Team news: Internationals return for Cardiff friendly

Four international players will pull on the Exeter Chiefs shirt for the first time this season as they take on Cardiff Rugby at the Cardiff Arms Park in a last pre-season friendly.

England stars Henry Slade and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso headline the group which includes Italy’s Stephen Varney as well as Georgia’s Bachuki Tchumbadze on the bench.

The game kicks off at 15:00 in the Welsh capital as Chiefs conclude their pre-season prep ahead of next weekend’s Gallagher PREM opener against Gloucester Rugby at Sandy Park.

Chiefs’ director of rugby Rob Baxter said: “We’ve settled those internationals lads back into the match line-up for the first time and that’s made for an interesting week because no matter how you look at it, they’re having to try to fit back in.

“That said, we haven’t made massive changes from last season, only made a couple of tweaks in attack and a couple of things around set-piece. They’re pretty capable guys, that’s why they’re internationals, so I’m pretty certain they’ll settle in well.”

Will Goodrick-Clarke and Jimmy Roots come into the starting front-row alongside youngster Louie Gulley at hooker.

As Lewis Pearson awaits results of a scan on a pectoral injury, Joe Bailey starts in the second row with Harry Wilson who shifts forward from his back-row starting position last weekend.

Ethan Roots takes the captain’s armband and Wilson’s vacated spot on the blindside flank to accommodate Kane James at openside while the returning Greg Fisilau packs down at number eight.

Varney slots in at scrum-half to reestablish last season’s impressive partnership with fly-half Harvey Skinner. Feyi-Waboso joins Olly Woodburn on the wing as Slade starts in the centrefield with summer signing Will Butt while Ben Hammersley starts at full-back.

Baxter added: “It’s always a nice challenge to go away, so going to Wales is great for us. We’ve picked a pretty strong squad, we’ve had some quality training this week in which I think we’re showing some really good intent and good attention to detail, which is what I want to see in the performance.”

Julian Heaven and Ethan Burger join Tchumbadze in forming the replacement front row. Finn Worley Brady is named alongside Oscar Beckerleg to complete the forwards split of the bench.

Sam Wolstenholme is named as the replacement scrum-half while Will Haydon-Wood and Sam Harris provide cover to the remainder of the back-line.

There is also an extended list of 10 travelling players who could be called upon throughout the match as rolling replacements.

The game kicks off at 15:00 in Cardiff, livestreamed on Clubber TV here. Alternatively, you can follow the match centre on our website here for live updates.

Exeter Chiefs:

15 Ben Hammersley

14 Olly Woodburn

13 Henry Slade

12 Will Butt

11 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso

10 Harvey Skinner

9 Stephen Varney

1 Will Goodrick-Clarke

2 Louie Gulley

3 Jimmy Roots

4 Joe Bailey

5 Harry Wilson

6 Ethan Roots (c)

7 Kane James

8 Greg Fisilau

Replacements:

16 Julian Heaven

17 Ethan Burger

18 Bachuki Tchumbadze

19 Oscar Beckerleg

20 Finn Worley Brady

21 Sam Wolstenholme

22 Will Haydon-Wood

23 Sam Harris

24 Joseph Dweba

25 Archie McArthur

26 Ehren Painter

27 Oisin Smith

28 Jake Murray

29 Ben Coen

30 Nick Lilley

31 Zack Wimbush

32 Ollie Batson

33 Charlie Poynton