Exeter Chiefs vs Bristol Bears - Premiership Rugby Cup

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15 Josh Hodge
14 Arthur Relton
13 Sean O’Brien
12 Ian Whitten
11 Dan John
10 Jack Walsh
9 Sam Maunder
1 James Kenny
2 Oil Burrows
3 Sam Nixon
4 Dafydd Jenkins
5 Ryan McCauley
6 Lewis Pearson
7 Aaron Hinckley
8 Rus Tuima

16 Jordon Poole
17 Danny Southworth
18 Patrick Schickerling
19 Corey Teague
20 Archie Hosking
21 Tom Cairns
22 Josh Barton
23 Tom Wyatt

Bears team ....

15. Luke Morahan (85 apps);
14. Deago Bailey (0 apps),
13. Jack Bates (10 apps),
12. Antoine Frisch (1 app),
11. Toby Fricker (20 apps);
10. Ioan Lloyd (48 apps),
9. Theo Strang (0 apps);

1. Jake Woolmore (87 apps),
2. Harry Thacker (59 apps),
3. Jake Armstrong (22 apps),
4. Dave Attwood ©️ (62 apps),
5. John Hawkins (23 apps),
6. Sam Jeffries (36 apps),
7. Dan Thomas (93 apps),
8. Nathan Hughes (48 apps).

System players: 16. Will Capon (52 apps), 17. Ashley Challenger (0 apps), 18. Jono-Benz Salomon (0 apps), 19. Ed Holmes (75 apps), 20. Macenzzie Duncan (0 apps), 21. Oscar Lennon (0 apps), 22. Sam Bedlow (39 apps), 23. Charlie Powell (15 apps).

Match Officials

Referee: Michael Hudson
Assistant Referees: Charles Gayther and Dean Richards
.
TMO: NK
Citing Officer: Richard Nunn

Weather

Light cloud with a moderate breeze from the north west

Temperature feels like 13 degrees

Low chance of rain

Television Coverage

Game is not covered this weekend

I think Bristol want to win this one!

I love this competition- looking forward to seeing this team in action.

Surprised to that Woodburn isn’t in the squad- I know we have some great emerging wingers but I’d at least have expected to see him on the bench. I don’t think he’s injured is he?

Very "experienced" team from Bristol. Is this the silverware they are targeting this season?

More like desperate to win this looking at the caps, need to win something I presume to keep the paymaster happy.
They will probably win looking at teams, but its good experience for our young guys.

Just thought I'd add appearances for our guys (according to the offy)

15 Josh Hodge (11)
14 Arthur Relton (0)
13 Sean O’Brien (0)
12 Ian Whitten (244)
11 Dan John (2)
10 Jack Walsh (4)
9 Sam Maunder (13)
1 James Kenny (11)
2 Oli Burrows (0)
3 Sam Nixon (3)
4 Dafydd Jenkins (0)
5 Ryan McCauley (4)
6 Lewis Pearson (3)
7 Aaron Hinckley (2)
8 Rus Tuima (6)

16 Jordon Poole (10)
17 Danny Southworth (5)
18 Patrick Schickerling (1)
19 Corey Teague (1)
20 Archie Hosking (0)
21 Tom Cairns (0)
22 Josh Barton (0)
23 Tom Wyatt (8)

That Brizz squad will give us a rough ride, that's for certain. I'll go with Chiefs 20 Brizz 15 as a prediction.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:11:12:13:05:19 by ExTeddChief.

I'm sure we are looking to win this competition as well. If we had less injuries, I'm sure our 23 would also have been stronger.
That said, no reason why we can't win this game if we cut out the mistakes and play with passion as a team (which will be difficult as they will have had little time to get together). After all, that is why chiefs have 'over achieved' in the past!

I'm ignoring common sense and the greater experience of Bristol and going for Chiefs 32 Bristol 25.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:11:12:13:45:17 by Currychief.

12-27 to Bris

I was quite surprised at some of the players that Pat Lam has picked but looking in more detail it makes a lot more sense:
15. Luke Morahan (85 apps); - Only played 2 games due to injury. Lack of full back cover
14. Deago Bailey (0 apps), - Academy player, first appearance
13. Jack Bates (10 apps), - Academy player, in squad recently due to injuries and has done well
12. Antoine Frisch (1 app), - New signing, only played 1 game
11. Toby Fricker (20 apps); - Started last 2 games but hadnt played previously
10. Ioan Lloyd (48 apps), - Hasn't started at fly half this season and been on bench recently
9. Theo Strang (0 apps); - On trial, first appearance

1. Jake Woolmore (87 apps), - Just back from injury
2. Harry Thacker (59 apps), - Missed last season with injury. Jake Kerr has started most games
3. Jake Armstrong (22 apps), - Hasn't started this season, very much 4th choice
4. Dave Attwood ©️ (62 apps), - Biggest surprise although has missed a few games
5. John Hawkins (23 apps), - First start of the season, been on bench for last 2 games
6. Sam Jeffries (36 apps), - Came back after retiring due to injury 2 years ago. Building fitness
7. Dan Thomas (93 apps), - Has hardly played this season and out of form
8. Nathan Hughes (48 apps). - Dropped after 2 games. Badly needs to find form

The subs are very inexperienced, a mixture of academy players, fringe players and trialists.

