Chiefs side to face Bath

Hepher admitted that a detailed debrief had taken place – as it always does – in the wake of last weekend’s loss, and that he was expecting to see a response of sorts from his squad.

“We’ve looked at last weekend in detail and we’ve picked out clear opportunities where we could have not only taken charge of the game, but also kept the opposition at bay,” explained Hepher. “I guess our issue was we didn’t take those opportunities at the right time.

“We gave away too many penalties in the middle third, which in turn allowed them to push us back in our 22 and then put pressure on us. Had we been a little more disciplined and a little stronger mentally in those areas, then we could easily have got more from the game.

“What we need to do now is regroup and look to return to producing another good performance. It was only a few weeks’ ago that we put in a cracking performance here against Northampton, so let’s not get carried away, let’s reset ourselves, and let’s be prepared to work hard.”

Standing in the way of the Chiefs, however, will be a Bath outfit, who although defeated on home turf by arch rivals Bristol Bears last Sunday, had won their three previous league fixtures.

Add into the mix that they also turned the Devonians over in Round Two of this year’s competition, it’s little wonder that Hepher has spent much of the week outlining the threat posed to his side.

“Bath are a very good side and they’ve won a lot of games this year,” he warned. “As always, we expect a tough game, a physical game and they’ll be really confrontational. What we have to do is not only match them in all those areas, but better them.

“What you get with Joe, though, is a real threat in attack. We saw that last week, not just with his control and his footwork, but he scored two fantastic tries and his goalkicking is second to none right now. He’s still learning parts of the leadership side of his role, but he’s got great guys in and around him, all of whom are willing to help.

“Guys like Nic White and Ian Whitten offer great help and Dave Ewers is another who is really stepping up on the leadership side of things. We don’t want it that Joe shoulders the whole ship as such, but each week you can see and you can hear he is becoming more vocal in everything he does.”

Simmonds lines up tomorrow in an unchanged Exeter back division, but there are changes up front with England international Harry Williams returning at tight-head in place of Enrique Pieretto, while Jonny Hill returns to the starting line-up with Sam Skinner away on international duty with Scotland.

Pieretto is added to the bench, alongside fellow prop Ben Moon, while summer signing Will Witty offers back-up to the Exeter engine room. The only other change sees England and British Lions back Jack Nowell figure in a Chiefs squad for the first time since mid-January.

Following Exeter’s Heineken Champions Cup win at home to La Rochelle, the Cornishman underwent surgery on his ankle. Now fighting fit again, Nowell will be looking to make up for lost time.