Team news: Opportunity knocks for Chiefs’ young players

Italy’s winger Francesca Granzotto, prop Alessia Skeates and lock/back-row Lola Whitley are poised to make their PWR debuts against Loughborough Lightning this weekend while Abby Duguid has been handed her first Chiefs start against her former club.

Minor injuries for props Hope Rogers and Amy Rule mean they will be rested for Sunday giving Demi Swann a chance to start in the loosehead berth and DaLeaka Menin is back at tight-head.

New signing Duguid will start the game in the second row allowing captain Emily Robinson to move into the back row.

Among the backs, Merryn Elworthy returns at full-back as Alex Tessier moves to centre, while Granzotto has been given an opportunity on the wing.

Exeter Chiefs Women’s head coach Steve Salvin said: “Hope and Amy have minor injuries, nothing that will affect them long-term. We probably could have pushed them through, but we have got some really good players in Demi and DaLeaka. It means Abby (Middlebrooke) and Alessia get an opportunity to come into the match-day squad in the PWR. It’s really important they continue to get those opportunities."

Prop Hannah Sams is unavailable for selection after undergoing shoulder surgery today. Flanker Taz Bricknell will also miss the rest of the season after suffering a dislocated kneecap two weeks ago.

Salvin added: “We’ve rotated Abby Duguid into the squad, which means Gabriella Nigrelli is still in the 23. We thought Abby did really well off the bench last weekend and deserved an opportunity to start a game. It will be a big, big day for her as she’ll be going up against the club she played for over the last four years. Really excited to see how she goes.

“We wanted to give Francesca an opportunity. We are really fortunate that we have the wingers of the calibre of Claudia (Moloney-MacDonald), Katie (Buchanan), Sabrina (Poulin), and Eilidh (Sinclair). We saw how good a player Francesca was at the World Cup, but we have not had the opportunity to have her in the match-day squad as yet.

“Katie will start on the bench. She has played really well in those first two games. Sabrina drops out this week, but this is not a reflection of her performance. We think she has been absolutely brilliant and will come back into contention for the Harlequins game.

“We have had some positional switches in terms of Tess moving back to her more natural position at 12, where we saw her quality at the World Cup. Gabby (Cantorna) drops out of the squad this week; she started our last three games and done really well, but we are very mindful it is a long season with players coming back after a World Cup. It’s really important we give players opportunities, but we don’t overwork them too.

“Lastly, Lola is also coming onto the bench this week. Zoe Dare has had two games off the bench. She’s another young player coming out of Hartpury University and has done exceptionally well. But a bit like Alessia and Abby, we need to make sure we give our young players opportunity and this week it’s Lola’s chance to get minutes off the bench for her PWR debut. We are really excited for her and cannot wait to see how she gets on.”

Both teams go into round three with one win apiece. Chiefs are ahead in the league on points having claimed a try bonus-point in last weekend’s game against Gloucester-Hartpury.

This PWR round three game between Exeter Chiefs Women and Loughborough Lightning kick-offs at 14:30 on Sunday at the cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s Gardens. The game is also being broadcast live on YouTube.

Chiefs Women will head back to Sandy Park on Sunday, 16 November (KO 12:30) to play Harlequins Women. Tickets are just £11 for adults and £5.50 for U17s. They are available here.

Exeter Chiefs Women

15 Merryn Elworthy
14 Francesca Granzotto*
13 Nancy McGillivray
12 Alexandra Tessier
11 Claudia Moloney-MacDonald
10 Liv McGoverne
9 Flo Robinson (vc)
1 Demi Swann
2 Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald
3 DaLeaka Menin
4 Linde van der Velden
5 Abby Duguid
6 Emily Robinson (c)
7 Maisy Allen (vc)
8 Maddie Feaunati

Replacements:
16 Emily Tuttosi
17 ⁠Alessia Skeates*
18 Abby Middlebrooke
19 ⁠Gabriella Nigrelli
20 ⁠Lola Whitley*
21 ⁠Lucy Nye
22 Naomi Brennan
23 Katie Buchanan

*denotes PWR debut