Bristol Bears v Exeter Chiefs

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Predicted Weather Forecast

Gusty winds and heavy rain from the south west
Temperature feels like 14 degrees
High chance of Precipitation

TV Coverage

Channel 408 TNT Sports 1 SD 1730 - 1945
Channel 430 TNT Sports 1 HD 1730 – 1945
Also available on HBO Max

Match Officials

Referee: Karl Dickson
ARs: Sara Cox and Richard Gordon
TMO: Dan Jones

Teams will be posted when announced, normally after 12pm.

Exeter Chiefs:

15 Olly Woodburn

14 Zack Wimbush

13 Henry Slade

12 Will Butt

11 Ben Hammersley

10 Harvey Skinner

9 Sam Wolstenholme

1 Nika Abuladze

2 Jack Yeandle

3 Josh Iosefa-Scott

4 Tom Hooper

5 Dafydd Jenkins (c)

6 Ethan Roots

7 Ross Vintcent

8 Greg Fisilau

Replacements:

16 Max Norey

17 Ethan Burger

18 Jimmy Roots

19 Harry Wilson

20 Kane James

21 Stephen Varney

22 Will Haydon-Wood

23 Sam Harris

Bristol Bears

15. Tom Jordan

14. Louis Rees-Zammit

13. Matias Moroni

12. James Williams

11. Gabriel Ibitoye

10. AJ MacGinty

9. Harry Randall

1. Ellis Genge

2. Tomas Gwilliam

3. Lovejoy Chawatama

4. Pedro Rubiolo

5. Joe Batley

6. Steven Luatua

7. Fitz Harding (c)

8. Benjamin Grondona

System players:

16. Sol Moody

17. Jake Woolmore

18. Jimmy Halliwell

19. Josh Caulfield

20. Joe Owen

21. Kieran Marmion

22. Jack Bates

23. Luka Ivanishvili

Given short turnaround and Bristol rested all their players last week a tough ask and a home win for me. By how much depends on the weather. Would have started Harris over Hammersley on the wing. Bristol 40 Chiefs 24

Hammersley facing off against Rees-Zammit - not feeling hopeful! The conditions are forecast to be atrocious with heavy rain and 44mph winds. I recall a women’s game at Ashton Gate a while back being cancelled on safety grounds because of similar conditions.
If the game goes ahead, it’ll all come down to how smart we are - games against Bristol over the last couple of years have been characterised by dumb decision-making and woeful defensive lapses. Nevertheless, I shall go with my normal prediction:
Chiefs 31; Bristol 26

Good to see Norey back, hope Gully is not out for long. Pack start to look good

Brizzle 22 - 27 Chiefs

I find this impossible to call for a number of reasons including the inconsistency of both teams so far this season. The weather will be a huge factor given the forecast, so I’m going for a low scoring affair
Bears 17 Chiefs 10

Chiefs 20 Bristol 45

I think this will be a dire watch if forecast is correct so:
Bristol 19 - 16 Exeter

Hmmm...going to lean towards optimism Chiefs 25 Bristol 20

it looks like it will come down to which team is better at “ up the jumper “ rugby. I would normally back us but Briz have shown resourcefulness against us previously. SO Bristol by 5.
On another point, should we lose it will make a pretty dismal start to the season with the only victories to date ( including friendlies) being the Prem Cup v Briz and NRB in the Prem.

Quote:

mommentum
Good to see Norey back, hope Gully is not out for long. Pack start to look good

Is Gulley injured, or is Yeandle just Undroppable for reasons?
Pleased to see Norey back available.
Hammersley seems to do better on the wing than anywhere else, holding Harris back for the bench makes sense. I doubt Woody will play the whole game, so Harris from the bench is a good shout.

For me, the biggest concern is how well we have recovered from Sunday. That's a strong Bristol team. I think they'll edge it...

Bristol 26 Chiefs 20

How is Yendal starting again. Regardless Im thinking we will cope with the weathwr better in a low scoring match given the 2 teams.
Bears 20 Chiefs 24

Bristol 17 Chiefs 22

The big question is how much did last Sunday take out of us?
A 6 day turnaround for us, traveling to and from the south of France and the majority of that Bristol squad well rested and fresh having been given last weekend off rested up for this match.
I hope that the weather will be a leveller in that respect so could work in our favour?
One thing that will be vitally important you feel in these weather conditions will be kicking so hopefully Henry and or Harvey have their kicking boots on.
My biggest concern is the Bristol maul and how we defend it.....

Hoping for a narrow win 🤞