Chiefs v Pirates Preview

Exeter Chiefs v Cornish Pirates
Premiership Cup Round 2
Saturday September 16th 2023
Sandy Park, Exeter

Kick Off 15:00

Excellent Preview on BBC Sport:-

"This is a real old school local derby from 14 or 15 years ago, so it's going to be a very good occasion,"  said Exeter boss Rob Baxter with one of the club's biggest rivalries set to be reignited.

"The guys are super keen to test themselves against the best players,"  said Pirates joint-head coach Alan Paver.

"We've got to manage our own expectations around what we want to get out of the game,"  Paver told BBC Radio Cornwall.

"For us, we just want to make sure that we are physically able and ready and we make a good account of ourselves because that's important psychologically for us and also it's important we come away understanding a little bit more about our squad."

More on BBC Sport >>

There are four changes in the Cornish Pirates starting XV from the one that ran out against Bath last Friday.
Centre Ioan Evans and fly-half Iwan Jenkins get starting roles after appearing off the bench, as does lock Steele Barker who will partner Will Britton in the second row.
Fit again Alex Everett is selected at blindside flanker, taking the place of skipper John Stevens who moves to number 8. 

Cornish Pirates
15 Kyle Moyle 14 Will Trewin 13 Ioan Evans
12 Joe Elderkin 11 Arthur Relton
10 Iwan Jenkins 9 Ruaridh Dawson
1 Leftheri Zigiriadis 2 Morgan Nelson 3 Marlen Walker
4 Will Britton 5 Steele Barker 6 Alex Everett
7 Will Gibson 8 John Stevens (captain)

Replacements:
16 Oli Burrows 17 Fin Richardson 18 Jack Andrew
19 Josh King 20 Harry Dugmore
21 Alex Schwarz 22 Tom Pittman 23 Dan John