Exeter v Newcastle

[francoisfou]

Really looking forward to this game! Exeter will be clear favourites but Deano's men will be up for this and may well spring a surprise. I hope so!

Here are the teams :

Newcastle Falcons team to face Exeter Chiefs (Saturday, 3.30pm, Sandy Park, live on BT Sport)

15 Simon Hammersley 14 Vereniki Goneva 13 Chris Harris 12 Josh Matavesi 11 Sinoti Sinoti 10 Toby Flood 9 Michael Young 1 Sam Lockwood 2 Kyle Cooper 3 Scott Wilson 4 Calum Green 5 Evan Olmstead 6 Mark Wilson (captain) 7 Gary Graham 8 Ally Hogg.
Replacements 16 Santiago Socino 17 Rob Vickers 18 David Wilson 19 Will Witty 20 Nili Latu 21 Sonatane Takulua 22 Juan Pablo Socino 23 Alex Tait

Exeter Chiefs

15 Lachie Turner 14 Jack Nowell 13 Henry Slade 12 Sam Hill 11 Olly Woodburn 10 Joe Simmonds 9 Nic White 1 Alec Hepburn 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie 3 Tomas Francis 4 Mitch Lees 5 Jonny Hill 6 Dave Ewers 7 Don Armand (captain) 8 Sam Simmonds
Replacements 16 Jack Yeandle 17 Ben Moon 18 Greg Holmes 19 Sam Skinner 20 Thomas Waldrom 21 Stuart Townsend 22 Gareth Steenson
23 Ian Whitten

Referee: Matthew Carley

[fivepointer]

Falcons have come a long way this season but SP is a devilishly tough place to go and get a result, and Exe do seem to have found their best form at the right time.
Exeter to win by 10-14 points.
Concerned there's no Harry Williams in the 23. He hasnt played for a few weeks now. Is he likely to be fit for SA?

[Digby]

I remain more than a little surprised how quickly Joe Simmonds has risen to be 1st choice. It's brave too from Baxter to trust him in such a game.

Exeter look much stronger, though both sides have quality benches so if the game is tight Exeter can't just unload the bench and pull away

[Mikey Brown]

Yeah I was fully ready for Steenson to come back in.

[Banquo]

I remain more than a little surprised how quickly Joe Simmonds has risen to be 1st choice. It's brave too from Baxter to trust him in such a game.

Exeter look much stronger, though both sides have quality benches so if the game is tight Exeter can't just unload the bench and pull away

Its great...Simmonds has great promise.

[Digby]

I remain more than a little surprised how quickly Joe Simmonds has risen to be 1st choice. It's brave too from Baxter to trust him in such a game.

Exeter look much stronger, though both sides have quality benches so if the game is tight Exeter can't just unload the bench and pull away

Its great...Simmonds has great promise.

Even if it goes wrong in the short term the enthusiasm there'll be in the academy and wider squad from this sort of thinking surely only drives them forward

[Oakboy]

I remain more than a little surprised how quickly Joe Simmonds has risen to be 1st choice. It's brave too from Baxter to trust him in such a game.

Exeter look much stronger, though both sides have quality benches so if the game is tight Exeter can't just unload the bench and pull away

Its great...Simmonds has great promise.

He has looked comfortable and polished every time I have seen him.

[Banquo]

I remain more than a little surprised how quickly Joe Simmonds has risen to be 1st choice. It's brave too from Baxter to trust him in such a game.

Exeter look much stronger, though both sides have quality benches so if the game is tight Exeter can't just unload the bench and pull away

Its great...Simmonds has great promise.

Even if it goes wrong in the short term the enthusiasm there'll be in the academy and wider squad from this sort of thinking surely only drives them forward

ya'd think, and therein lies hope for the long term future here

[Raggs]

Much like Farrell a few years ago, he's got about as good a surrounding team as you could possibly wish for. Ruck ball presented cleanly, willing carriers, fixed gameplan and fairly uncomplicated structure. Even if he goes a little into his shell, and acts purely as a pivot, that team are able to do plenty with just that.

[Mellsblue]

Serious amount of EQP in that Exeter squad. Most of whom are young and will only improve.

[twitchy]

[16th man]

This is a clear example of a mid table side who have had a good season vs the best team in the country.

[Banquo]

This is a clear example of a mid table side who have had a good season vs the best team in the country.

I think Sarries might have something to say about that- it'll be fascinating to see if Exeter can do better than Wasps at halting Sarries forwards, and whether their ball retention holds up against Sarries blitz.

Simmonds is going to be a heck of a 10.

[twitchy]

Very happy with that. Plus I totally agree with banquo, sarries power game can damage any one. They won't let exe dominate possession like today.

[fivepointer]

The league's 2 best sides are in the final.
Falcons gamely stuck at it, but they were outclassed by Exeter who dominated in all areas. Really impressed with Ewers in the back row, Slade at centre and Simmonds, who is maturing very nicely indeed.
Graham was Falcons best player, working overtime in a lost cause. He might get a call for SA if Willis cant make it.