Exeter Chiefs v Gloucester Rugby Premiership Preview

Gloucester have named a side with two changes for Saturday’s Aviva Premiership match against Exeter Chiefs at a sold out Sandy Park.

Greig Laidlaw and Ben Morgan return to a Gloucester starting line up that is otherwise unchanged from the game against London Irish last weekend.

Laidlaw will resume the captaincy and Morgan will wear his usual number eight shirt.

Games between these two sides have traditionally been close, hard-fought encounters with typically not more than one score between the two sides. Three of the four meetings last season were decided by a combined points total of four points.

The Chiefs are currently in second place in the Aviva Premiership table and are probably enjoying their best ever season in the top flight. As a result, Director of Rugby David Humphreys is in no doubt as to the size of the challenge at Sandy Park.

“Over the course of the past few weeks, we’ve performed well. We’ve played 12 games this season, won eight, drawn one and lost three. That’s a pretty good record and we’d have taken that at the start of the season.

“But we’re well aware of the challenges that now lie ahead. We’re going down to a very good Exeter team, one of the in form teams in Europe and the Premiership. They’re competing well in both competitions and it’s going to be a huge test for us.

“We played them a number of times last season in different competitions, and the one consistent factor was how close the games have been with the possible exception of the European semi-final.

Both teams have an ambition to play, they’ve started the season well and play a great brand of rugby. They’ve been building for a number of years and Rob (Baxter) has got them very well organised, they all know their roles.

“It’s going to be a big test but, coming on the back of a good run for us, it’s one that we’re very much looking forward to.”

Exeter Chiefs have lost two of their last three matches in all competitions whilst their 3-8 reversal at Northampton in Aviva Premiership Rugby on New Year’s Day was the first time they had failed to score a try in a match since Saracens visited Sandy Park in November 2014.

Chiefs remain, however, the top try scorers in Premiership Rugby this season.

Gloucester Rugby are unbeaten in their last five fixtures in all tournaments since losing 3-15 at Northampton on 27th November. Gloucester have won just one away game in their last nine trips in Aviva Premiership Rugby: 39-27 at Newcastle in round 1 this season.

The two sides met on four occasions last season with the two Aviva Premiership Rugby encounters both being won by the away side, Exeter victorious at home in the Anglo-Welsh Cup and Gloucester winning at Kingsholm in the semi-final of the European Challenge Cup. Gloucester were the most recent visiting team to win at Sandy Park doing so in Premiership Rugby on 3rd January 2015.

In the aftermath of his side’s New Year’s Day loss at Northampton Saints, there were no excuses from Baxter when he addressed the assembled media at Franklin’s Gardens.

His honest approach that his side may have “stolen a point” was a frank assessment following a disappointing first outing in 2016.

However, as he readies his troops for their latest battle against visiting Gloucester in the Aviva Premiership tomorrow (3pm), the Exeter leader remains fully focused on the long-term goals for his ambitious squad.

“The thing is it is very easy to not see things for what they are. You get so wrapped up in one result that you miss things,” he said.

“It’s important not to overreact when you lose. Sometimes you consider changing everything when you lose despite being happy with everything a week earlier when you won.

Baxter is not one to forgive and forget when it comes to home losses, and he called on his players to set the record straight against at a packed out Sandy Park.

“They will come here with a good deal of confidence, but we should go out with confidence that we are tough at home, we are second in the Premiership and we should make that count.”

Team news for the Chiefs sees Ollie Atkins come in for his first Premiership start at the expense of the injured Mitch Lees, while Julian Salvi is back at open-side in place of Tom Johnson. Behind, James Short is promoted from the bench to go on the wing, so England star Jack Nowell reverts to the centre with Italian Michele Campagnaro dropping down to the replacements.

On the bench, former Gloucester Academy youngster Jonny Hill is included in a first-team squad for the first time, prop Alec Hepburn returns after injury and the experienced Kai Horstmann offers back-row cover after some notable displays as skipper of the Braves.

The Bookies have given Gloucester an 8 point start for this Match – with an offer of up to £200 in Bonus bets.

Match : Exeter Chiefs v Gloucester Rugby
Date : Saturday 9 January
Venue : Sandy Park,
Kick Off : 3pm
Live on: N.A
Match Officials
Referee :Ian Tempest (12th Premiership game).
Assistant Referees: Peter Huckle & Ross Campbell.
TMO: Stuart Terheege

Teams

Exeter Chiefs

15 Phil Dollman, 14 Olly Woodburn, 13 Jack Nowell, 12 Ian Whitten, 11 James Short, 10 Gareth Steenson, 9 Will Chudley, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 Julian Salvi, 6 Don Armand, 5 Geoff Parling, 4 Ollie Atkins, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Jack Yeandle (capt),1 Ben Moon

Replacements : 16 Elvis Taione, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Moray Low, 19 Jonny Hill, 20 Kai Horstmann, 21 Dave Lewis, 22 Will Hooley, 23 Michele Campagnaro

Gloucester Rugby

15. Rob Cook; 14. Charlie Sharples, 13. Bill Meakes, 12. Billy Twelvetrees, 11. Henry Purdy; 10. James Hook, 9. Greig Laidlaw (capt); 1. Nick Wood, 2. Richard Hibbard, 3. Nicky Thomas; 4. Tom Savage, 5. Jeremy Thrush; 6. Sione Kalamafoni, 7. Matt Kvesic, 8. Ben Morgan

Replacements:16. Tom Lindsay, 17. Dan Murphy, 18. Paddy McAllister, 19. Mariano Galarza, 20. Ross Moriarty, 21. Willi Heinz, 22. Billy Burns, 23. Mark Atkinson