Leicester Tigers vs Exeter Chiefs

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Exeter Chiefs

15 Stuart Hogg
14 Tom Wyatt
13 Sean O’Brien
12 Solomone Kata
11 Olly Woodburn
10 Joe Simmonds
9 Will Becconsall
8 Sam Simmonds
7 Christ Tshiunza
6 Aidon Davis
5 Jonny Gray
4 Jack Dunne
3 Josh Iosefa-Scott
2 Jack Yeandle
1 Nika Abuladze

Replacements

16 Jack Innard
17 Scott Sio
18 Marcus Street
19 Mike Williams
20 Rus Tuima
21 Stu Townsend
22 Harvey Skinner
23 Rory O’Loughlin

Leicester Tigers

STARTING XV
15 Freddie Steward
14 Chris Ashton
13 Matt Scott
12 Dan Kelly
11 Anthony Watson
10 Handré Pollard
9 Jack van Poortvliet
1 James Cronin
2 Julián Montoya (c)
3 Dan Cole
4 George Martin
5 Cameron Henderson
6 Hanro Liebenberg
7 Tommy Reffell
8 Jasper Wiese

REPLACEMENTS

16 Charlie Clare
17 Tom West
18 Joe Heyes
19 Eli Snyman
20 Olly Cracknell
21 Ben Youngs
22 Jimmy Gopperth
23 Harry Potter

Match Officials

Referee: Karl Dickson
Assistant Referees: Craig Maxwell-Keys and Phil Watters.
TMO: Andrew Jackson.
Citing Officer: Chris Sharp.

Weather Forecast as at 1200 Friday

Thick cloud and a light winds from the south
Temperature will feel like 13 degrees
Precipitation is not expected

TV Coverage

SD Channel 408 BT Sports 1 from 1400 for 1500 kick off
HD Channel 430 BT Sports 1 from 1400 for 1500 kick off

Match preview from Gallagher site:

Leicester Tigers have won their last five Gallagher Premiership Rugby matches since their defeat by a solitary point at home to Northampton on 28 January. The Tigers have suffered three defeats at Mattioli Woods Welford Road in all competitions since October but each of those three loses were by the narrowest possible margin.
Exeter Chiefs have lost two of their last three matches in Gallagher Premiership Rugby. The Chiefs have lost their last six away games in Gallagher Premiership Rugby since their 50-14 victory at Bristol on 7 October, their worst such run since their promotion into Premiership Rugby in 2010.
Leicester have won just two of their last ten encounters with Exeter in Premiership Rugby, successive games at Welford Road in September 2021 and at Sandy Park in March 2022. The Chiefs have won on four of their last six visits to Welford Road in Premiership Rugby

.
Slade, Nowell, Jenkins and Hodge being rested, but that doesn't make it a weak side.

I think Ex will struggle though and if or when we lose, that means that in other 2 prem matches will need to fight for European qualification.

The story at Sandy Park is really Europe in both competitions. A surprise win against Leicester will create its own dilemmas with regard to the end of the season, but it could be a lot worse!

Tigers 29 chiefs 18

Slade rested following England duty. Be interesting to see how starting front row goes and good to see Kata starting. Strong bench so need to keep score close till the last 20. Also a Tigers red card and a couple of yellows could help our cause.
Reckon it will be Tigers 31 - 24.

Hmmm...we really need to start winning games but I doubt Welford Road is going to be the place. Leicester 25 Chiefs 20.

Tigers 32 Chiefs 17

Quote:

Lowerwatha
TV Coverage
SD Channel 408 BT Sports 1 from 1400 for 1500 kick off
HD Channel 430 BT Sports 1 from 1400 for 1500 kick off

Also being shown live on ITV1

No Big Dave or Jannes either, do the coaches think we are going to win with this team selection, wouldn't it be best to keep a winning side? It's going to be a long afternoon. Tigers 40 - 15 Chiefs

Expecting the worst so - Leicester 39 - 19 Exeter

I need the points to go up PCs league so

Leicester 17 Exeter 23

My only concern is our centres, other than that I think we are well matched.

Looking at Tigers strong team and our poor away form, i can't see this as anything but another L. Tigers 33 Chiefs 21

There's a good preview of the weekend matches here.

