Exeter Chiefs v Bristol Bears

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Briz are a bit limited in the backs with long-term injuries to Malins and Williams so don't have obvious cover at 10 and we REALLY need to win this one so, with home advantage and their potential weaknesses in the backs I'm going Chiefs 34 - 21 Bears.🤞

Exeter Chiefs team news

15 Josh Hodge

14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso

13 Olly Woodburn

12 Joe Hawkins

11 Paul Brown-Bampoe

10 Harvey Skinner

9 Sam Maunder

1 Scott Sio

2 Jack Yeandle (c)

3 Marcus Street

4 Rusi Tuima

5 Franco Molina

6 Jacques Vermeulen

7 Richard Capstick

8 Ross Vintcent

Replacements:

16 Dan Frost

17 Will Goodrick-Clarke

18 Josh Iosefa-Scott

19 Jack Dunne

20 Ethan Roots

21 Tom Cairns

22 Ben Hammersley

23 Greg Fisilau

Bristol Bears:
15. Rich Lane
14. Jack Bates
13. Joe Jenkins
12. Benhard Janse van Rensburg
11. Gabriel Ibitoye
10. AJ MacGinty
9. Kieran Marmion
1. Jake Woolmore
2. Gabriel Oghre
3. Max Lahiff
4. Josh Caulfield
5. Joe Batley
6. Steven Luatua
7. Santiago Grondona
8. Fitz Harding (c)

Replacements:

16. Will Capon
17. Ellis Genge
18. George Kloska
19. James Dun
20. Benjamin Grondona
21. Harry Randall
22. Sam Worsley
23. Benjamin Elizalde

So WHW is thrown into the deep-end against a resurgent Sarries, given nothing to work with and now has been completely dropped from the matchday 23.

Unless he's injured, this seems like subterfuge and I feel really sorry for him.

Chiefs 19 - 25 Bears.

Match Officials

Referee: Matthew Carley
Assistant Referees: Craig Maxwell-Keys & Gareth Holsgrove
TMO: David Rose

Weather Forecast

Sunny intervals and a moderate breeze from the west north west
Temperature will feel like 13 degrees
Precipitation is not expected

TV Coverage

Channel 450 TNT Sports 5 SD 1445-1700
Channel 458 TNT Sports 5HD 1445-1700

Does seem v strange selection re WHW. I for one don't understand.

Presumably Hawkins or Hodge will cover 10?

Im afraid I simply dont buy into Jack Yeandles place in the pecking order, as a starting hooker, as a decision maker nor as a leader.

Equally, whilst I understand the argument that Tom Cairns is a good 'finisher' , I actually believe that he would also be a better starter and almost certainly has 80 minutes in him.

I love watching Josh Hodge with the ball in broken play, but I certainly have concerns about him defensively. I wonder if he might be better as an impact player on the bench when Tom Wyatt is available. Or perhaps even could he start somewhere else?

Great to see Jacques back and I'm certainly looking forward to Molina adding some grunt. Im glad that the experiment with Capstick in the row has been dropped.

Ive made three win predictions and currently sit bottom of the table, so I'm definitely not going to switch now. A high scoring game.

Chiefs 34 Bristol 29

Quote:

StanWilks
So WHW is thrown into the deep-end against a resurgent Sarries, given nothing to work with and now has been completely dropped from the matchday 23.
Unless he's injured, this seems like subterfuge and I feel really sorry for him.

Chiefs 19 - 25 Bears.

I had a feeling this would happen to WHW when he got picked last week.

Fisilau listed at 23? Are we using him as a centre or does Cairns have some superstition about replacement 9 number not being 21?

Chiefs 21 Bears 29

6-2 bench for us! Interesting.

Quote:

ExeterFan

Quote:

StanWilks
So WHW is thrown into the deep-end against a resurgent Sarries, given nothing to work with and now has been completely dropped from the matchday 23.
Unless he's injured, this seems like subterfuge and I feel really sorry for him.

Chiefs 19 - 25 Bears.

I had a feeling this would happen to WHW when he got picked last week.

Fisilau listed at 23? Are we using him as a centre or does Cairns have some superstition about replacement 9 number not being 21?

Chiefs 21 Bears 29

I think that was just a mishap. He's listed at 21 on the team sheet on Twitter.

