Saracens vs Exeter Chiefs

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Exeter Chiefs

15 Josh Hodge
14 Jack Nowell
13 Henry Slade
12 Solomone Kata
11 Olly Woodburn
10 Joe Simmonds
9 Sam Maunder

1 Scott Sio
2 Jack Yeandle
3 Harry Williams
4 Ruben Van Heerden
5 Jonny Gray
6 Santiago Grondona
7 Christ Tshiunza
8 Greg Fisilau

Replacements
16 Dan Frost
17 Josh Iosefa-Scott
18 Patrick Schickerling
19 Jack Dunne
20 Lewis Pearson
21 Tom Cairns
22 Tom Hendrickson
23 Rory O'Loughlin

Saracens:

1 Mako Vunipola
2 Jamie George
3 Marco Riccioni
4 Maro Itoje
5 Nick Isiekwe
6 Andy Christie
7 Jackson Wray
8 Billy Vunipola

9 Ivan van Zyl
10 Owen Farrell (c)
11 Sean Maitland
12 Nick Tompkins
13 Elliot Daly
14 Max Malins
15 Alex Goode

Replacements:

16 Kapeli Pifeleti
17 Eroni Mawi
18 Eduardo Bello
19 Hugh Tizard
20 Ben Earl
21 Aled Davies
22 Alex Lozowski
23 Alex Lewington



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:12:30:12:09:56 by Osmium.

Big Dave, Daffyd and Simmo are players I'd rather see on the team sheet.

Match Officials

Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
Assistant Referees: Dan Jones and Phil Watters.
TMO: Rowan Kitt.
Citing Officer: Buster White

Quote:

Not Manichean
Big Dave, Daffyd and Simmo are players I'd rather see on the team sheet.

Would have thought that we would have gone large for this one! Sarries have.
A little disappointing for me.

Why is Earl playing? He was red carded last week.

Thanks to Lowerwatha for prepping all this stuff in advance!:


Weather Forecast as at 1200 Friday
Light rain and a moderate breeze from the west
Temperature 13 degrees but will feel like 12 degrees
A chance of rain.

Television Coverage
SD Channel 409 BT Sports 2 from 1430
HD Channel 431 BT Sports 2 from 1430

Saracens nine game winning run in Gallagher Premiership Rugby this season ended with their 20-29 loss at London Irish last Friday. Saracens have won their last twelve home games in Premiership Rugby since Gloucester beat them by a single point at StoneX Stadium on 8 January.
Exeter Chiefs have won their last five first team matches since tripping up at Newcastle in Round 11 of Gallagher Premiership Rugby. The Chiefs have lost their last three away games in the tournament since beating Bristol 50-14 at Ashton Gate on 7 October.
Saracens have lost just two of their last seven encounters with the Devonians whilst Exeter’s most recent victory at StoneX Stadium was 20-18 in November 2017.

We are going to get tonked. Saracens 37 - 19 Chiefs

Quote:

Tiverton Brave
Why is Earl playing? He was red carded last week.

I was wondering the same. Presumably two bank holidays intervening have prevented any hearing taking place.

I mean, nobody knew matches were going to be played the weekend before Christmas to enable disciplinary hearings to be arranged for Wednesday or Thursday!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:12:30:12:19:44 by Osmium.

I think selection has everything to do with illness within the squad.

Quote:

Blackwater Tribe

Quote:

Not Manichean
Big Dave, Daffyd and Simmo are players I'd rather see on the team sheet.

Would have thought that we would have gone large for this one! Sarries have.
A little disappointing for me.

Agreed. Also slightly surprised to see no Hogg.

Quote:

Tiverton Brave
Why is Earl playing? He was red carded last week.

𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗖𝗜𝗣𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗥𝗬 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘.

Ben Earl is free to play again with immediate effect.

Earl received a red card for dangerous tackling contrary to World Rugby Law 9.13 in the match against London Irish on 23 December which was dismissed by the panel.

In other words..should never have been a red... yellow more like... oh well can't go back to see if that would have changed the result against LI...... looking foto tomorrow, we need big step up from our last few games ...should be a cracking game... safe travels if making the trip.

SUPPORT Help for Heroes:
Help for Heroes

Craig Maxwell-Keys getting to see the New Year in with his besties after last seasons ‘performance’ in this fixture. Safe travels to all !

