Team news: Ikitau returns for Kingsholm clash

Wallabies international Len Ikitau returns to the starting line-up for Chiefs as they take on Gloucester Rugby at Kingsholm Stadium in round 14 of the Gallagher PREM on Sunday afternoon.

Also returning from injury, props Will Goodrick-Clarke and Josh Iosefa-Scott both start in the front row in a side captained by double centurion, Henry Slade.

Chiefs’ director of rugby Rob Baxter said: “I’m expecting Gloucester to be very good, very motivated. We’re very aware we’ve got to turn up fully ready for a tough game of PREM rugby. You don’t have to be much off your game to lose, so we’ve got to make sure we’re fully strapped in and prepared for an important game.”

Joseph Dweba slots into the starting XV this week following an injury to hooker Jack Yeandle in last weekend’s defeat to Northampton Saints. With Dafydd Jenkins and Andrea Zambonin both receiving rest weeks, Rusi Tuima and Lewis Pearson slot into the two second row berths.

Having made his return to action last week with six tackles and four carries off the bench against Saints, Ethan Roots starts on the blindside flank with Ross Vintcent on the openside and Greg Fisilau at No 8.

Scrum-half Stephen Varney comes up against his former side as he and Harvey Skinner retain their starting spots. Ikitau then slots seamlessly back into what was a blossoming centre partnership with Slade. The Australian hasn’t played since suffering a shoulder injury against Saracens in December.

With Olly Woodburn ruled out short term with a hamstring injury, Campbell Ridl drops back into the full-back slot with Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Paul Brown-Bampoe starting on the wings.

Baxter added: “We should be ready to go out there this week fresh and ready to fight. I’m fully expecting a Gloucester team that comes out roaring at Kingsholm. They’ve started well in all their recent games, been very competitive in big chunks of the game against good sides. We’ve got to be sure we’re prepared to work very hard for 80 minutes.”

Hooker Max Norey could make his first PREM appearance of the season as he is named on the bench with fellow front-rowers Ethan Burger and Jimmy Roots. Welsh international Christ Tshiunza returns to the matchday side as Chiefs go for a 6-2 bench split, with back-rowers Tom Hooper and Finn Worley Brady also selected. Thus, meaning Tom Cairns and Ben Hammersley cover the entirety of the Chiefs backline.

The game kicks off at 15:30 in Gloucester, broadcast live on TNT Sports. Match tickets are available on the Gloucester Rugby website, or you can follow the game in our live match centre here.

Exeter Chiefs

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

Replacements: 
16 Max Norey
17 Ethan Burger
18 Jimmy Roots
19 Christ Tshiunza
20 Tom Hooper
21 Finn Worley Brady
22 Tom Cairns
23 Ben Hammersley