Gloucester Rugby v Exeter Chiefs Friday Sep 1st 7:45 pm Bt Sport 1

[twitchy]

[Gloskarlos]

Ackerman's first selection:-

15 Woodward
14 Thorley
13 Symons
12 Atkinson
11 Purdy
10 Burns
9 Heinz
8 Morgan
7 Rowan
6 Ludlow
5 Thrush
4 Savage
3 Balmain
2 Hibbard
1 Afoa

Reps:- Matu'u, Hohneck, Denman, Slater, Ackerman, Vellacott, 36, Scott

A few injuries, key personnel out are Marshall, Mcallister, Galarza, Moriarty, sharples, Trnder and Williams - Ruskin still suspended.

[Gloskarlos]

Chiefs:
15 Phil Dollman
14 Olly Woodburn
13 Henry Slade
12 Ian Whitten
11 Max Bodilly
10 Gareth Steenson
9 Nic White
1 Ben Moon
2 Jack Yeandle (capt)
3 Harry Williams
4 Ollie Atkins
5 Jonny Hill
6 Dave Dennis
7 Don Armand
8 Sam Simmonds

16 Elvis Taione
17 Carl Rimmer
18 Tomas Francis
19 Sam Skinner
20 Matt Kvesic
21 Jack Maunder
22 Jack Nowell
23 Lachie Turner

[Puja]

{Mod}Have merged the threads to keep things neat.{/Mod}

Interesting that Slater's not starting. Although I guess both Savage and Ludlow are club stalwarts and so have got the nod until he's proven himself. Also no Kvesic for Exeter - both sides being cautious with their new signings.

Good to see Maunder on the bench for Exeter - I was worried that it might be Chudley or Townsend, so it's good that he's fought his way up to 2nd already. Just White to dispose of now.

Puja

[fivepointer]

Some very interesting selections from both sides. I'm assuming Exe have injury issues too. Simmonds at 8 is a player i really like the look of.

[Gloskarlos]

I'd expect to see Slater come on in the second half, i'm surprised Ackerman jnr is on the bench, having only just finished his season in SA....

Some pace in our back three, excited to see how Woodward goes, and Thorley has been impressive in warm up games.

[Timbo]

Campagnaro has done his cruciate, doubtful that he'll play at all this season and could be the end of his Exeter career.

[Oakboy]

Is Waldrom injured?

[Mikey Brown]

I wonder how much time Exeter are willing to invest in Slade at 10 this season.

Not much then.

[Puja]

Is Waldrom injured?

The fantasy rugby says, "Foot injury - Awaiting confirmation of severity."

Puja

[Mellsblue]

Is Waldrom injured?

The fantasy rugby says, "Foot injury - Awaiting confirmation of severity."

Puja

It's no surprise. There is an awful lot of weight going through it.

[Puja]

Is Waldrom injured?

The fantasy rugby says, "Foot injury - Awaiting confirmation of severity."

Puja

It's no surprise. There is an awful lot of weight going through it.

If it keeps him out for a few weeks, then I think Simmonds might just nail down the shirt. He's been a great servant to the club, but at 34, he's got to be winding down now.

Puja

[Gloskarlos]

I was slightly surprised by this statistic (blatantly taken from shedweb) since Exeter joined the premiership in 2010

The head-to-head for league matches and one European Challenge Cup tie is:

Exeter 8 wins; Gloucester 7 wins; one draw.

11 contests of which only separated by a score.

Pretty even really.

[Digby]

Both clubs are clearly making some mistakes in selection. Which is a comment entirely unconnected with my fantasy squad

[Mellsblue]

The and only time Waldrom has ever been mentioned in the same conversation as 'fantasy'.

[twitchy]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/ ... new-season

Good interview with baxter. It's very interesting how he manages the pressure situation. Being perfectly honest exe weren't the best club last season and benefited hugely from the semi final timing with sarries and all the other big clubs look stronger.

[TheNomad]

I don't think that Glos side looks very strong to be honest. Nice to see Thorley getting game time though, good player

[Digby]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/ ... new-season

Good interview with baxter. It's very interesting how he manages the pressure situation. Being perfectly honest exe weren't the best club last season and benefited hugely from the semi final timing with sarries and all the other big clubs look stronger.

Taken as a whole then Sarries were the best club, but were spread a little think with their achievements in Europe. Where I think Exeter are the best team is the mutliphase ruck work on attack, so it's especially interesting to see if they can have Kvesic add to his game in this area, but with their phase work on attack and the use of players like Devoto and Slade in the centres it makes Exeter a hard team to beat as you know they can put points on you, lots of points

[Digby]

Good to see Maunder on the bench for Exeter - I was worried that it might be Chudley or Townsend, so it's good that he's fought his way up to 2nd already. Just White to dispose of now.

Seems a little odd to me in that Townsend is hardly old, has only recently broken into the Exeter XV and was starting as recently as the AP final. I've no objection to Maunder getting game time, but I've also no idea who'll be seen as the better player this season or who might offer more to England between Townsend and Maunder. Though any which way it's a shame they've signed White (simply as an England fan)

[Puja]

Good to see Maunder on the bench for Exeter - I was worried that it might be Chudley or Townsend, so it's good that he's fought his way up to 2nd already. Just White to dispose of now.

Seems a little odd to me in that Townsend is hardly old, has only recently broken into the Exeter XV and was starting as recently as the AP final. I've no objection to Maunder getting game time, but I've also no idea who'll be seen as the better player this season or who might offer more to England between Townsend and Maunder. Though any which way it's a shame they've signed White (simply as an England fan)

Townsend's not a bad player, but I just rate Maunder so highly that I don't want his route to game-time blocked at all. He could be a really special player, whereas Townsend is merely quite promising.

I'd rather have them at different clubs, to be frank, but since this is where we start from, Maunder is by far and away the better prospect and, to my mind, the better player at present.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

[

you know they can put points on you, lots of points

Donald, is that you?

[Digby]

[

you know they can put points on you, lots of points

Donald, is that you?

Given what I'm being called today you perhaps think more Bush and less Trump

[Digby]

Good to see Maunder on the bench for Exeter - I was worried that it might be Chudley or Townsend, so it's good that he's fought his way up to 2nd already. Just White to dispose of now.

Seems a little odd to me in that Townsend is hardly old, has only recently broken into the Exeter XV and was starting as recently as the AP final. I've no objection to Maunder getting game time, but I've also no idea who'll be seen as the better player this season or who might offer more to England between Townsend and Maunder. Though any which way it's a shame they've signed White (simply as an England fan)

Townsend's not a bad player, but I just rate Maunder so highly that I don't want his route to game-time blocked at all. He could be a really special player, whereas Townsend is merely quite promising.

I'd rather have them at different clubs, to be frank, but since this is where we start from, Maunder is by far and away the better prospect and, to my mind, the better player at present.

Puja

Fair enough. I'm not that sold on one over the other

[twitchy]

[Mellsblue]

Just turned BT Sports on........so happy the season is about to start.