Chiefs side to face Harlequins

By Mark Stevens

As London readies itself for the annual New Year fireworks, so Exeter Chiefs will be hoping to create their own spectacular show in the nation's capital when they face Harlequins in tomorrow's Big Game 6 at Twickenham.

Forget all the hype about X-Factor stars taking to the turf at the home of English Rugby pre-match, it's Devon's finest who will be aiming to take centre stage as they look to bag themselves a final Aviva Premiership win in 2013.

In what has been another impressive 12 months for Rob Baxter's side, the need to keep pace with the division's frontrunners is paramount as the top flight reaches it's halfway mark.

Hosts Harlequins occupy the last of the all-important top four places, just a point above the Chiefs, who last weekend ended a five-game losing streak with a hard-fought victory over Newcastle Falcons at Sandy Park.

It was a much-needed success for Baxter's side, who will head into this latest match-up buoyed by the fact that last season they completed an impressive league double over the Londoners.

"That top four position in the league is very important to us and that's what keeps it all very exciting," said Baxter (pictured) ahead of kick-off. "Traditionally we've had some very good games with Harlequins over the years; it should be a good surface and a fantastic stadium to play in. First and foremost, though, we are going to prepare for a very good game of rugby and when we're involved in good games of rugby, we tend to do pretty well.

"We did well against them [Quins] last season and they were two very good games of rugby. They like to play a lot of rugby and they play with a high tempo, like we do. The last couple of fixtures we've just shaded certain battles and come through a bit stronger and been a bit more clinical with the opportunities that have come along.

"Traditionally there are always quite a few try-scoring opportunities in these games, so we have to make sure our focus is on being very clinical and creating as many opportunities as we can, whilst at the same time limiting what Harlequins do because we know they are a very good attacking side, probably one of the best in the country."

Whether it is in defence or attack, the Chiefs will no doubt be looking to not only build on last week's 16-3 triumph over the Falcons, but at the same time put an end to their previous Twickenham torment.

As a club in the old National League One (now the Championship these days), the Chiefs made it through to four various finals between 2002 and 2008 - whether it be the Powergen Shield or EDF Energy National Trophy - but on each occasion they were defeated.

Baxter was involved on all four occasions as either a player or a coach, and he also took charge of an Exeter University side, which included current Chiefs Haydn Thomas and James Hanks, that lost to their Durham counterparts 31-24 in 2004.

"To be honest, our last few visits there as a club side haven't been all that great," conceded the Exeter head coach. "We were involved in four games, but didn't see off any of the finals we were involved in.

"Therefore it's good to go back there in a league fixture and what should be a sell-out crowd. I think it's a fantastic opportunity for us to show a lot of people what a good side we are. Personally, I think we now understand that when we get these big televised games, the players show how good they are

"It's very important for where we want to head as a club and that is we want to have international recognition for some of our players, whilst at the same time proving to prove to people that we are a genuine top half of the table side and that we want to improve each year."

Certainly the Chiefs have shown since their elevation into the Premiership that they can improve year on year, but Baxter knows it's this time of year when the big clubs begin to make their move and flex their muscles that little bit more in terms of positioning for the end of season sprint.

Baxter added: "If you look at the top couple of sides, it looks like they are beginning to stretch away a bit now. However, if you want to be involved in those end of season play-offs, this is where you have to start to show some quality now.

"Over the years we've tended to finish the season strongly, but what we can't do is let teams get too far ahead of us because it will become too difficult in the long run. At the moment we're right in the battle, a point off where we'd like to be, which is the top four, but at the same time there are a couple of teams below us who are fighting to get above us

"Ultimately the top half is where you have to stick because that is what gives you the big European games, which are very important to us, and if you are in the top six, you then have to be aiming for the top four because if you're not, you aren't showing the ambition you'd expect."

Ahead of kick-off, the Chiefs have tweaked their line-up slightly with England international Tom Johnson returning to the back-row at the expense of Kai Horstmann and Jason Shoemark also starts at centre ahead of Sam Hill. However, Horstmann is retained in the match-day 23 as he replaces Don Armand on the bench.

Scrum-half Haydn Thomas (pictured), meanwhile, is poised to make his 150th league appearance for the club, while Gareth Steenson is now just five points away from going second on Exeter's all-time list of points’ scorers in league rugby. He is currently four points behind Andy Green's tally of 1,085, but is still some way short of Tony Yapp's record of 1,526.

 

CHIEFS SIDE TO FACE HARLEQUINS

15 Luke Arscott
14 Jack Nowell
13 Ian Whitten
12 Jason Shoemark
11 Tom James
10 Gareth Steenson
9 Haydn Thomas
1 Ben Moon
2 Jack Yeandle
3 Hoani Tui
4 Dean Mumm (capt)
5 Damian Welch
6 Tom Johnson
7 Ben White
8 Dave Ewers

16 Chris Whitehead
17 Brett Sturgess
18 Alex Brown
19 James Hanks
20 Kai Horstmann
21 Will Chudley
22 Henry Slade
23 Fetu'u Vainikolo