I am afraid that our replacement front row will get marmalized again at scrum time. Our starting scrum will have their work cut out as will the line out. I am still pretty unsure about Dunne and still no Innard to be seen. If we continue with our penalty largesse it could be a painful afternoon. I hope Dave Ewers, Daffyd, and Sam are rested rather than injured although the team is much weaker without them. A losing bonus point would be a very good result and to get that our defence will have to be the best of the season and a very low penalty count. No Stuart Hogg in the 23 and I assume LCD's is still injured. I hope I am very wrong Sarries 38 Chiefs 10.

Hmmm...not quite mission impossible but still think this is a write off.

Aracens 35 Chiefs 25.

Not usually pessimistic but - Saracens 34 - 17 Exeter

Gonna be a tough one. Sarries 39 Chiefs 23

Players missing - LCD, Simmo , Ewers, Kirsten, Vermuelen ,Hogg, Devoto, Street, Maunder, Jenkins, Capstick, Skinner, Townsend, Whitten, Quite a list. All injured or ill ?

good to see Kata get another start, but passing looks to be his weakness

Our injury and sickness roster appears to be growing week on week, but it is what it is and I’m sure there is an eye on future fixtures in this selection. Going to be a very tough ask and anything out of the game will be a bonus. Hopefully no further injuries.
Sarries 42 Chiefs 10

Can't see Sarries giving us any change ... but I could be wrong!
Sarries 37 - Chiefs 15

In Rob we trust.
By the way - cream on first. There's nothing to debate.

I thought Jenkins and Simmonds lacked their usual energy against Bath. Illness was mentioned, but
rehabilitating / reserving for upcoming games might be a more pragmatic policy.
Rob has been 'feeding' us the impending use of Fisilau.

Kata's use doesn't usually involve a lot of passing, if that is a weakness, but did he not make 3 major turnovers last game. That was a major bonus.

Whitten was involved in the the warm-up squad on Xmas Eve, but Hepburn is another absentee.

Like everyone else I can only see a big defeat here. We have loads missing and they have a very strong 15 out. Sarries 42 Chiefs 17

I’ve watched Sarries a few times recently on tv, firstly against Tigers where they were magnificent, and then last week against Irish, where they were distinctly average. So I’m going to buck the trend and go for a Chiefs win . Shame some of our big names are missing, as others have said.

Sarries 15 18 Chiefs

Should have beaten Sarries at home, now with our walking wounded and illness will be very hard to win there.
That team sheet of theirs looks pretty high value how big is their squad, but you play whos in front of you. Our guys will do their best, its all we can ask, not sure how well the scrum will stand up though.

I’ve had a re-think

Saracens 27 chiefs 21



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:12:30:17:06:17 by Chief Fire Water.

Quote:

Axe Chief
I thought Jenkins and Simmonds lacked their usual energy against Bath. Illness was mentioned, but
rehabilitating / reserving for upcoming games might be a more pragmatic policy.
Rob has been 'feeding' us the impending use of Fisilau.

Kata's use doesn't usually involve a lot of passing, if that is a weakness, but did he not make 3 major turnovers last game. That was a major bonus.

Whitten was involved in the the warm-up squad on Xmas Eve, but Hepburn is another absentee.

Are you sure Witts was in the warm up squad? I saw him serving in one of the bars both before the game and at half time.

Looks like being a painful afternoon.
Saracens 50 Ex 12

Vermeulen was co-commentator on PRTV last week and thought he would be fit for this game. I reckon the flu bug has hit again.
Going to optimistic and get a LBP with Sarries 33 Chiefs 26.

Some interesting selections. We are obviously going to rely on Tom Cairns as back up 9. Big game for him if he gets on. Likewise starting position for Greg Fisilau. Really hope we play well and our scrum holds up. Obvious prediction is big win for sarries so anything that isn't that we will have done well. Guessing sarries 34 Exe 17.

Our backs are a match for theirs but our forwards will struggle I think. Farrell will try and get CMK in his pocket again, can't realistically see us getting anything out of this game but obviously hope I'm wrong as I have been on many occasions. If we can defend like we have done the past couple of games and are still in touch with 10 to go then who knows. A LBP will be viewed as a result.