[archive.ph]

Especially notable that Wiese has had the most carries for the last six prem rounds.. 👀

Quote:

Lowerwatha
TV Coverage
SD Channel 408 BT Sports 1 from 1400 for 1500 kick off
HD Channel 430 BT Sports 1 from 1400 for 1500 kick off

And ITV 1

Difficult game. Some people rested i guess. Away from home and Leicester really need it so going Leics 28 Ex 20 but probably miles out!

Understand the rotation and changes due to injuries to JN and Jannes. Plus mandatory rest for Henry. Good luck to Stu after his massive absence.
Tigers 38 chiefs 18

I will join you CFW who knows the way we have been playing lately. tigers 24 chiefs 27

Tigers looking strong and with only one away win under our belt l have my doubts but if Bath can beat Glos why can’t we do Tigers
It will be interesting to see how Townsend goes coming off the bench too.

Tigers 19 - 23 Chiefs

We are Exeter, We are Chiefs



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:04:14:21:49:03 by Scottish Chief .

We need to play these players with so many leaving, and some enforced changes.
But that is not a weak team and could surprise a few.
Think we could squeak a win, but it won’t be a massive one either way.
Thinking positive, we will qualify for Europe so if we don’t make top four no big thing this season.
Looking at their site it’s back to the old days of looking superior and down on us once more, so I hope our team does turn up and give them a game. But must get used to it from the originals.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:04:14:17:55:55 by clalan.

Two strong sides but reckon a partisan Welford Road crowd will roar Tigers over with Ashton signing off his last home game with a splash to win it.

Tigerburnie - I wouldn't be surprised, however we've seen a remarkable change in spirit and fortunes over recent weeks and hope Tigers aren't in the mood to burst the bubble.
Tigers 22 v Chiefs 24

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

Tigers 25 chiefs 18

Sadly Tigers 34 - 18 Exe I cant see us winning this.

Not hopeful sadly. Leicester 32 chiefs 12. It would be great to get a bonus point.

Not going to be any where near the top of the prediction league. So going for a run of winning game. Leicester 22 Chiefs 25

Strange as it may sound, I think we are prioritising the Euro Cup now. That selection doesn’t look like we think we can still win the Premiership. Unfortunately I think we’ll get well beaten here, hope I’m wrong.

Tigers 38 Chiefs 12

Who knows which chiefs side will turn up tomorrow! Play anywhere near last week's level and we will win. Sadly though I can't see us breaking our poor run of away form, which is a shame as the premiership is up for grabs with no side looking that good. Tigers will fancy their chances against sale, who looked poor this evening despite an easy win, so will be desperate for a win against us.
Tigers 42 Chiefs 19 Hope I'm as hopelessly wrong as last week!!

Tigers have a strong team but I’m hoping that the fighting team spirit that emerged in the last 2 European games will spur us on to a win.

Tigers 23 27 Chiefs

Tigers 24 - Chiefs 28

No way we should get anyway near Tigers with their team and home support…. But feeling in my bones denying logic….. Chiefs 22 Tigers 21

I think this could be close. Home advantage to give Tigers the edge - Leicester 27 Chiefs 24

Not a very high level of expectation this week!
Mrs PC Tigers 34 Chiefs 24
PC Tigers 31 Chiefs 17

I dont know the Leicester number 5 but the rest look very strong, and I dont think many of our players would get in their side.

Europe and getting ready for next season are the main things

Quote:

mommentum
I dont know the Leicester number 5 but the rest look very strong, and I dont think many of our players would get in their side.
Europe and getting ready for next season are the main things

Hi Momentum Getting ready for next season has to include qualifying for Europe. L Irish away very tough and then Bristol at home........ We must get into Europe otherwise lots of gate money lost and two less matches for S/T holders who would not be happy as relative cost of watching becomes even higher.

Quote:

cornwallchief

Quote:

mommentum
I dont know the Leicester number 5 but the rest look very strong, and I dont think many of our players would get in their side.
Europe and getting ready for next season are the main things

Hi Momentum Getting ready for next season has to include qualifying for Europe. L Irish away very tough and then Bristol at home........ We must get into Europe otherwise lots of gate money lost and two less matches for S/T holders who would not be happy as relative cost of watching becomes even higher.