Relton (Exeter uni and England U20) has gas to spare as has Hodge...get the ball out wide....if we can!

£800k of cap space for Briz in Hughes and Attwood playing in the Noddy cup

Lol

Thanks J Mills.
I too was surprised at some of Bristol's selections, Thacker and Atwood especially, but your reasoning kind of makes sense for the rest. It's a strange comp and each club approaches it in what ever way they see best.
I do think the strength of Bristol's pack will be too much for us though. Our best hope is to target their inexperienced midfield.

Shame it's not on TV. I do feel we missed a trick on ticket prices, full price for a prem cup game is very expensive and too much for me to justify.

I'm going for Bris 32 Chiefs 14

CHIEFS 20 - 42 BEARS

Exeter 21 - 35 Bristol. Looking forward to seeing the young ones especially Relton and O’Brien.

Chiefs 17 - Bristol 52

Bristol pack looks much too strong and without the ball the Chiefs may struggle a lot to keep the score within bounds. Chiefs 16 Bristol 54

Looking forward to Sam and Jack at half back

Chiefs 18-28 Brizzle but I could once more be wrong!

Chiefs 17- bears 34

Looking forward to seeing Jack and Sam at half back, Tom Wyatt and Sean O'Brien in the three-quarters.
Both a bit gloomy here as to the result having scanned the Briz line-up.
Mrs PC Chiefs 17 Briz 34
PC Chiefs 12 Briz 45

Some of that pack may be out of form but they've got a lot of experience - Chiefs 19 - Bristol 35

biiz 27 ex21 a close game as our youngsters have to set their stances for the future. Hughes will love to bully these youngsters.

Hope it's not like the Glaws v Barf mismatch tomorrow.

Looking forward to watching this game, just surprised Whitton is starting ahead of Wyatt, seems like an opportunity lost to me.

Hi Broken arrow. I had exactly the same thought - why is Whitts in the team? Having reflected a bit maybe he is in the team to provide some experience especially in organising the defence in a very inexperienced set of backs.

So, as some of the first team performances have been somewhat “surprising” this season, I’ll hoping this team can surprise us too….

Chiefs 28 - Bristol 24

Wyatt has been at full back or on the wing for Pirates although we have him listed as a centre. Do agree about Whitts although he will provide a bit of defensive nous.

Much as I hate to do this I'll go

Exeter 18 - 30 Bristol

However I might have a small wager on Chiefs to salve my conscience!

Heart ruling head maybe, but I'm going with Chiefs to win 25:22

In Rob we trust.
By the way - cream on first. There's nothing to debate.

Briz by 40

Too close to call, but Exe 25 Bristol 21

Predictions so far
Bristol win 13
Chiefs win 3

Just in from a walk and Chiefs 14 - 0 to the good. Wow. Hope they can keep it up.

17-14 after 44 mins come on prove me wrong

24 14 intercept try

Seems our boys are giving them out for free today, 2 intercepts to your guys.

Briz edged ahead near end!

LBP considering the relative sides strength, very proud of the youngsters 27-33. Pity I am ill so couldn’t make it.
Well done Chiefs, against that pack you did wonders.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:11:13:18:24:54 by clalan.

The lads did very well I'd say judging purely by the score and the relative strengths of the sides put out. Jack Walsh with a couple of tries sounds good.

Best match I've watched from the Chiefs all season. Thought we'd get smashed by Bristol forwards but that wasn't the case until the end.
Good running and exciting rugby which was rewarded by the most vocal support all season. For the few of us there it was loud.
Just a shame we couldn't win but a lbp.

Lots of young lads really staking a claim for a first team place, most exciting game I’ve seen at Sandy Park this year. Very impressed with Walsh and O’brian and Rus Tuima put in a really good shift too. Both wingers were rapid too. There will be a few 1st team players feeling a little worried I fancy.

Up the Bears!!!

What a breath of fresh air that was, fabulous performance from the university lads, academy players away with the national league teams. Apart from the maul from the catch and drive the opponents offered very little and you can see why many are no longer first choice players at Bristol. To think Hughes who probably earns more than our entire 23 is a shadow of himself.
Our 9&10 real quality such a step up from our first team, Walsh in particular has more vision and pace than our first team choices and its alarming that he is farmed out in National league games at Taunton. He will surely be snapped up by another prem side if we do not give him opportunities. Our scrambling and tackling was first class so much energy and desire something so missing from our prem team in recent weeks. So good not to see slow ball and repeated box kicking which we are dreadful at.

Let’s hope the enthusiasm, flair and vision is not coached out of these young players as they develop. Whitten led the team so well today another strong performance from him. Walsh the clear mom for me but all the team had strong games.



One moan, the standard of officiating today was just not good enough and whilst would not have changed the result, the near one eye approach was so disappointing.

