RugbyRebels

Exeter Chiefs:

15 Dan John
14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso
13 Henry Slade
12 Ben Hammersley
11 Paul Brown-Bampoe
10 Harvey Skinner
9 Stephen Varney
1 Will Goodrick-Clarke
2 Joseph Dweba
3 Josh Iosefa-Scott
4 Dafydd Jenkins (c)
5 Andrea Zambonin
6 Ethan Roots
7 Greg Fisilau
8 Ross Vintcent

Replacements:
16 Jack Yeandle
17 Kwenzo Blose
18 Bachuki Tchumbadze
19 Rusi Tuima
20 Lewis Pearson
21 Kane James
22 Charlie Chapman
23 Nick Lilley

Newcastle Red Bulls team v Exeter Chiefs (Saturday, 3pm, Sandy Park, live on Discovery+)
15 Liam Williams, 14 Oli Spencer, 13 Connor Doherty, 12 Ethan Grayson, 11 Alex Hearle, 10 Brett Connon, 9 James Elliott; 1 Murray McCallum, 2 George McGuigan (captain), 3 Luan de Bruin, 4 Jamie Hodgson, 5 Freddie Clarke, 6 Cameron Neild, 7 Tom Gordon, 8 Amanaki Mafi.
Replacements: 16 Ollie Fletcher, 17 Adam Brocklebank, 18 Richard Palframan, 19 Oscar Usher, 20 Fergus Lee-Warner, 21 Jack Dickens, 22 Boeta Chamberlain, 23 Elliott Obatoyinbo.
Not available for selection: Sammy Arnold, Eduardo Bello, Simon Benitez Cruz, Tim Cardall, Tom Christie, Max Clark, Stefan Coetzee, Joe Davis, Joel Grayson, Sam Stuart, Christian Wade.
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys.

You'd have thought this would be the perfect game to give Lilley the starting spot, especially with Hammersley being a square peg in a round hole. But hey ho!

The Hammersley selection is pretty weird. Its not as if hes shown much in any position hes played in. Thought we might see something of Wimbush this season. Maybe hes injured or just fallen out of favour.

Wonder how Newcastle will respond to Diamonds sacking.

Newcastle taking a complete humping from Exeter - scoreline's only 38-10, but it's comprehensive on the field. Turns out sacking Diamond before you had a high-level successor ready to go might not've been a good idea?

Puja

Puja wrote: ↑Sat Oct 04, 2025 4:39 pm Newcastle taking a complete humping from Exeter - scoreline's only 38-10, but it's comprehensive on the field. Turns out sacking Diamond before you had a high-level successor ready to go might not've been a good idea?

Puja

I suppose the argument could be that change was necessary obviously??

Yeah, Dimes is exactly the bloke to motivate a side. I thought the scoreline flattered Sarries last week. Doesn't sound like things are going well without him, not sure Dickens is head coach material.

3 tries for IFW.

Oakboy wrote: ↑Sat Oct 04, 2025 4:56 pm

Puja wrote: ↑Sat Oct 04, 2025 4:39 pm Newcastle taking a complete humping from Exeter - scoreline's only 38-10, but it's comprehensive on the field. Turns out sacking Diamond before you had a high-level successor ready to go might not've been a good idea?

Puja

I suppose the argument could be that change was necessary obviously??

Possibly a fair shout - wasn't exactly like they looked mustard against Saracens last week, so it's entirely possible they'd've been just as insipid under Diamond

I remain baffled at sacking him after one game and then putting Dickens as caretaker though. Like, I completely get sacking Diamond as a concept - if they want to hire a superstar head coach and have a change of direction, that makes sense. But why on earth is Dickens going to be better at caretaking than just keeping Diamond on?!

Puja

Newcastle were poor, but exe did some decent stuff. I'm actually a lot more upbeat about 9 with varney, although skinner is still a weak point. If you add in the new aussies that were still playing internationals, you have at least the basis of an ok team.

twitchy wrote: ↑Sun Oct 05, 2025 8:05 am Newcastle were poor, but exe did some decent stuff. I'm actually a lot more upbeat about 9 with varney, although skinner is still a weak point. If you add in the new aussies that were still playing internationals, you have at least the basis of an ok team.

Baxter has me baffled where Skinner is concerned. What he sees in the player is a mystery. He's not even a steady reliable operator to build a team around. IMO, he is not good enough for a team with aspirations to be in the top half, never mind challenge for the title. Is there a worse FH picked regularly in the prem?

Was hoping Will Haydon-Wood would get a proper chance to nail down the 10 shirt but that hasnt happened.

