Bath V Exeter - Second Time Lucky - BTSport Fri; 7.45KO

[Which Tyler]

Barring another snow storm;

15. Tom Homer
14. Matt Banahan
13. Jonathan Joseph
12. James Wilson
11. Aled Brew
10. Freddie Burns
9. Kahn Fotuali’i

1. Beno Obano
2. Nathan Charles
3. Henry Thomas
4. Charlie Ewels
5. Elliott Stooke
6. Matt Garvey (c)
7. Tom Ellis
8. Taulupe Faletau

16. Tom Dunn; 17. Nick Auterac; 18. Anthony Perenise; 19. James Phillips; 20. Paul Grant
21. Chris Cook; 22. Rhys Priestland; 23. Cooper Vuna



15. Phil Dollman
14. Ian Whitten
13. Henry Slade
12. Sam Hill
11. Lachie Turner
10. Joe Simmonds
9. Nic White

1. Alec Hepburn
2. Jack Yeandle (capt)
3. Tomas Francis
4. Sam Skinner
5. Jonny Hill
6. Dave Ewers
7. Don Armand
8. Sam Simmonds

16. Jack Innard; 17. Ben Moon; 18. Greg Holmes; 19. Mitch Lees; 20. Dave Dennis
21. Stu Townsend; 22. Gareth Steenson; 23. Santiago Cordero

[Banquo]

Simmonds boys out starting together- is that the first time? Shame Simmonds is at 8 and still no Kvesic (Or Salvi). You do wonder why Baxter went for Kvesic really- as he doesnt fit the way Exeter approach phase play, though in fairness Simmonds S does some over the ball stuff.

[fivepointer]

Tom Dunn back is good news.
Joe S gets another chance to make the 10 shirt his own.
Should be a very good tussle up front.

[francoisfou]

Is this the Premiership fixture or the AWC final?

[Which Tyler]

Is this the Premiership fixture or the AWC final?

Prem; AWC final is happening on Good Friday - early afternoon (so don't tune in at 7.30 expecting to catch it.


Dunn back is fantastic news; those fingers looked a right mess in the brief galance I had before looking away and hiding being a cusion whenever they threatened to show a replay.
Interesting to see Simmonds at 10 with Steenson on the bench.
Nothing to choose between them on paper; whilst Exeter's cohesiveness and familiarty should make them favourites; but I wouldn't be surprised by anything from Bath by 15 to Exeter by 15.
also good to see Townsend getting some game time... if he's allowed on the pitch

[Digby]

Exeter to win, must have been a thought they could combine this game

[francoisfou]

Is this the Premiership fixture or the AWC final?

Prem; AWC final is happening on Good Friday - early afternoon (so don't tune in at 7.30 expecting to catch it.

Cheers, WT!

[Oakboy]

I still don't get what Baxter sees in White. If you wanted to define foreign, shirt-blocking foreigner you'd need to look no further, IMO.

[Banquo]

I still don't get what Baxter sees in White. If you wanted to define foreign, shirt-blocking foreigner you'd need to look no further, IMO.

definitely foreign then!

[Digby]

White has played well for Exeter. I'd prefer they'd played the young English lads, but I couldn't say White hasn't been a good signing

[Which Tyler]

White's played well, but I don't know that he's played better than Chudley/Maunder/Townsend.
Having said that, I think maybe squad needs 4 SH, and if 2 of your 4 are already young, then you would look for a senior to come in. In which case, better a White than an Allinson (I know we signed him whilst desperate, but why the hell extend his stay? At the loss of Homer Jr too, who is already a better SH!)

[Oakboy]

A hard game, that Exeter just about deserved to win. I thought the battle between the second rows was epic. I think Ewels won the tackle count. Ewers, Armand and Simmonds put in a huge effort. I really hope Jones has lost his ridiculous prejudice against Armand.

[fivepointer]

Yep, it was full on no holds barred stuff. Massive effort from both packs. The locks were tremendous. I'm warming to Ewels, who has a high work rate and low error count.
Only disappointing note was injury to Thomas, who i thought was having a terrific game. Hopefully its nothing too serious.

[twitchy]

[Mikey Brown]

Hang on I thought Simmonds was awful now? How can he have been MOTM?

[Mellsblue]

Try scoring show pony. He is the heir to Croft, the luxury Shetland pony.

[Which Tyler]

Try scoring show pony. He is the heir to Croft, the luxury Exmoor pony.

FTFY

[Oakboy]

Hang on I thought Simmonds was awful now? How can he have been MOTM?

I think he has a fair bit to offer. At club level he can be effective in all three back-row positions. At international level, his future can only be at 7, IMO. He is too small for 6 or 8.

[Which Tyler]

Hang on I thought Simmonds was awful now? How can he have been MOTM?

I think he has a fair bit to offer. At club level he can be effective in all three back-row positions. At international level, his future can only be at 7, IMO. He is too small for 6 or 8.

I agree with what you say here.
I disagree that Mikey's post was worth responding to...

[twitchy]

When things were going well for England injury wise we blitzed teams in the last 20 mins with our "finishers". I see simmonds as a perfect component of that. Where he shines at test level is his acceleration in broken play vs big lump forwards. I see him as a perfect billy replacement that can cover the whole back row.

Having him start vs ireland (which I obviously realise was forced by injury) was probably one of the worst teams stylistically for him.

[Digby]

When things were going well for England injury wise we blitzed teams in the last 20 mins with our "finishers". I see simmonds as a perfect component of that. Where he shines is at test level is his acceleration in broken play vs big lump forwards. I see him as a perfect billy replacement that can cover the whole back row.

Having him start vs ireland (which I obviously realise was forced by injury) was probably one of the worst teams stylistically for him.

Yes in the context of how the England pack is setup, and what we want from the 8

If we'd had George or LCD over Hartley, Launchbury over Kruis or Itoje, and maybe something akin to Ewers over Robshaw then Simmonds game on attack starts to make more sense. Which isn't to say Simmonds must be picked and the team based around him

[Mellsblue]

Did Joe Simmonds ever play for Eng u20? I don’t remember ever seeing his name on a team sheet.

[twitchy]

Yeah he has played but 10 is probably the most contested position (good signs for the future). We seem to have a real conveyor belt going on.