Team news: Slade and Tchumbadze fit for cup game at The Rec

Summer signing Bachuki Tchumbadze and fan-favourite Henry Slade return from short-term injuries to feature in the starting line-up for Chiefs against Bath Rugby on Saturday.

Following a close game in Gloucester last weekend, Chiefs have named a changed team for round two of the PREM Cup at the Recreation Ground.

Chiefs’ director of rugby Rob Baxter said: “The game at Kingsholm came down to very fine margins in the end, so we have to discuss finding ways to convert opportunities to ensure that those close games go our way.

“The players have been very engaged in discussing the result this week, so we’ve worked through the errors, recognised them and moved to get ourselves on track.”

Georgian prop Tchumbadze joins Kwenzo Blose and captain Jack Yeandle in the front row.

The back five of the scrum remains unchanged with Lewis Pearson and Rusi Tuima the lock pairing, Christ Tshiunza and Ethan Roots on the flanks and Ross Vintcent at eight.

Fly-half Harvey Skinner pairs scrum-half Stephen Varney while England’s Slade starts at inside centre with Ben Hammersley in the 13 shirt.

Dan John and Josh Hodge both make their first appearances of the season as John is named on the wing with Paul Brown-Bampoe and Hodge slots in at full-back.

Baxter said: “The key is for us to stay tough throughout the game, to capitalise when the game starts to go our way. The work we’ve done in pre-season around the fundamentals of our game has been good, so we need to build on that. We’ve got to create our own momentum.”

Last weekend’s starting front row is named on the bench with Joseph Dweba at hooker, Will Goodrick-Clarke at loosehead and Josh Iosefa-Scott at tighthead. Andrea Zambonin and Kane James cover the second and back row respectively.

Charlie Chapman joins England U20s’ Ben Coen and Nick Lilley as the back-line replacements.

The game kicks off at 15:05 in Bath with tickets available on their website here.

Exeter Chiefs:

15 Josh Hodge

14 Paul Brown-Bampoe

13 Ben Hammersley

12 Henry Slade

11 Dan John

10 Harvey Skinner

9 Stephen Varney

1 Kwenzo Blose

2 Jack Yeandle (c)

3 Bachuki Tchumbadze

4 Rusi Tuima

5 Lewis Pearson

6 Ethan Roots

7 Christ Tshiunza

8 Ross Vintcent

Replacements:

16 Joseph Dweba

17 Will Goodrick-Clarke

18 Josh Iosefa-Scott

19 Andrea Zambonin

20 Kane James

21 Charlie Chapman

22 Ben Coen

23 Nick Lilley