Bath vs Chiefs

Exeter Chiefs have a slightly changed side to face Bath this weekend:

15 Phil Dollman
14 Nic Sestaret
13 Bryan Rennie
12 Jason Shoemark
11 Matt Jess
10 Ignacio Mieres
9 Haydn Thomas
1 Brett Sturgess
2 Chris Whitehead
3 Hoani Tui
4 Tom Hayes (capt)
5 Peter Short
6 Tom Johnson
7 James Scaysbrook
8 James Phillips

16 Neil Clark
17 Ben Moon
18 Chris Budgen
19 Aly Muldowney
20 Ben White
21 Kevin Barrett
22 Gareth Steenson
23 Mark Foster

Having lost home and away to Bath last season, the Chiefs will be keen to make amends, but Bath will likely be smarting from last weekend's home defeat to Sarries and will be looking to bounce back strait away. Trio Josh Tatupu, Sireli Naqelevuki and Richie Baxter all picked up knocks in Exe's home win over the Falcons with Nic Sestaret, Bryan Rennie and James Phillips all picking up their first starts of the season; lock James Hanks and fullback Luke Arscott remain the only other players unavailable thru injury. If a win is a stretch too far, then a LBP would be good to take away from the Rec for this one

This should be a cracking game. Bath have to be favourites, but I can see Exeter pushing them all the way. I think the Chiefs have a workmanlike and dogged pack which can cause Bath problems.

Come on the Chiefs

Bath Rugby team to face Exeter Chiefs

15. Nick Abendanon
14. Matt Carraro
13. Dan Hipkiss
12. Ben Williams
11. Tom Biggs
10. Sam Vesty
9. Mark McMillan
1. David Flatman
2. Pieter Dixon
3. Duncan Bell
4. Stuart Hooper (c)
5. Ryan Caldwell
6. Carl Fearns
7. Guy Mercer
8. Ben Skirving

Replacements

16. Ross Batty
17. Nathan Catt
18. Kane Palma-Newport
19. Dave Attwood
20. Andy Beattie
21. Michael Claassens
22. Tom Heathcote
23. Jack Cuthbert

200th appearance for Duncan Bell - fair play to the big man; Simon Taylor sidelined with a knock, so Ben Skirving comes in at no8

Bath by 12

expecting big games from scaysbrook and short !

Shame the giant centre is not playing for Exeter.

Tom Johnson (in my opinion the best back rower in the Aviva right now - yes better than Dowson and Robshaw) versus Carl Fearns will be a juicy encounter.

23-19 victory for Bath, with tries from Sam Vesty and Nathan Catt for the home side, with a penalty try to the visitors - LBP sees Exe at 2nd in the table

Well done Exeter, how was Johnson going?