Exeter Chiefs host London Wasps in bid to secure eighth place in Premiership – Rugby
A record crowd is on the cards to celebrate the Exeter Chief’s scrum half Haydn Thomas’ personal milestone of 100 games for his club as he takes the field against the London Wasps at Sandy Park on Saturday, May 7.
Both teams will be playing their last game in the Aviva Premiership and are already out of the Aviva play-offs.
Wasps defeated Chiefs 24 – 12 when both teams last met during round 10 of the Aviva Premiership, earlier in the season. However, later during the Anglo Welsh Cup encounter, Chiefs delivered a thumping defeat to the visitors by beating them with a margin
of 23 points.
However, Chiefs had their problems during the middle and later part of the season. Exeter Chiefs ended their four game losing run in Aviva Premiership 2010/11 as they beat the Sale Sharks 30 – 24 at Edgeley Park, Stockport.
Furthermore, Chiefs have lost two of their last three games they have played at Sandy Park.
However, Wasps current form will not allow them to capitalise on the opportunity. Wasps have won only a single game out of their previous five matches. Additionally, Wasps have lost eight consecutive away games.
Saturday’s game will also be the last game for the Wasps Coach, Leon Holden as he will take charge of a club team in Japan at the end of the season. Wasps have made a number of changes to win their first away game since December 2010.
For Wasps Joe Simpson suffering from a broken thumb will not take part during the weekend’s game and Nic Berry replaces him.
Wasps winger Tom Varndell hasn’t recovered from the knock and makes way for Christian Wade in the starting XV. Holden has moved Richard Haughton at fullback position from the wing for the Saturday game Elliot Daly will start as winger in place of Richard
Haughton.
Exeter Chiefs assistant coach Ali Hepher has announced an unchanged side, which defeated Sales Sharks 30 – 24 during round 21 of the Aviva Premiership. The only change comes at bench where Chris Budgen makes way for Ignacio Elosu and Jason Shoemark replaces
Bryan Rennie.
Predictions: Chiefs are expected to grasp the 8th position in the Aviva Premiership with a win over the Wasps who are in a poor run of form.
Squads:
Exeter
Starting XV:15 Luke Arscott, 14 Matt Jess, 13 Phil Dollman, 12 Sireli Naqelevuki, 11 Nic Sestaret, 10 Ignacio Mieres, 9 Haydn Thomas, 8 Richard Baxter, 7 James Scaysbrook, 6 Tom Johnson, 5 James Hanks, 4 Tom Hayes (capt), 3 Hoani Tui, 2
Neil Clark, 1 Brett Sturgess.
Replacements: 16 Chris Whitehead, 17 Ben Moon, 18 Ignacio Elosu, 19 Chad Slade, 20 James Phillips, 21 Junior Poluleuligaga, 22 Gareth Steenson, 23 Jason Shoemark.
Wasps
Starting XV:15 Richard Haughton, 14 Elliot Daly, 13 Ben Jacobs, 12 Riki Flutey, 11 Christian Wade, 10 Dave Walder, 9 Nic Berry, 8 John Hart (capt), 7 Sam Jones, 6 Joe Launchbury, 5 Richard Birkett, 4 Simon Shaw, 3 Ben Broster, 2 Tom Lindsay,
1 Tim Payne.
Replacements: 16 Joe Ward, 17 Zak Taulafo, 18 Bob Baker, 19 James Cannon, 20 Joe Burton, 21 Jonah Holmes, 22 Seb Jewell, 23 Josh Lewsey.
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