RugbyRebels

Gloucester Rugby:

15. Jason Woodward; 14. Charlie Sharples, 13. Billy Twelvetrees, 12. Owen Williams, 11. Ollie Thorley; 10. Danny Cipriani, 9. Willi Heinz (capt); 1. Josh Hohneck, 2. Jaco Visagie, 3. Fraser Balmain; 4. Ed Slater, 5. Franco Mostert; 6. Freddie Clarke, 7. Gareth Evans, 8. Ben Morgan

Replacements:

16. Henry Walker, 17. Alex Seville, 18. Ciaran Knight, 19. Gerbrandt Grobler, 20. Alex Craig, 21. Callum Braley, 22. Matt Banahan, 23. Tom Hudson

Unavailable for selection:

Ruan Ackermann, Mark Atkinson, Gareth Denman, Ruan Dreyer, Lloyd Evans, Todd Gleave, James Hanson, Jaco Kriel, Lewis Ludlow, Franco Marais, Tom Marshall, Jake Polledri, Val Rapava Ruskin, Will Safe, Henry Trinder, Ben Vellacott

CHIEFS SIDE TO FACE GLOUCESTER

15 Joe Simmonds
14 Santiago Cordero
13 Ian Whitten
12 Sam Hill
11 Tom O’Flaherty
10 Gareth Steenson
9 Jack Maunder
1 Alec Hepburn
2 Jack Yeandle (capt)
3 Tomas Francis
4 Dave Dennis
5 Sam Skinner
6 Sean Lonsdale
7 Don Armand
8 Tom Lawday

16 Elvis Taione
17 Ben Moon
18 Harry Williams
19 Mitch Lees
20 Wilhelm Van der Sluys
21 Sam Maunder
22 Ollie Devoto
23 Phil Dollman

Lots of unavailable players for Glos, Back row and front row are both issues if we pick up another injury. Savage to cover back row. Glos bench back row immediately leaked 3 pens at scrum time last time round.

I fear the worst.

Either Exeter have given up on Europe or Baxter is sending a message.

Exe may have one or two injuries but this selection is surely not their strongest and does hint at a recognition that advancing in Europe isnt their No 1 priority.
Still a good side, mind.

Gloskarlos wrote:Lots of unavailable players for Glos, Back row and front row are both issues if we pick up another injury. Savage to cover back row. Glos bench back row immediately leaked 3 pens at scrum time last time round.

I fear the worst.

Surely Mostert will be the back row cover if needed with Savag dropping in to he second row.

You’re playing at home against a lineup that is some way short of Exeter’s first choice selection so I’d fancy you to win.

I assume it's only having to pick from Euro squads that sees the lineup so strong

Gloucester comms have stated Savage as back row replacement - but yes I would agree with you.

Not a full home crowd worryingly, Friday night rugby doesn't fill the stadium as well as Saturday and the prices for this match are a bit keen for some. I reserve the right to expect Glos to self implode.

Fight back.

I would 100% be down for a Munster vs Exeter showdown over in Ireland with Exe needing a win to sneak into the q/f’s...2 weeks before England have to go over there in the 6N’s.

That would be...intense.

I'm so happy with that result. A load of injuries and b teamers stepping up. A proper wobble in form and showed what they can do. Really proud.

Exe turned things around and won well. Glos are maddeningly inconsistent. Losing Cips didnt help but overall they were 2nd best. Their 3rd try was a beaut, though.
Scrums were key and Moon and Williams really had a major impact.
Impressed with young Maunder. Nice tidy service and decent kicking. He just needs to play regularly now. Simmonds a hit at FB too.

fivepointer wrote:Exe turned things around and won well. Glos are maddeningly inconsistent. Losing Cips didnt help but overall they were 2nd best. Their 3rd try was a beaut, though.
Scrums were key and Moon and Williams really had a major impact.
Impressed with young Maunder. Nice tidy service and decent kicking. He just needs to play regularly now. Simmonds a hit at FB too.

Only saw the 1st half so intrigued by your comments about Maunder, who looked excellent in what I saw. It's maddening that he's only 3rd choice at the club.

Oakboy wrote:

fivepointer wrote:Exe turned things around and won well. Glos are maddeningly inconsistent. Losing Cips didnt help but overall they were 2nd best. Their 3rd try was a beaut, though.
Scrums were key and Moon and Williams really had a major impact.
Impressed with young Maunder. Nice tidy service and decent kicking. He just needs to play regularly now. Simmonds a hit at FB too.

Only saw the 1st half so intrigued by your comments about Maunder, who looked excellent in what I saw. It's maddening that he's only 3rd choice at the club.

Fourth. It was Maunder the younger.....I think.

Jack started, Sam, younger brother, was on the bench (didnt get on)
Think Jack just needs to play. Hes missed a lot of rugby through injury over the last year. He's got the basics, now he needs to hone his skills and game management.

Maunder (Jack) should get plenty of game time now, they were saying in the build up to last nights game that Stuart Townsend has done his ACL.

Agree with you guys, he’s a big talent and was very good last night.

He's a got a lovely pass on him. We seem to have a few really promising 9's in the age groups for england. We have waited long enough eh.

I'm still of the opinion that JMaunder's the best EQ scrum-half. He's got such lovely service and his box-kicking is very nice as well. It's infuriating that he hasn't been playing regular rugby this year.

Puja

Exeter should be absolutely kicking themselves. Playing at even 90% of their best they’d have a nice cushion at the top of this pool.

Luckily for them it seems like this is going to be incredibly tight. Next round of fixtures Castres go to Sandy Park and Munster go to Kingsholm, and all 4 teams will think they can still top the pool.