Team news: Wallabies duo set for Chiefs debuts

Fresh from landing on UK shores, Wallabies duo Len Ikitau and Tom Hooper are drafted into the Chiefs side to play Harlequins in the fourth round of PREM action on Sunday afternoon.

The centre and back-rower headlined Chiefs’ summer signings list and have quickly made Devon home in the past week, getting brought up to speed by teammates and coaches.

Chiefs’ director of rugby Rob Baxter said: “Both boys have been great, fitting in really well and have been keen to get involved as soon as possible. Len’s been here a little bit longer so has had more of a chance to get acclimatised but Tom has rocked in and is fully ready to go.

“They’ve both done everything they can do since minute one of turning up, so fair play to them. Lads have embraced them and we’re all excited to have them here.”

Having sat out of last weekend’s derby against Bristol Bears, Joseph Dweba rotates back into the hooker berth with Jack Yeandle moving to the bench.

Will Goodrick-Clarke and Josh Iosefa-Scott start at loosehead and tighthead with match captain Dafydd Jenkins and Rusi Tuima packing down behind them in the second row.

It’s a fierce back-row as Hooper starts at blindside flank, Ethan Roots on the openside and Greg Fisilau in the number eight berth in the absence of Ross Vintcent, who failed a HIA at Ashton Gate so enters return to play protocols.

Stephen Varney at scrum-half and Harvey Skinner at fly-half line-up ahead of Ikitau and Henry Slade in the centres. Paul Brown-Bampoe and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso look to strike in the wide channels as Josh Hodge returns from a short ban to start behind them at full-back.

Baxter said: “You’ve got to have a way of building through a season and not lurch from result to result. We’re frustrated we didn’t see off the game last weekend at Bristol, but we move forward now into two home games and look to collect more points.

“That’s what we’ve done so far this season, we’ve collected points from each game and that’s what builds you a foundation for the season. Building on that will get us where we want to be by the end of the season.”

Scott Sio could make his first appearance of the season as he is named on the bench with Yeandle and Bachuki Tchumbadze. In the 6-2 split, Andrea Zambonin, Lewis Pearson and Kane James all prepare to cover the back five of the scrum.

Charlie Chapman and Ben Hammersley are the chosen backs replacements.

The game kicks off at 15:00 in Exeter 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 Paul Brown-Bampoe

10 Harvey Skinner

9 Stephen Varney

1 Will Goodrick-Clarke

2 Joseph Dweba

3 Josh Iosefa-Scott

4 Dafydd Jenkins (c)

5 Rusi Tuima

6 Tom Hooper

7 Ethan Roots

8 Greg Fisilau

Replacements:

16 Jack Yeandle

17 Scott Sio

18 Bachuki Tchumbadze

19 Andrea Zambonin

20 Lewis Pearson

21 Kane James

22 Charlie Chapman

23 Ben Hammersley