Exeter v Newcastle

[Stom]

Sam Simmonds back is good for Exe,

Exeter: Turner; Nowell, Slade, Whitten, Woodburn; Steenson, White; Rimmer, Yeandle (capt), Williams, Lees, Hill, Skinner, Armand, Simmonds.

Replacements: Taione, Moon, Francis, Atkins, Salvi, Townsend, Hendrickson, Dollman.

Newcastle: Tait; Van der Merwe, Harris, Socino, Goneva; Willis, Takulua; Davison, S. Socino, Welsh, Green, Witty, M. Wilson, Welch (c), Latu.

Replacements: Cooper, Vickers, Ilnicki, Robinson, Hogg, Stuart, Flood, Matavesi

[Puja]

This'll be a real test of Falcons' ambition - they've looked good so far, but Exeter at home is a different kettle of fish to their games so far.

Puja

[fivepointer]

Yes this should allow us to see where Newcastle are.

Simmonds back, which is good news for Exe plus Flood is on the bench for Falcons.

[Tigersman]

Simmonds being back is a huge plus for Exe lacked his carrying last week v Tigers.

[Digby]

White back at 9 looks bigger news than Simmonds being back

[Mikey Brown]

Is this on somewhere?

[Which Tyler]

Try the betting websites.
That or wait 24 hours

[twitchy]

[Timbo]

Like a Cornish Facundo Isa.

[Mellsblue]

Sod it. Start him in the AI's.

[Scrumhead]

I’d be happy with Simmonds starting

[fivepointer]

Cracking try. Simmonds must be included in the squad at the very least.

Fair play to Falcons. Getting a try BP is no mean feat at SP.

[bitts]

I do hope Simmonds is given a proper shot this Autumn. Not just a token few minutes before being dismissed as too small.

I'm not sure he is the type of player Eddie is looking for, but right now I'd rather he start than Underhill.

[Mikey Brown]

I do hope Simmonds is given a proper shot this Autumn. Not just a token few minutes before being dismissed as too small.

I'm not sure he is the type of player Eddie is looking for, but right now I'd rather he start than Underhill.

At 7?

[Timbo]

I do hope Simmonds is given a proper shot this Autumn. Not just a token few minutes before being dismissed as too small.

I'm not sure he is the type of player Eddie is looking for, but right now I'd rather he start than Underhill.

Unless we’re going to persist with Lawes/Itoje as a 6 and/or slink back to Haskell as a first choice player, Eddie is going to have to give at least a couple of flankers a good run. Other than Robshaw we don’t have a single internationally established, in form, specialist 6 or 7.

[Stom]

I'd be very interested in Simmonds and Underhill in the future. But can ypu imagine those two with Mercer?

[Digby]

I do hope Simmonds is given a proper shot this Autumn. Not just a token few minutes before being dismissed as too small.

I'm not sure he is the type of player Eddie is looking for, but right now I'd rather he start than Underhill.

At 7?

He's very often the first man over the ball after phase 1, which is a similar role to the England 7. Or maybe I've lost my marbles and it's not him or I'm imagining it.

And actually with the way the laws are now and teams not competing at the breakdown, and often still less off 1st phase he's in a great position to attack if the defence doesn't compete now he can reach behind for the ball and just go, he could well step a first defender and be able to run at a 9. Bigger picture I think we need to see some players going from the middle having reached back for the ball to encourage defence to put some men into the breakdown

[Mellsblue]

Bigger picture I think we need to see some players going from the middle having reached back for the ball

I thought this was now illegal.

[Digby]

Bigger picture I think we need to see some players going from the middle having reached back for the ball

I thought this was now illegal.

Providing it's not a real ruck you're golden, more golden even than a Trump visit to a Russian hotel

[Puja]

Bigger picture I think we need to see some players going from the middle having reached back for the ball

I thought this was now illegal.

You still have to be the hindmost player. If there's someone bound on behind you, then that's hands in the ruck, but if you're the guy furthest back, then that's just playing as scrum-half.

Puja