Team news: Chiefs in hunt for home knockout draw with result against Cardiff

Exeter Chiefs have named their side to take on Cardiff Rugby in the last pool match of the EPCR Challenge Cup as they look to secure a strong result to guarantee a preferable knockout draw in the competition.

A week on from his try-scoring return to action, Paul Brown-Bampoe is again named to start while Stephen Varney returns to the starting XV after a short injury lay-off.

Chiefs’ director of rugby Rob Baxter said: “We’ve looked at the areas of our game we can address to be better in following on from our performance against Stade Francais, things like discipline and different areas around our set piece, to get us back on track.

“Cardiff are very competitive at the breakdown, that’ll be another challenge for us, and they like to play rugby! They move the ball well and when they get momentum in a game, they look very dangerous.

“They’re having one of those seasons where they can challenge anybody, but we are as well, so that should create a really good game.”

Having scored a brace against Stade Francais in Paris, Scott Sio packs down at loosehead with hooker Joseph Dweba and tighthead Bachuki Tchumbadze.

Match captain Dafydd Jenkins prepares to come up against a number of his Wales teammates as he partners Andrea Zambonin in the second row.

Greg Fisilau is rested, making way for Kane James to be boosted into the starting line-up at number eight. The youngster packs down with Tom Hooper on the blindside and Ethan Roots on the openside.

Varney slots straight back in to his ever-flourishing partnership with fly-half Harvey Skinner with Will Haydon-Wood shifting into the centre alongside Henry Slade.

The back-three remains unchanged with Brown-Bampoe and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso on the wings, Olly Woodburn at full-back.

Baxter said: “For lots of different reasons, getting a home round of 16 draw is really important. It’s key for us to maintain our home form, as that was one of the foundations of us building a very strong team in the past.

“It’s something we’ve got to talk about now, that nobody comes to Sandy Park and gets easy points, easy metres or easy tries.”

Last weekend’s replacement front row hosts one change as Julian Heaven comes into the side with Will Goodrick-Clarke and Jimmy Roots. Chiefs retain a 6-2 split with Rusi Tuima, Lewis Pearson and Richard Capstick all named to the bench.

Ben Hammersley is declared fit from a shoulder injury to be named beside Charlie Chapman in the remaining spots.

The game kicks off at 13:00 at Sandy Park with tickets still available here.

Exeter Chiefs:

15 Olly Woodburn

14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso

13 Henry Slade

12 Will Haydon-Wood

11 Paul Brown-Bampoe

10 Harvey Skinner

9 Stephen Varney

1 Scott Sio

2 Joseph Dweba

3 Bachuki Tchumbadze

4 Dafydd Jenkins (c)

5 Andrea Zambonin

6 Tom Hooper

7 Ethan Roots

8 Kane James

Replacements:

16 Julian Heaven

17 Will Goodrick-Clarke

18 Jimmy Roots

19 Rusi Tuima

20 Lewis Pearson

21 Richard Capstick

22 Charlie Chapman

23 Ben Hammersley