Our back 5 looks significantly stronger but I really don't get the starting front row. They were schooled last week & I don't see that changing. I'm going for a high scoring game with home advantage just nodding it to us. Chiefs 35 Bears 30.
Assumes we can convert pressure

Should be a cracking game and hopefully we’ll remember how to win. Good to see Jacques back and Molina should be an interesting watch.

Chiefs 27 Bears 23

Chiefs 30 Bristol 20.

The resurgence starts here.

Bears team still looking very strong despite some injuries, but hoping Chiefs can come out the right side for a change. Chiefs 24 Besrs 21

Not sure Bristol pack has the threat of Sarries on their plastic pitch, and with our pack having more bulk this week we should hold our own. The return on JV is great news and should give that bit of tenacity we have been missing last couple outings.
Just hope our nine is able to improve with ball speed as our backs could use the pace they have in spades if given quick ball.
We are able to play quickly, and now maybe the passing will start to become more consistent, the boys always show endeavour just need to think a tad better.

Chiefs 27-25 Bears

Certainly think we will nick this one 27-17 for me but i have to agree with NM there are better starters Jack should now come on later as he seems the best leader .

Chiefs 28 Bears 24

Mackintosh crossfield kick passes to Rich Lane cost us dearly last time around.

I hope that Josh Hodge, Paul BB and Manny FW have rewatched that game a few times.

Got a good feeling about this one Chiefs 18 Bris 12

As ever IMO 3rd or 4th best choice hooker selected as captain. Baffling to me. Good to see Jacques and Vincent back and Molina starting. I have to assume that WHW is injured. If we play with our usual kicking tactics and breakdown problems we will lose. Not very confident but Chiefs 44 Bristol 32. A win for us is vital so confidence can start returning for the players.

I’m not sure I buy this story about the Bristol backline being weak. Marmion iis an Ireland capped player and Harry Randall is on the bench. AJ MacGinty is very experienced and skilful, Benhard Janse van Rensberg is outstanding at the moment, and Gabriel Ibitoye is a real handful. Add Rich Lane into the mix who scored a hat-trick against us last season and I think they’ve got plenty to work with.
Nevertheless, I’m going to back our boys, so it’s Chiefs 31,Bears 26.

Hoping JV, Vintcent and Molina can hit the road running as that Briz lineup is not too shabby. My wish is to see quicker ball from the breakdown and passing to receivers on the move!
Chiefs 31: Briz 22

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

I think we will need to score a min 4 tries to have any chance of winning this as Bristol are very good at the driving maul and we are poor at defending it.
Not sure how some players have kept the jersey it’s certainly not on form and there must be some very unhappy players in the squad not being given a chance, but parking that aside I really hope we can get a win or at least a positive performance for the supporters.

We will need to be squeaky clean at the breakdown or Carley will penalise us out of the game, let’s hope that has been drilled into the players this week.

Going to go with my heart rather than head Exeter 37 Briz 32

Chiefs 33 Bears 25

Bristol are on a roll at the moment and I can’t see that changing

Chiefs 19 Bristol 32

Looking through the usual rose tinted glasses Exeter 34-27 Bristol but I could be wrong!

Chiefs 24 - 29 Bears
I hope I’m wrong as we really need the win

I'm going to step off the negative bus for this one. Our pack looks much stronger than last week, Bristols starting 15 isn't as strong as they'd like. If we can't beat that starting Briz team we really are in trouble.I would expect a high scoring game. Briz can score/concede lots of points very quickly.
Chiefs 31 Briz 26
If we lose this I'm getting a season ticket on the negative bus! Actually, although we desperately need the points the performance is more important, let's hope for a massive improvement from last week!

Our bench should make an impact and hopefully our wingers will get some ball.
Chiefs 34 Bears 24

[quote StanWilks]So WHW is thrown into the deep-end against a resurgent Sarries, given nothing to work with and now has been completely dropped from the matchday 23.

Unless he's injured, this seems like subterfuge and I feel really sorry for him.

At least he got a start which is more than Rigg has got even though he looked the best centre pre season and we have a winger playing midfield. What was the point of signing him form a club were he was getting game time just to come here to rot, when Slade and Wimbush come back Rigg may as well go back on loan.

