Exeter Vs Tigers

[FKAS]

Chiefs have already confirmed this will be the biggest crowd they've had at Sandy Park.

Exeter Chiefs:

15 Tommy Wyatt
14 Rory O’Loughlin
13 Henry Slade
12 Ollie Devoto
11 Ben Hammersley
10 Harvey Skinner
9 Tom Cairns

1 Scott Sio
2 Jack Yeandle
3 Ehren Painter
4 Dafydd Jenkins (c)
5 Lewis Pearson
6 Ethan Roots
7 Jacques Vermeulen
8 Greg Fisilau

Replacements:

16 Dan Frost
17 Nika Abuladze
18 Josh Iosefa-Scott
19 Rusi Tuima
20 Ross Vintcent
21 Stu Townsend
22 Joe Hawkins
23 Zack Wimbush

STARTING XV

15 Freddie Steward [77]
14 Anthony Watson [17]
13 Dan Kelly [68]
12 Solomone Kata [7]
11 Josh Bassett [10]
10 Handré Pollard [20]
9 Ben Youngs [307]

1 James Whitcombe [44]
2 Julián Montoya (c) [44]
3 Dan Cole [315]
4 George Martin [69]
5 Harry Wells [185]
6 Ollie Chessum [48]
7 Emeka Ilione [17]
8 Jasper Wiese [66]

REPLACEMENTS

16 Finn Theobold-Thomas [2]
17 Francois van Wyk [41]
18 Joe Heyes [132]
19 Olly Cracknell [39]
20 Kyle Hatherell [8]
21 Tom Whiteley [17]
22 Jamie Shillcock [13]
23 Mike Brown [16]

Reffell, OHC both out injured so Ilione and Bassett start. Liebenburg feeling sore after the Stade game (where he complained to the ref about being stamped on in the closing stages) so Chessum moves to 6.

[fivepointer]

Ilione's first Prem start? Good to see him in the side.

Devoto back for Exe who keep changes to a minimum.

[Mellsblue]

Huzzah, Devoto is back. England’s IC problem is solved for a couple of weeks.

[Oakboy]

Chessum at 6, Martin at 4 - shades of Lawtoje? I imagine SB is interested.

[FKAS]

Borthwick tended to play them the other way round but Martin seems to have developed into a handy scrummaging lock so I presume that's why they've lined up that way now. Given Lawes is retired it might be a combination he tries in the 6N.

Ilione has played really well when he's come off the bench this season. Attacks the breakdown and causes a nuisance but stays on the right side of sir. I'd like to see him carry more though. Glad he's got a chance to shine this week. Made a big difference last week as Stade were starting to get on top, slowed their ruck speed down and forced them to commit more players to the breakdown.

[FKAS]

I think Pollard is hungover or ill. Shanking kicks all over the place, knock under little pressure as well.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Fisilau having another big game. Ilione less so. Tigers well off the pace. Exeter excellent.

[FKAS]

Fisilau is playing well, he did get run over by Wiese is the first half but was otherwise very good. Ilione did pretty well, particularly at the breakdown. Didn't stop the carrier at the gain line would be my only gripe.

Tigers have been pretty dreadful and have gifted Chiefs a lot of chances then had to work hard under pressure.

[Epaminondas Pules]

That was a painful watch. Across the board it was pretty clueless. Chiefs have been good at home and simply outplayed us everywhere.

[FKAS]

I'd like to argue there EP but I can't. There was just so many basic errors we didn't really get into the game until the 50th minute.

Chiefs won without really having to create a great deal. Tigers at least finished their two chances from close range but simply can't play like that and expect to get a result.