Exeter vs Bath - semi-final - 4.30pm Saturday

[Puja]

EXETER:
15. Stuart Hogg
14. Olly Woodburn
13. Henry Slade
12. Ollie Devoto
11. Tom O’Flaherty
10. Joe Simmonds (c)
9. Jack Maunder

1. Alec Hepburn
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie
3. Harry Williams
4. Jonny Gray
5. Jonny Hill
6. Dave Ewers
7. Jacques Vermeulen
8. Sam Simmonds

16. Jack Yeandle, 17. Ben Moon, 18. Tomas Francis, 19. Sam Skinner, 20. Jannes Kirsten
21. Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 22. Gareth Steenson, 23. Ian Whitten


BATH:
15. Anthony Watson
14. Ruaridh McConnochie
13. Jonathan Joseph
12. Cameron Redpath
11. Joe Cokanasiga
10. Rhys Priestland
9. Ben Spencer

1. Beno Obano
2. Tom Dunn
3. Will Stuart
4. Josh McNally
5. Charlie Ewels (c)
6. Tom Ellis
7. Sam Underhill
8. Taulupe Faletau

REPLACEMENTS
16. Jack Walker, 17. Lewis Boyce, 18. Christian Judge, 19. Elliott Stooke, 20. Miles Reid
21. Will Chudley, 22. Josh Matavesi, 23. Tom de Glanville

[Puja]

25 of the starting 30 are EQP. Pretty impressive stuff.

Good to see Cokanasiga back again. Big stage for Jonny Hill to impress against one of Eddie's favourites as well.

Puja

[padprop]

McNally is a good player isn’t he? For all the england interest for Ewels and Stooke, he’s never even been in the conversation

[Puja]

What mistake in the thread title? There was never a mistake - you're clearly imagining things!

Puja

[twitchy]

McNally is a good player isn’t he? For all the england interest for Ewels and Stooke, he’s never even been in the conversation

I was just googling him and it says he is ex RAF. Imagine trying to fit that fucker in a cockpit.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Is Mercer injured?

[Stom]

25 of the starting 30 are EQP. Pretty impressive stuff.

Good to see Cokanasiga back again. Big stage for Jonny Hill to impress against one of Eddie's favourites as well.

Puja

And you can't say the imported talent are journeymen, either! Good going both teams.

[fivepointer]

Lots of good head 2 heads here from a potential England POV.

Obano-Williams, Dunn-LCD, Ewels-Hill, Spencer-Maunder, Redpath-Devoto, JJ-Slade and the 4 wingers. Add in the Simmonds brothers, Underhill, Watson and Stuart starting and you have a lot that will interest Eddie Jones.

The other semi might have the greater appeal but i reckon this has the potential to be a very good match.

[Oakboy]

From an Exeter viewpoint, I'd suggest two fears: Coka and LCD's lineout throwing. Is Nowell injured again?

[Banquo]

IF Bath could at least be the sum of their parts, this should be a cracker- and picking Redpath means they might fancy more width. Picking Coka is a big call.

[Scrumhead]

Agreed - but that’s what I want to see in a semi-final. Good on Hooper for showing some intent/ambition.

[Banquo]

Agreed - but that’s what I want to see in a semi-final. Good on Hooper for showing some intent/ambition.

Possibly...really hope so.

Unless Roko is injured, a tad harsh btw

[TheNomad]

What’s interesting is that the bath side from 1 to 15 look at least a match player for player, outside of an obviously inferior second row

But I wouldn’t give them much of a chance

[Digby]

Neither bench has much pace on it

[Oakboy]

Neither bench has much pace on it

I thought de Glanville was quick. Perhaps I am mixing him up with someone else.

[Digby]

Any pace he has would be averaged out by Matavesi

[FKAS]

What’s interesting is that the bath side from 1 to 15 look at least a match player for player, outside of an obviously inferior second row

But I wouldn’t give them much of a chance

I was thinking something similar. In terms of noticeable individual form and reputation you'd say man for man you'd probably go Bath. As a cohesive team it's hard to see past Chiefs though as they are just so well drilled and match good tactics with hardwork and ability. The rate at which Bath are developing this might be a closer game next season (and as a Tigers fan I take no joy in saying that).

Interesting call for Chiefs to start with Hepburn as he is the weaker of the two looseheads when it comes to scrum time. An in form Stuart must see that as a chance to equal things out as Chiefs are used to dominating the set piece.

[Raggs]

Can actually enjoy this now. Albeit will be leaving early for dinner. Vaguely rooting for Bath, feel more confident against them I think.

[padprop]

This is going to be an old fashioned ding dong. Alot of broken bodies by the end

[Mellsblue]

Some serious lids on all four props.

[Raggs]

Lovely from Bath. Though really didn't feel like there should have been enough attackers to almost score that.

[Which Tyler]

I thought forward pass first, but no good TV angle

[Which Tyler]

Exeter doing a lot of holding Bath supporting players down behind the ruck - or am I being cycloptic?

[padprop]

That Underhill penalty really should have been a yellow

[Which Tyler]

You don't see many wingers holding up a prop from 1'

That Underhill penalty really should have been a yellow

Agreed

Eventual try was utterly inevitable