Glad to see Paul Brown back starting, I dont think Ben Hammerley brings anything to the team in the back 3.

Chiefs 35 Bristol 20

If everyone plays to plan we will thrash Bears. Apparently we never do, so I will go for Chiefs 33 Bears 30. My head says otherwise.

Agree with Mommentum re Rigg. Ben H had a shocker last week. Hope he comes on and repays the Coaches faith in him.

More in hope than expectation .........

Chiefs 29 Bears 25

I'm going to say that that this is the weekend we finally make it all come together. Hang on - that's what I said last week! Oh well, it has to happen some time........ doesn't it?

Chiefs 33 - 28 Bears

[quote mommentum][quote StanWilks]So WHW is thrown into the deep-end against a resurgent Sarries, given nothing to work with and now has been completely dropped from the matchday 23.

Unless he's injured, this seems like subterfuge and I feel really sorry for him.

At least he got a start which is more than Rigg has got even though he looked the best centre pre season and we have a winger playing midfield. What was the point of signing him form a club were he was getting game time just to come here to rot, when Slade and Wimbush come back Rigg may as well go back on loan.

Glad to see Paul Brown back starting, I dont think Ben Hammerley brings anything to the team in the back 3.

Chiefs 35 Bristol 20[/quote]

Yeah, fair point.

Glad you rate Rigg highly as I do. I thought he was our best signing of last season, but his progress has definitely been stymied during a time where injuries are prevalent.

Sorry to say, but Maunder is having a shocker.

Poor touch kicking, slow service, poor delivery and getting turned over.

No one is going to persuade me that those are coaching problems, nor part of the 'script'. And we are actually getting some decent front foot ball from the forwards. Im sure that Cairns will. Make a big difference.

Sorry NM, totally disagree, I thought Maunder had a pretty good first half.

Yes, he got turned over in an attacking position, but so did half the forwards !!

Quote:

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Sorry NM, totally disagree, I thought Maunder had a pretty good first half.
Yes, he got turned over in an attacking position, but so did half the forwards !!

That doesn't come as a huge surprise BA....😁

Hes only been on for 5 minutes but cairns is making a difference already.

Frost should be given the boot - his stupidity will cost us this game

This isn't the first time we've had this kind of brain-dead behaviour......

Quote:

Not Manichean

Quote:

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Sorry NM, totally disagree, I thought Maunder had a pretty good first half.
Yes, he got turned over in an attacking position, but so did half the forwards !!

That doesn't come as a huge surprise BA....😁

Hes only been on for 5 minutes but cairns is making a difference already.

Maunder was congratulated on a good performance when he came off. He was one of two on the bench who seemed to care as it was thrown away.

Quote:

ExeterFan

Quote:

Not Manichean

Quote:

Broken arrow
Sorry NM, totally disagree, I thought Maunder had a pretty good first half.
Yes, he got turned over in an attacking position, but so did half the forwards !!

That doesn't come as a huge surprise BA....😁

Hes only been on for 5 minutes but cairns is making a difference already.

Maunder was congratulated on a good performance when he came off. He was one of two on the bench who seemed to care as it was thrown away.

Theres nothing wrong with his attitude. He was digging at Marmion all afternoon and was pretty effective there.

But his touch kicking was very average, he takes an extra unnecessary step before every delivery, some of his passes were very poor, he knocked on and got turned over in a very costly position.

Im sure that he got a pat on the back when he was subbed, but most players do.

I have to agree with BA Sam M did not have a poor game he got around the pitch well and did his best, yes he made an error or two but the forwards dropped the ball got turned over on a number of occasions in the red zone not SM fault. Cairns is clearly out of favour with Hepher and I think his confidence is shot because of it, his attacking threat is being stifled which is something I can’t fathom. Randall is a class player as an attacking 9 and his whole team around him play with pace and vision I don’t think we plan our game plan on these tactics unfortunately, hence why Nic White would be mad to come back as we do not play a style which suits his game.

I hope the coaches realise that all our tries this season have come from running the ball even the one from Greg F was a running move, NONE have been bash bash by the forwards, perhaps we should concentrate on running the ball as clearly it scores us points - not rocket science is it ?