The gloom didn't pass us by on it's way down to Cornwall!
Mrs PC Ex 20 Sarries 31
PC EX 15 Sarries 38

It will be the first time that I haven't predicted a win and it hurts to do so against Sarries.

But our defence last week was good. So

Sarries 27, chiefs 21

Still being over optimistic but, hey ho.

Not good enough team to get anything there in my view, sarries 32, chiefs 10. I think players are being rested as they have some big games coming. It was nice to be their when we last won though with whitts scoring if i remember.

Sarries in their own back yard, not easy and Farrell’s boot is usually worth 9+pts
Can’t see an away win happening, Sarries 26 - 19 Chiefs
(Score revised as l think the wind/rain will feature.)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:12:31:14:19:49 by Scottish Chief .

Kata's use doesn't usually involve a lot of passing, if that is a weakness, but did he not make 3 major turnovers last game. That was a major bonus.

I have been trying to understand why he has not been starting every game at 12, only thing I have seen is that some of his passes are wild and puts the next man under pressure

Really hoping for something out of this match, so Sarries 24 Chiefs 17

Sarries 21- chiefs 25

Hmm sorry but no point in beating round the bush we are going to be well beaten. Love to see the wages of the sarries team every one of them is a big name who’d demand a big wage…

Hi Mommentum, The reason that Kata had not been selected that often during the season was IMO a failure of selection by the coaches. I think his passing is not much worse than some other players - with the obvious exceptions of Sladey etc but there is certainly room for quite a lot of improvement. Devoto is certainly better at passing. He has however I think shown, as you say, turnover ability, not common in our backs and importantly, running straight and not crabbing across field which for most of last season, and often this, was a major problem with our centres. He runs hard often committing more than one tackler and getting over the gain line. So far notably has not been a penalty magnet. I feel the early signs are that he could be a really good signing over the next three years and should be good competition for Devoto when he is back to fitness. I hope Kata gets some consistent game time

Not sure that Frost, Scott and Dunne offer anything tbh.
Our scrum was notably weaker wben they came on last week. I'll be watching through my fingers but....

Need to add to the high quality Sarries squad the motivation to bounce back from being beaten last week. Can’t see them repeating their last couple of below par performances…. The only guess work is how big a score they’ll get if we defend as recently? I also think the coaches will have taken a strategic view here and rested the likes of big Dave as there will be more pivotal matches to come…. Sarries 34 chiefs 14

Sarries 41 Chiefs 10

For us to get anything out of this game we will need to get the ball hooked back and out of the scrum very quickly, something we have failed to do for most of the season. If we can do that then I think we have a fighting chance ! There is still a lot of illness in the camp so a lot depends on how fit the starting 15 actually are. Last week plenty of players struggled to get through the game, Joe played all the 2nd half with a migraine, quite an achievement to do so but highlights our weakness / cover at 10 if he'd had to come off !!
Sarries 21 Chiefs 17

Quote:

Broken arrow
There is still a lot of illness in the camp so a lot depends on how fit the starting 15 actually are. Last week plenty of players struggled to get through the game, Joe played all the 2nd half with a migraine, quite an achievement to do so but highlights our weakness / cover at 10 if he'd had to come off !!
Sarries 21 Chiefs 17

If it's anything like the bug I've got at the moment I sympathise. Quite a few who were at the match last week are down with it too.

Anyone know when Marcus Street is fit?

No idea. More concerned with 9 and 10. Anything going wrong there now and we are truly shafted!

Do you or BA not have that inside knowledge NM??

Quote:

ChiefUther
Do you or BA not have that inside knowledge NM??

I could certainly makeca phone call...

🤐

Quote:

Not Manichean

Quote:

ChiefUther
Do you or BA not have that inside knowledge NM??

I could certainly makeca phone call...

Then why not do that and answer your own question and let us all know🤷🏻‍♂️

Quote:

Broken arrow
🤐

Now you’re just being a tease BA!!

Quote:

Seaside Chief
No idea. More concerned with 9 and 10. Anything going wrong there now and we are truly shafted!

Joe Simpson has just retired....

Quote:

Not Manichean

Quote:

Seaside Chief
No idea. More concerned with 9 and 10. Anything going wrong there now and we are truly shafted!

