Team news: Frontline players fit to feature in PREM opener

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Dafydd Jenkins and Greg Fisilau have all been declared fit for inclusion in Sunday’s PREM opener against Northampton Saints.

After a pre-season of vigorous rehab programmes, all three have passed fitness tests to run out at cinch stadium at Franklin’s Gardens this weekend.

Chiefs’ director of rugby Rob Baxter said: “I’m really looking forward to the start of the league season. It’s been a challenging pre-season in a lot of ways for us, but we’ve come through it.

“I think we look like a team that’s bubbling at the surface. We’ve worked through some challenges and now we can really throw everything into playing in the prem.”

After a strong showing off the bench against Bath Rugby in the cup, Will Goodrick-Clarke and Josh Iosefa-Scott join Joseph Dweba starting in the front row.

There is no movement in the back five of the scrum. Rusi Tuima and Lewis Pearson pack down in the boiler room with a back row of Christ Tshiunza, match captain Ethan Roots and Ross Vintcent.

Last weekend’s man of the match at The Rec, Stephen Varney starts alongside Harvey Skinner while Henry Slade and Ben Hammersley pair up in centre-field.

Feyi-Waboso returns to a starting spot on the wing with Paul Brown-Bampoe and Josh Hodge rounding out the line-up.

Baxter said: “Northampton have got threats all across the park. Watching them in pre-season, we’ve seen they’re very strong set-piece wise. You could see all throughout last season that they were a dangerous side.

“For us, we’ve got to focus on ourselves and not put too much emphasis on Northampton and what they’re going to do. We have to discuss what we want to get out of the game and identify the pathways that will help us get a result.”

A six-two bench split creates plenty space for the returning Jenkins and Fisilau. Jack Yeandle, Kwenzo Blose and Bachuki Tchumbadze cover the front row while Kane James provides additional cover for the back row with Fisilau.

Charlie Chapman and Nick Lilley can then be utilised in the back-line.

The game kicks off at 13:00 in Northampton with tickets available on their website here.

Exeter Chiefs

15 Josh Hodge
14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso
13 Henry Slade
12 Ben Hammersley
11 Paul Brown-Bampoe
10 Harvey Skinner
9 Stephen Varney
1 Will Goodrick-Clarke
2 Joseph Dweba
3 Josh Iosefa-Scott
4 Rusi Tuima
5 Lewis Pearson
6 Christ Tshiunza
7 Ethan Roots (c)
8 Ross Vintcent

Replacements:
16 Jack Yeandle
17 Kwenzo Blose
18 Bachuki Tchumbadze
19 Dafydd Jenkins
20 Greg Fisilau
21 Charlie Chapman
22 Nick Lilley
23 Kane James