PRC: Bath Rugby v Exeter Chiefs

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Exeter Chiefs team news

15 Josh Hodge

14 Paul Brown-Bampoe

13 Ben Hammersley

12 Henry Slade

11 Dan John

10 Harvey Skinner

9 Stephen Varney

1 Kwenzo Blose

2 Jack Yeandle (c)

3 Bachuki Tchumbadze

4 Rusi Tuima

5 Lewis Pearson

6 Ethan Roots

7 Christ Tshiunza

8 Ross Vintcent

Replacements:

16 Joseph Dweba

17 Will Goodrick-Clarke

18 Josh Iosefa-Scott

19 Andrea Zambonin

20 Kane James

21 Charlie Chapman

22 Ben Coen

23 Nick Lilley

Bath Rugby

1 Scott Kirk,
2 Jasper Spandler,
3 Kieran Verden,
4 Harvey Cuckson,
5 Ewan Richards ©,
6 Ethan Staddon,
7 Thomson Cowan, y
8 Arthur Green,
9 Tom Carr-Smith,
10 James Linegar,
11 Tyler Offiah,
12 Will Butt,
13 Louie Hennessey,
14 Austin Emens,
15 Jack Woods

Replacements:

16 Max Pearce,
17 Mikey Summerfield,
18 Alfie Griffin,
19, Will Jeanes,
20 Alex Ridgway,
21 Neil le Roux,
22 Charlie Griffin,
23 George Timmins

Weather Forecast as at 1200 Friday

Light rain and a gentle breeze from the south south west
Temperature 16 degrees will feel like 18 degrees
Chance of Precipitation

TV Coverage

TNT Sports 1 Channel 408 SD 1500
TNT Sports 1 Channel 430 HD 1500

Bath 21- 28 Chiefs Whats happened to Julian Heaven?

Bath 15 Chiefs 25

Bath 21 - 26 Chiefs

Last year we went strong in this competition when most didn't, something many of us were critical of. This year most teams seem to be using it as a pre season warm up with stronger teams selected all round, except Bath! I most admit to being surprised at the strength of the Bath team facing Worcester warriors in comparison to the team facing us. It's obviously up to them how they approach every game, the young side did very well for them last year. I'm always a bit uncomfortable when the selections are so unbalanced, I fear a young player getting seriously injured.
Given the strength of the two sides, we really should be not only winning this but winning well. At least half that 15 would be in our first choice squad. I'm hoping to see signs of some decent attacking moves!
Bath 19 Chiefs 38

I dont know what to think any more.

Blind faith.

Chiefs 32 Bath 18

Thought it was a good chance to give Coen a start, also surprised not to see Heavan missing from the 23.

Chiefs 33 Bath 27

Bath 17 - 35 Exeter

If we manage to lose this then I suspect we will be in for a season similar to the last.

Bath 15 33 Chiefs.

Bath 27 - 19 Exe but I could be wrong

As with NM, above, nothing really to go on, but I suspect Bath are stronger than might be thought.
Bath 32 Chiefs 24
I look forward to being proved wrong, not least following a previous comment on positivity! 🫣

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

Bath seem to be entering into the spirit of the competition by selecting a good few second string or younger players, whereas we’ve got a somewhat more heavily loaded line up. However, my starting point is that we’re constitutionally unable to score more that 3 tries, so it’s:
Bath 33; Chiefs 19

It’s a shame we are not playing the Bath team selected for the Wuss game it would have been a better run out, yes we would have been thumped but it’s what we need to be ready for the Saints game. Even so there are no poor Bath teams and our away form has been diabolical for nearly 2 seasons. I’ll go for a narrow win chiefs 36 Bath 31. Why we don’t play specialist 2nd row forwards is crazy imo, no other team plays makeshift players in this position.

Bath 28 Chiefs 25

Bath 19 Chiefs 39

Bath 18 Chiefs 32

Looking forward to seeing our new tighthead looks to be a good mix of strength/size but also mobile - imho many of our other props are either a little lightweight or frankly too heavy..

Also will be watching both 11s closely - rate Dan John as talented and has had some time now to build his experience and a bit more bulk , also young Offiah for Bath….lets hope he saves the “chariots” for another day

Bath 24 - Chiefs 28

I don't really get the whole 'spirit of the competition' thing wrt the Prem cup. It's a competition, it has rules and it's up to each team to pick whatever side they want to. By the time the competition gets to the final stages, everyone puts out their strongest side.

If the PREM insists on having rounds before the league starts then some teams will use it as warm-up games. Bath chose to send their 'first' team to Worcester, we're sending ours to Bath. That said, if we don't come away with a win, it doesn't bode well for the coming season.

Bath 21 Chief 31

A lot of the Bath players sent to Worcester would have been unavailable. They're currently in their second mandated 5 week rest period following summer international tours etc. As a result they're not allowed to play competitive games but are allowed to play in friendlies. Will someone make that bit make sense?

I do hope we're not going to play the more experienced players all through this tournament again, denying our youngsters the chance to play competitive games for us.

Can't see anything other than us walking this one due to the experience, men v boys, call it what you will, but I hope we're given a tough test.

Bath 19 Chiefs 34

Bath 29 - 32 Chiefs

I don’t see a significant improvement from last season in the

I don’t see a significant improvement from last season yet, I know it’s early days but I feel resigned to the fact Exeter will finish at the foot of the table.

Quote:

Undercroft90
I don’t see a significant improvement from last season yet, I know it’s early days but I feel resigned to the fact Exeter will finish at the foot of the table.

Do we know if there is relegation this season? I know it depends on the ground capacity of the team in promotion place, but the rules have been made more realistic on that front.

You guys are going to get slaughtered in the league.

By Bath certainly, and everyone else.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:09:20:18:54:25 by lineoutball.

Quote:

ouch!_that_hurts
I don't really get the whole 'spirit of the competition' thing wrt the Prem cup. It's a competition, it has rules and it's up to each team to pick whatever side they want to. By the time the competition gets to the final stages, everyone puts out their strongest side.

You might want to check last year's PRC

Wow it took a while for the unflushable turd to surface!