Joe Simpson has just retired....

And good luck to him, good scrum half and I’d have liked to have seen him in a Chiefs shirt …..

Saracens 21 - Chiefs 24

Looks like it’s going to be wet and windy on a plastic pitch. Expecting lots of handling errors and… scrums. So long as there aren’t lots of cards….
Sarries 26 Chiefs 19 for the bonus point.

Ottomans 40 Chiefs 5
losing that game at home was the bigger disappointment

we struggled against the Bath defence and only made ground when we got a penalty and could kick forward

I’d be interested to know from anyone with inside knowledge whether players are staying away from the club when they feel ill or just trying to get on with it. I’m guessing that if they’re playing while feeling ill it’s the latter. Whatever type of virus it is it’s not clever to be sharing it with workmates in any environment. We reap what we sow . Could be a hard watch today

Rather than worrying about who's missing, I'm looking at who's actually playing, and while Fisilau at 8 is a bit of an unknown quantity at this level, the starting 15 looks pretty decent, at least as good as LI had last week! Bench a bit more of a worry though.

I don't really believe it as I'm typing, but

Sarries 18 - 21 Chiefs (!) Gulp.

Quote:

ChiefUther

Quote:

Broken arrow
🤐

Now you’re just being a tease BA!!

🤣 Can't really blame him!!

In Rob we trust.
By the way - cream on first. There's nothing to debate.

Quote:

DumnoniiNomad

Quote:

ChiefUther

Quote:

Broken arrow
🤐

Now you’re just being a tease BA!!

🤣 Can't really blame him!!

🤣……..his inside knowledge is invaluable

I really can't make my mind up with this one. If the weather we're having in Dorset is moving east it'll be a horrible afternoon in north London and isn't going to make for a pretty game. I'm torn between 'we're going to get absolutely mullered' and 'ooh, this could be quite close'.

As I'm sat in a warm pub, out of the driving rain, I'm going with my optimistic self and say we'll get at least an LBP, so Saracens 31 Chiefs 26.

Saracens 29 Chiefs 23

Scrum.
If we are to have a chance then our scrum has to be excellent.
I am not confident.......

Shouldn’t there have been a card for George? Watching the game on the phone but the first try was more a knock on than last night. Inconsistent it when Sarries get a chance they take it.

Sarries last try!! Really CMK!! Lineout not straight and looked like a forward pass!!

Quote:

Currychef
Shouldn’t there have been a card for George? Watching the game on the phone but the first try was more a knock on than last night. Inconsistent it when Sarries get a chance they take it.

I agree. Another ref would have wanted to see more of the high tackle, and as for the knock on, I'm left wondering what the TMO is looking at.

In Rob we trust.
By the way - cream on first. There's nothing to debate.

Disappointed that the tackle by George wasn’t reviewed and why aren’t Sarries pulled up about not straight lineouts and going off feet but we are.
Come on CMK keep it fair!! And stop listening to their chatter

What an appalling start to the second half.
I do wonder if the coaches have lost the dressing room? It isn't the junior players making the mistakes it is the senior players.
They are not motivated in the same way that they were that is clear.

Most of us predicted the outcome although the score was worse than even the most pessimistic thought!
41 Points: Mike the Shirt;
39 Points: Ouch that hurts; Cornwall Chief;
38 Points: Dumnoniinomad; Scottish Chief;
37 Points: Bold Eagle;
36 Points: Rowancroft73;
33 Points: Andy15.1; Chief Firewater; ExTedd Chief;
32 Points: Hankey; Osmium; Lowerwatha; Alain le Chief;
30 Points: Keithbar54;
29 Points: Plympton Chief; Cully Chief;
27 Points: Currychef; Ex58; Not Manichean;
25 Points: Big Chief Little Chief;
24 Points: Fisher; Stokecanon; Mrs PC;
21 Points: Ljs399; Moosechief;
20 Points; Lapo;
14 Points: Broken Arrow; Exeterfan;
9 Points: Clalan;
6 Points: Whiptonchief; Seaside Chief;
4 Points: Last of the Beercans; Minuteman; ChiefUther; Chief Bert;
Not a very encouraging end to 2022 but let’s be positive and look forward to better things this year!!