Quote:

inatthebreakdown
Up the Bears!!!

Very nearly..........................

A really enjoyable game of rugby.
A great display by our lads against a much more experienced side.
I thought our 9-10 worked well, and the wings and Hodgey certainly showed their speed.
It seemed odd seeing Whits out there with the lads, but he had a great game too, showing his experience in reading the game, in attack and defence ( and as flanker!)

My MOTM was definitely Walsh, his breaks, speed and tackling were too notch, not to mention his hits on Hughes taking the ball off him twice.
If Briz hadn't had such an experienced pack, 430 first team appearances versus be our 29, they would have got a right stuffing as they really didn't have much else, and despite the win, the Exeter coaches were probably the happiest.
Maybe we should have contested the line-out more to unsettle them.
It'll certainly give the coaches something to think about, and was definitely the squad to pick for this competition, and our club might not be just chasing a trophy, but will certainly benefit from it.

The defeat was a bummer but what was largely a second string string side put on a better performance that the full stregth lineup has done the last few games! THe game was still ours for the taking but as I had no idea what to expect from that lineup...good effort guys, good effort.

The whole atmosphere was different today and that was down to how the players played and the energy they put into the game.

Todays game was the most entertaining game I have seen at Sandy Park for a long time. My problem is after the Prem Cup games we will probably not see these players again until next year. With no relegation Rob and his coaches need to give these youngsters a go in the Prem.

IMO Whitten, Walsh and McCauley where excellent today.

My prediction was way out. Listened to the match on radio Devon live - Nigel Walrond and John Lockyer always a great listen. From the posts here and their match descriptions another performance like that will hopefully give the coaches some alternative choices for the prem games both with players and tactics. it was good to hear on the radio the crowd getting behind the team.

One big difference for me was the fact that we hardly gave away any turnovers, the ball was either offloaded or when taken into contact, the player turned and positioned the ball so the 9 could have easy access to it, it makes a massive difference to the flow of the game and means you can play front foot rugby. Too often Jack Maunder has to either, dig the ball out or quite often, join the ruck himself to free up the ball. This is a basic skill that too many of our 1st team players simply do not do. Jack Walsh did it perfectly on more than one occasion, he took it into contact, twisted immediately and lay flat on the floor, arms outstretched presenting the ball for his 9. This made it easier for his team mates to protect the ball. Text book stuff. I really hope the Coaches have the guts to make some changes to our 1st team lineup for the Sarries game.

Also, for those, like me, who worry about Harvey and Joe’s kicking form, I’m told that Hodge is an amazing kicker and Walsh is good too. Apparently, Hodge never missed a kick at University !! The future is bright.

Quote:

Broken arrow
One big difference for me was the fact that we hardly gave away any turnovers, the ball was either offloaded or when taken into contact, the player turned and positioned the ball so the 9 could have easy access to it, it makes a massive difference to the flow of the game and means you can play front foot rugby. Too often Jack Maunder has to either, dig the ball out or quite often, join the ruck himself to free up the ball. This is a basic skill that too many of our 1st team players simply do not do. Jack Walsh did it perfectly on more than one occasion, he took it into contact, twisted immediately and lay flat on the floor, arms outstretched presenting the ball for his 9. This made it easier for his team mates to protect the ball. Text book stuff. I really hope the Coaches have the guts to make some changes to our 1st team lineup for the Sarries game.

They will, as all of the internationals will be back and available!

Agree with others some really positive performances
Jack Walsh and Josh Hodge class youngsters
O Brien also v good and Whitts got stuck in as usual and changed the momentum often with good counter rucking
For me though Dan John was v impressive on the wing tackled much bigger men very effectively, caught two penalties to touch in field, was solid under the high ball, put the opposition under pressure well and clearly has a great rugby brain …. Need to see more of him and Walsh in particular

The leaders are beginning to stretch away from us mere mortals. The current standings as follows
17 Points: Bold Eagle
16 Points: Big Chief Little Chief
15 Points: Mrs PC
13 Points: Clalan
12 Points: Cornwall Chief; Dumnoniinomad; Mike the Shirt; Osmium
11 Points: Chief Firewater; Ouch That Hurts; The Stoke Canon; Exeterfan
10 points: Father Alice
9 Points: Thomas Hawk; Fisher; Ex 58
8 Points: Plympton Chief; Curry Chief
6 Points: Last of the Beercans
4 Points: ExTedd
3 Points: Kiethbar54
Some of us have not entered predictions for all matches which goes someway to explaining the differing scores.
Glaws at Castle Grim next week! If the lads do as well as they did this week it should be a very interesting game.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:11:15:16:15:20 by plymptonchief.

Highlights here



and full match now on the Premiership Rugby TV website

[www.premiershiprugby.com]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:11:16:17:28:22 by Tribester.

Thanks for posting the highlights, Tribester.
Good pace in evidence from Jack Walsh and Sean O'Brien!

It shows how well our young guns played the way they are talking that it was such a good win on the Bristol site with their experienced pack. Lets hope they can turn over Glos but they seem to be going for it with big guns as well.