Injury woes for Exe ahead of trip to Saints

With Craig Mitchell still involved in Wales's RWC efforts and Chris Budgen away at the Forces World Cup, head coach Rob Baxter is keeping everything crossed that his front-row problems ease in time for Saturday's trip to Franklin's Gardens to take on Northampton. The early signs are promising for Brett Sturgess (shoulder) and John Andress (leg), but loanee Alan Paver will be out for a couple of weeks with a torn calf. That means that if Hoani Tui doesn't overcome his calf problem, after being withdrawn from the side to face Sarries late on, Baxter may be forced to go back into the loan market to get cover at tighthead.

"John Andress should be okay, he had a dead-leg type injury, and as he hadn't trained for about a month there was a bit of fatigue as well," said Baxter. Brett hurt his shoulder in a collapsed scrum and didn't want to come off but our medics decided to get him off and the fact we did that means he should be available for the weekend. Alan Paver will be out for a couple of weeks with a torn calf, which is a shame because he was playing well. We had to pull Hoani out very late on and we'll have to keep monitoring him. We want to make sure the guys we send out on to the pitch are 100 per cent fit so anyone who's not will need time to recover. We hope John and Hoani will come through, but if not we may have to look again at bringing in cover. James Hanks is still on course for the post-LV= Cup games, as we always hoped, and Josh Tatupu is 100 per cent fit now and ready to go."

The good news on Samoan Josh Tatupu could see him come back into the side at the expense of Nic Sestaret, having started the season as first choice on the right wing. But the game will come too soon for fellow countryman Junior Poluleuligaga, who is expected back in the country shortly after Samoa were knocked out of the World Cup. That means Kevin Barrett is likely to be in the 23-man squad and play his 100th game for the club. The scrum-half has helped Exeter win three of their opening five games, but Baxter thinks they have to get something from their trip to Northampton to be able to say they've had a good start to the campaign.

"I'm looking forward to the LV= Cup games and seeing some different combinations but we've got to push through one more league game this weekend before we can say we've had a good start to the season," he said. "If we get something out of it we can be really satisfied, if we don't we'll probably be disappointed not to have got more from the opening six games. It's a determining game of how the first block of fixtures has gone for us. "It's an important game and one the players are looking forward to. We feel like we've got a nice freshness about us, we're enjoying attacking games and playing with a real intensity."

[taken from thisisexeter.co.uk]

aslongasbut100ofus the important thing is do you think you will win?

I backed you to win on sportguru. Please don't let me down. Plus your win would really help a bet I have with a Saints fan.

I'm hopeful, beshocked - we ran them close at FG last season (27-21) without ever being in the game, only securing an LBP when they emptied their bench, and then we demolished them at SP when they were going thru their slump during the 6Ns. They haven't been in the best of form (something like 5 hours of rugby since they last crossed the whitewash?), but won't be easy at home. I think as long as we stick to our gameplans, don't lose concentration, and get the right side of the officials, I think we'll defo be in the game come the final quarter, and we have the mental strength to kick on from there

I also would like you to win because you have the arrogance to go to other team's home grounds with no fear. Like us.

You pushed a strong Saracens side hard. A weakened Saints side should be no problem surely? Are they getting reinforcements?

What are Exeter's strengths and weaknesses? Who will be the key players for you in trying to gain victory?

beshocked, apologies for the delay, but I wanted to wait for the team announcement before replying.

So, here's Exe's team to face the Saints:

15 Luke Arscott
14 Josh Tatupu
13 Sireli Naqelevuki
12 Jason Shoemark
11 Matt Jess
10 Ignacio Mieres
9 Haydn Thomas
1 Ben Moon
2 Neil Clark
3 John Andress
4 Tom Hayes (capt)
5 Aly Muldowney
6 Tom Johnson
7 James Scaysbrook
8 Richard Baxter

16 Chris Whitehead
17 Brett Sturgess
18 Hoani Tui
19 James Phillips
20 Ben White
21 Kevin Barrett
22 Gareth Steenson
23 Bryan Rennie

So it's pretty much the same bunch that faced you guys, with Tatupu back on the wing - that's positive news, cos it gives us Naqer in the centre and Tatupu outwide that will be tasked with getting over the gain line of first and second phase ball. Plus on the positive sides, looks like Sturgess, Andress and Tui have all recovered sufficiently to be named in the XXIII - good news on the prop front

(From planetrugby.co.uk):

Youngster James Craig will make his first start for Northampton as the Saints look to end a frustrating spell against Exeter on Saturday.



Northampton have won just one of their opening five encounters as they struggle to adjust to life without a number of star players who are on international duty.


Director of Rugby Jim Mallinder believes his team should have at least two more wins to their name.


"It's frustrating that we're not playing well and not finishing," said Mallinder.


"You get opportunities in games and you've got to be good enough to take them. Last week we didn't do that.


"There are parts of the game that are working well. We've got a good set-piece and our defence was a lot better last week. But we've been working on the little things we need to improve in our attacking play this week, and if we put those into practice on Saturday then we'll play well."


Mallinder has made two changes to the team that lost to Worcester last time out.


The 22-year-old Craig comes in on the openside in place of Ben Nutley who drops out of the matchday 22.


At the crucial fly-half berth, Ryan Lamb replaces Stephen Myler with Myler forced to settle for a place on the bench.


The Chiefs too have a player making his first Premiership start for the club, with Ben Moon replacing Brett Sturgess at prop. Hooker Neil Clark slots in next to Moon in place of Chris Whitehead who is not part of the squad this weekend.


On the wing, Josh Tatupu returns from injury to replace Nic Sestaret.


While Saints may be struggling at present, Exeter assistant coach Ali Hepher knows that they remain a potent side.


"It's a test for any side going there," said Hepher.


"They are a tough team to beat and we are fully expecting a battle up there. They could easily have won four out of five games, so they will be as tough a battle as they'll ever be and they'll be looking to put in a big performance before their World Cup guys come back.


"They have massive threats across the board and going there is as tough as it comes. At home I know the Saints look to raise it to another level, so we have to go up there with our game plan and put in a level of performance to get something out of the game."

Shocking result for Exe from FG (33-3 to the Saints). Only one team playing with any hunger and desire, and it wasn't the Chiefs - well done Northampton

What happened guys?!

And did Lamb have his customary one brilliant game before forever playing pap?