Team news: International contingent return for Sale trip

Six internationals make a swift return from Quilter Nation Series duty to feature in the Exeter Chiefs line-up to face Sale Sharks in the Gallagher PREM on Friday evening.

For the round six fixture, Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter has selected England’s Henry Slade and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Wales’ Dafydd Jenkins, Italy’s Andrea Zambonin, and Australia’s Tom Hooper and Len Ikitau.

In addition, fresh from helping Manu Samoa qualify for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, loosehead prop Scott Sio is selected on the bench.

Baxter said: “Our internationals have all come back into the team environment in good fettle and have been ready to go since our first team meeting on Monday.

“For us, we’ve got to look at this week as an opportunity to make a statement about where we think we are as a group. If we can go up there and perform well, I think it shows where we need to be to be challenging at the top end of the Prem. I’m looking at it as a huge opportunity to do something positive.”

The front row that formed a strong partnership at the outset of the season returns. Will Goodrick-Clarke has been declared fit from an AC-joint strain to start at loosehead with hooker Joseph Dweba and tighthead prop Josh Iosefa-Scott.

Jenkins captains the side in a second-row pairing with Zambonin, both of whom were standout players for their nations throughout the autumn. Zambonin had a 91% tackle completion rate for the Italians while Jenkins started three consecutive games for Wales, making 64 tackles in total.

In the back-row, Hooper returns from a frustrating tour with the Wallabies to dive back into action alongside Ethan Roots and Greg Fisilau, both of whom featured for England A in their autumn friendlies.

Charlie Chapman played a prominent part in Prem Cup action for the past fortnight, so earns a start at scrum-half with Harvey Skinner slotting back in at fly-half.

In the centre, Slade and Ikitau return having both been on try-scoring form for England and Australia respectively. Feyi-Waboso links up with Olly Woodburn on the wings with Josh Hodge at full-back.

Baxter said: “Our visit to them in the cup showed what Sale are very good at, which is their half-backs control territory and make very good decisions. I’d like to think we learned a fortnight ago about conditions and about what the evening is likely to bring on the pitch.”

The bench also boasts international quality. Sio returns alongside with club captain Jack Yeandle while Bachuki Tchumbadze is at tighthead prop. Lewis Pearson and Kane James provide cover for the second and back row.

For the backs, Tom Cairns and Will Haydon-Wood rotate to the bench having been the starting half-back pairing in last weekend’s win over Bristol Bears while Ben Hammersley returns to complete the 23.

The game kicks off at 19:45 in Manchester live on TNT Sports with tickets still available here.

Exeter Chiefs:

15 Josh Hodge

14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso

13 Henry Slade

12 Len Ikitau

11 Olly Woodburn

10 Harvey Skinner

9 Charlie Chapman

1 Will Goodrick-Clarke

2 Joseph Dweba

3 Josh Iosefa-Scott

4 Dafydd Jenkins (c)

5 Andrea Zambonin

6 Tom Hooper

7 Ethan Roots

8 Greg Fisilau

Replacements:

16 Jack Yeandle

17 Scott Sio

18 Bachuki Tchumbadze

19 Lewis Pearson

20 Kane James

21 Tom Cairns

22 Will Haydon-Wood

23 Ben Hammersley