Well were you impressed by Saints as I wasn’t. Sarries sent an A team there and even at 14 had Northampton running in circles. All we can hope is the Sarries don’t repeat against Irish. Unless they are trying to engineer the top four positions. The league is as rubbish as we have been so no reason we haven’t got a chance to get to Europe. I’ll be glad when relegation returns and matches have real meaning to some teams.

Cam Henderson is on the fringes of the Scotland squad, missed most of last season after knee surgery. His return to fitness and form has been very quick. Mobile, good carrier, tackler and charge downs.

Quote:

cornwallchief

Quote:

mommentum
I dont know the Leicester number 5 but the rest look very strong, and I dont think many of our players would get in their side.
Europe and getting ready for next season are the main things

Hi Momentum Getting ready for next season has to include qualifying for Europe. L Irish away very tough and then Bristol at home........ We must get into Europe otherwise lots of gate money lost and two less matches for S/T holders who would not be happy as relative cost of watching becomes even higher.

doesnt winning the European Cup get us a place at the top table next season, I would like us to keep our home record and beat Bristol

Quote:

clalan

Well were you impressed by Saints as I wasn’t. Sarries sent an A team there and even at 14 had Northampton running in circles. All we can hope is the Sarries don’t repeat against Irish. Unless they are trying to engineer the top four positions. The league is as rubbish as we have been so no reason we haven’t got a chance to get to Europe. I’ll be glad when relegation returns and matches have real meaning to some teams.

Sarries have a home semi pretty close to being sewn up already. Theyd be mad not to be rotating their squad at this point, getting some game time and experience into the newer players, resting some of the senior ones for big games to come.
imo.

Quote:

cornwallchief

Quote:

mommentum
I dont know the Leicester number 5 but the rest look very strong, and I dont think many of our players would get in their side.
Europe and getting ready for next season are the main things

Hi Momentum Getting ready for next season has to include qualifying for Europe. L Irish away very tough and then Bristol at home........ We must get into Europe otherwise lots of gate money lost and two less matches for S/T holders who would not be happy as relative cost of watching becomes even higher.

Would STHs not be interested in watching Cup games if we were in the Challenge Cup rather than the big boys one? Wouldn't (and hasn't in the past) keep me away.

Speaking of which, does anyone know if qualification criteria for the Euro Cups for next season have been published? As I recall, Pre-covid, top 6 Prem teams qualified, plus a 7th if one of the top 6 had already qualified by winning the Challenge Cup. Last 2 years it's been top 8. Will we still have 8 from an 11-strong league? There was talk of the format reverting to 5 pools of 4, with the pool winners plus 3 best runners up progressing to QFs. If that were to happen we'd almost certainly need to be top six to qualify.

Unless of course, as Momentum points out, we manage to win the HC this year,!

Keeping up with my own brand of Blind Faith:

Tigers 28 - 30 Chiefs

Tigers 37 Chiefs 20

Thank heavens it's over, what a shambles. Dickson must be the worst ref on the planet. That will do the team morale a lot of good., thanks to the coaches. No way that team were going to beat Tigers.

Not a great deal to say about that except that it’s done our points scored a power of no good!
65 Points: Mike the Shirt;
64 Points: Ouch that hurts;
63 Points: Scottish Chief;
60 Points: Dumnoniinomad; Bold Eagle;
59 Points: Andy15.1;
58 Points: ExTedd Chief;
57 Points: Cornwall Chief;
56 Points: Hankey;
53 Points: Alain le Chief; Chief Firewater; Lowerwatha; Rowancroft73;
52 Points: Osmium; Keithbar54; Plympton Chief;
50 Points: Not Manichean;
48 Points: Mrs PC;
45 Points: Lapo; Cully Chief; Currychef;
44 Points: Stokecanon; Big Chief Little Chief;
41 Points: Fisher;
39 Points: Ex58;
37 Points: Ljs399;
32 Points: Seaside Chief;
26 Points: Exeterfan;
Next week Bristol at home. Last home game of the season and one we need to win to keep our Champs Cup hopes alive. Also is the last time to see some of our favourites at Sandy Park.