Chiefs side to face Tigers

 

By Mark Stevens

Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter expects his side to fight "tooth and nail" in their bid to get amongst the frontrunners in this season's Aviva Premiership.

Back to back wins over London Welsh and reigning champions Harlequins have propelled the Chiefs back up the table ahead of tomorrow's visit of Leicester Tigers to a sold out Sandy Park (5pm).

However, Baxter wants his team to build on those two successes against English rugby's most successful club side, who themselves will not only be looking to complete a league double over their Devon hosts, but at the same time maintain their play-off aspirations.

"We are at that stage of the season where we have to make it about us and what we want to achieve," said Baxter. "We know we are not in danger of relegation, but we are in a group who can push on and achieve things. Whether that's fighting to get into the top four or whether it's fighting to get into the Heineken Cup, those things are still attainable to us right now. And if they are attainable, I expect us to fight tooth and nail to get them

"It's an important game, it's a sell-out and everybody is aware it's a great challenge and that it's getting to the business end of the season. We are fully aware it's an important game for Leicester, but equally it's a very important game for Exeter.

"I think it's a game where we can go after things and achieve things and I hope we are excited about that. We know Leicester are a very good side and they are very consistent in where they end up at the end of each season. They are always consistent performers and achievers within the division, but what we've said is we have to make sure we play well against the top four sides."

Baxter added: "Right now I think we are starting to show those qualities, but what we have to do is make sure we ram it home on a more consistent basis. That is part of the process of us developing ourselves as a consistent, top half of the table side.

"If there is anything that has let us down this season is probably that we have been a little bit inconsistent at times. We've gone from beating the likes of Harlequins and Saracens at home, but then letting the game slip away from us up at Sale and again here at home to Bath. If you look back at those close results, had we won those games you could easily say we would be a little bit further up the table and we would be fighting to be a real top contender within the league, so that's frustrating.

"That said, we will fight to keep going and understand what was good about the London Welsh and Harlequins performances and make sure we keep working to keep those qualities again this weekend and beyond."

Having not played for two Saturdays, the break has proved beneficial to Baxter in that fact that not only was he able to give his players a well-deserved week off, but some of the club's more longer-term casualties have now completed their recoveries and are fit for duty as the season enters into its final furlong.

Prop Brett Sturgess (arm) and Chris Whitehead (neck) both return to the bench alongside Craig Mitchell and James Hanks tomorrrow; whilst in the starting XV there are recalls for prop Hoani Tui and lock Dean Mumm, both of whom missed out on the recent win at the Twickenham Stoop. Joining Sturgess on the bench - for a first time in the Premiership - will be England Under-20s starlet Henry Slade, whose impressive displays in the recent Six Nations tournament have not gone unnoticed by Baxter.

The Exeter leader, who has already blooded Jack Nowell in the top flight this season, has been quick to praise the displays of Nowell, Slade and fellow young guns Luke Cowan-Dickie, Sam Hill, Jack Arnott and Joel Conlon - and believes the talented group not only represent the future of the club, but also the fantastic work that is going on within the club's academy system.

Whilst the Chiefs have potential England stars of the future, the Tigers currently have a wealth of full internationals at their disposal and many of them are expected to line-up against the Chiefs at Sandy Park tomorrow.

Asked if this weekend was a good time to tackle the Tigers - especially with their England contingent still licking their wounds after last weekend's loss in Cardiff - Baxter merely replied: "I don't know if there is ever a good time to play Leicester. Is it a good time to play a side that is welcoming back six or seven internationals?  Yes and no, I suppose. On one hand they have to integrate those guys back into the side, but at the same time they are integrating in some very good players.

"Personally, that doesn't worry me too much. What I do know is that whenever we play Leicester, we prepare as best we can because we know there is always a great challenge ahead. They are a side we have looked at closely ever since we came into the Premiership, simply because they are a side who have a lot of good qualities - and what you want to do is align yourselves to good qualities within different teams.

"We are aware it will be a good test for us this weekend, but at the minute the playing group are fresh and excited and what we've always said to the guys is that you need to be excited and in good nick as this is when most things in the course of the season are decided."

CHIEFS SIDE TO FACE LEICESTER TIGERS

15 Luke Arscott
14 Jack Nowell
13 Sireli Naqelevuki
12 Phil Dollman
11 Matt Jess
10 Gareth Steenson
9 Haydn Thomas
1 Carl Rimmer
2 Jack Yeandle
3 Hoani Tui
4 Dean Mumm
5 Damian Welch
6 Ben White
7 James Scaysbrook
8 Richard Baxter (capt)

16 Chris Whitehead
17 Brett Sturgess
18 Craig Mitchell
19 James Hanks
20 Dave Ewers
21 Will Chudley
22 Henry Slade
23 Ian Whitten