Think Varney might turn out to be a very sound acquisition.

Never going to be easy for Newcastle and they may improve when they get a few players in, but Dickens doesnt strike me as a kind of bloke who will offer much inspiration.

fivepointer wrote: ↑Sun Oct 05, 2025 9:00 am Was hoping Will Haydon-Wood would get a proper chance to nail down the 10 shirt but that hasnt happened.

Think Varney might turn out to be a very sound acquisition.

Same on both accounts. Oddly it seems Skinner gets all the chances whilst the others come in for a game and are then promptly out again.

Oakboy wrote: ↑Sun Oct 05, 2025 8:36 am

twitchy wrote: ↑Sun Oct 05, 2025 8:05 am Newcastle were poor, but exe did some decent stuff. I'm actually a lot more upbeat about 9 with varney, although skinner is still a weak point. If you add in the new aussies that were still playing internationals, you have at least the basis of an ok team.

Baxter has me baffled where Skinner is concerned. What he sees in the player is a mystery. He's not even a steady reliable operator to build a team around. IMO, he is not good enough for a team with aspirations to be in the top half, never mind challenge for the title. Is there a worse FH picked regularly in the prem?

Yes, Jarod blimmin' Evans

Danno wrote: ↑Sun Oct 05, 2025 5:15 pm

Oakboy wrote: ↑Sun Oct 05, 2025 8:36 am

twitchy wrote: ↑Sun Oct 05, 2025 8:05 am Newcastle were poor, but exe did some decent stuff. I'm actually a lot more upbeat about 9 with varney, although skinner is still a weak point. If you add in the new aussies that were still playing internationals, you have at least the basis of an ok team.

Baxter has me baffled where Skinner is concerned. What he sees in the player is a mystery. He's not even a steady reliable operator to build a team around. IMO, he is not good enough for a team with aspirations to be in the top half, never mind challenge for the title. Is there a worse FH picked regularly in the prem?

Yes, Jarod blimmin' Evans

Is he picked regularly or just when Marcus is unavailable and Benson required to play 12?

Skinner is the starter, I think only Connon is equally mediocre in the league currently.

FKAS wrote: ↑Mon Oct 06, 2025 10:57 am

Danno wrote: ↑Sun Oct 05, 2025 5:15 pm

Oakboy wrote: ↑Sun Oct 05, 2025 8:36 am

Baxter has me baffled where Skinner is concerned. What he sees in the player is a mystery. He's not even a steady reliable operator to build a team around. IMO, he is not good enough for a team with aspirations to be in the top half, never mind challenge for the title. Is there a worse FH picked regularly in the prem?

Yes, Jarod blimmin' Evans

Is he picked regularly or just when Marcus is unavailable and Benson required to play 12?

Skinner is the starter, I think only Connon is equally mediocre in the league currently.

Yeah he's cover for Marcus and for some reason we don't seem to trust Benson enough yet to take the reins - or as you suggest "PLEASE COME BACK ANDRE!" and then he'd be 10 I think.

Danno wrote: ↑Mon Oct 06, 2025 11:46 am

FKAS wrote: ↑Mon Oct 06, 2025 10:57 am

Danno wrote: ↑Sun Oct 05, 2025 5:15 pm

Yes, Jarod blimmin' Evans

Is he picked regularly or just when Marcus is unavailable and Benson required to play 12?

Skinner is the starter, I think only Connon is equally mediocre in the league currently.

Yeah he's cover for Marcus and for some reason we don't seem to trust Benson enough yet to take the reins - or as you suggest "PLEASE COME BACK ANDRE!" and then he'd be 10 I think.

Maybe when Waghorn is fit you'll be able to go Benson/Waghorn. Pretty youthful combo though.

FKAS wrote: ↑Mon Oct 06, 2025 12:40 pm

Danno wrote: ↑Mon Oct 06, 2025 11:46 am

FKAS wrote: ↑Mon Oct 06, 2025 10:57 am

Is he picked regularly or just when Marcus is unavailable and Benson required to play 12?

Skinner is the starter, I think only Connon is equally mediocre in the league currently.

Yeah he's cover for Marcus and for some reason we don't seem to trust Benson enough yet to take the reins - or as you suggest "PLEASE COME BACK ANDRE!" and then he'd be 10 I think.

Maybe when Waghorn is fit you'll be able to go Benson/Waghorn. Pretty youthful combo though.

I'd roll the dice and see what happens. Nothing against Evans in general but he's not a Quins player. He might do better at Chiefs or somewhere.

I think we're pretty buggered this season anyway, so get some time into new legs.