Heffernan (201)
3. Finlay Bealham (204)
4. Niall Murray (75)
5. David O’Connor *
6. Josh Murphy (19)
7. Conor Oliver (86)
8. Cian Prendergast (69) (C)
16. Dylan Tierney-Martin (37)
17. Peter Dooley (38)
18. Sam Illo (23)
19. Oisín Dowling (60)
20. Shamus Hurley-Langton (41)
21. Caolin Blade (193)
22. David Hawkshaw (31)
23. Paul Boyle (93)
Content & Images from – Connacht Rugby
- Mack Hansen starts first game since New Year’s Day
- Santiago Cordero returns from international duty with Argentina
- Debuts for Ben Murphy, Josh Ioane and Piers O’Conor
Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins has named his matchday squad for tomorrow’s BKT United Rugby Championship opener away to Munster (k/o 5.30pm).
Cian Prendergast captains the side which includes several players either making debuts or returning from long absences. Mack Hansen starts his first competitive match since a serious shoulder injury on New Year’s Day, Santiago Cordero comes straight into the starting XV after featuring for Argentina in The Rugby Championship, and Josh Murphy also starts his first game since May 2023 after completing his medical placement.
There are also three players making their Connacht debuts – the new half-back duo of Ben Murphy and Josh Ioane, and Piers O’Conor at outside centre.
Prop Jack Aungier starts at tighthead alongside double centurions Denis Buckley and Dave Heffernan, while Joe Joyce and Darragh Murray are in the second row. Conor Oliver completes the pack as the openside flanker.
In the backs Cathal Forde is named at inside centre, while Shayne Bolton completes an exciting back three on the left wing alongside Hansen and Cordero.
Head coach Pete Wilkins says:
“We can’t wait to get the season going. It was a shorter and more intense pre-season than last year, with three productive games in the last few weeks, so now it’s about delivering what I believe we’re capable of.
We’re very fortunate to have over 40 players available to us. This has helped drive standards in training and competition for places, and gives us a nice challenge reducing the group to a matchday 23.
We know what to expect from Munster and Thomond Park, so it’s a brilliant opportunity for us to start the year on a positive note.”
CONNACHT RUGBY MATCHDAY 23 VS MUNSTER RUGBY
17:30, Saturday 21st September 2024 @ Thomond Park
Number/Name/Caps (* denotes uncapped)
15. Santiago Cordero (2)
14. Mack Hansen (32)
13. Piers O’Conor *
12. Cathal Forde (31)
11. Shayne Bolton (13)
10. Josh Ioane *
9. Ben Murphy *
1. Denis Buckley (248)
2. Dave Heffernan (200)
3. Jack Aungier (67)
4. Joe Joyce (21)
5. Darragh Murray (25)
6. Josh Murphy (18)
7. Conor Oliver (84)
8. Cian Prendergast (68) (C)
16. Dylan Tierney-Martin (36)
17. Peter Dooley (37)
18. Sam Illo (22)
19. Oisín Dowling (59)
20. Shamus Hurley-Langton (40)
21. Caolin Blade (192)
22. David Hawkshaw (30)
23. Sean Jansen (8)
Content & Images from – Connacht Rugby
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