Exeter Chiefs v Harlequins

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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

Harlequins

15. Tyrone Green (98)

14. Rodrigo Isgró (14)

13. Luke Northmore (83)

12. Jamie Benson (27)

11. Cadan Murley (C) (132)

10. Marcus Smith (180)

9. Will Porter (47)

1. Fin Baxter (73)

2. Jack Walker (94)

3. Harry Williams (4)

4. Guido Petti Pagadizábal (1)

5. Stephan Lewies (83)

6. Jack Kenningham (77)

7. Will Evans (119)

8. Chandler Cunningham-South (34)

IMPACT PLAYERS:

16. George Turner (3)

17. Boris Wenger (1)

18. Pedro Delgado (1)

19. Kieran Treadwell (10)

20. Harry Browne (9)

21. Zach Carr (12)

22. Stu Townsend (1)

23. Cameron Anderson (20

Match Officials

Referee: Karl Dickson

Asst Referees: Richard Gordon and Gareth Holsgrove

TMO: Dean Richards

Weather forecast as at 1200 Friday

Light rain and a moderate breeze from the south south west

Temperature 15 degrees will feel like 16 degrees

Precipitation expected

TV Coverage

Channel 408 TNT Sports 1 SD from 1430

Channel 430 TNT Sports 1 HD from 1430

Also available on Discovery +

Two strong looking starting line ups. It'll be great to see Ikitau and Hooper in action, although I worry that Quins' jackalling back row may cause us problems and Marcus Smith's ability to dance through a midfield defence is always a concern. Our bench looks quite a bit stronger than theirs, so assuming we can be tactically astute (a big assumption...), I'm going for:
Chiefs 31; Quins 26

Chiefs 21 - 17 Quins

After last week's improvement from Quinns and our lapses I don't see us winning, especially with 2 new players Bedding in.
Hope it's close and we can get 2 bonus points. Chiefs 25 Quins 32

2 very good looking teams although I think our bench is stronger, think it could go either way. They will be confident after beating Salarysins last week but hopefully home advantage will see us through. Chiefs 29 - 25 Quins

So hard to predict. Hoping we’ll be keen to right the wrongs from last week and that Quins will be the inconsistent week on week side that we love.
I’m going for Chiefs to edge it but caviat my prediction with the jackalling Quins back row and the fact that Dickson has the whistle. At least the pedantic Rose isn’t the TMO.
Chiefs 31 Quins 28

It'll be the first time seeing the guys in action this season at Sandy Park, pity my Quins fan mate couldn't join me but I'm going for cautious optimism.

Chiefs 30 Quins 25

That is the strongest team we have put out for along time

Chiefs 27 Quins 23

This is a hard one to call. So much depends on how well Ikitau and Slage combine and whether we can get good quick ball to the double barrelled duo.

Two things worry me. The breakdown. And our discipline.

I'm slightly surprised that Zamborin isn't starting although I'm sure Rus will put in a good shift.

My head says Quins will edge it but my heart won't allow me to predict that so Chiefs 33 Quins 31.

It should be a fascinating game.

Weather forecast not great. Smith kicked the leather off the ball at every opportunity against Sarries so wouldn’t be surprised to see the same game plan so our back three have to catch and present well to lessen their jackelling threat.
Probably the best starting 15 we have put together for some time. Len and Tom have only been onboard a short time but they are quality internationals.
Going for home advantage and learning lessons from last week by taking points on offer.
Chiefs 34 Quins 24.

yes a chiefs win in my view providing KD is on his best behaviour

🤞 between our new Aussie signings and the bench, we can pull out a win. Chiefs 27 - 25 Quins

Chiefs 33 Quins 27

And hoping for a near capacity noisy crowd

A must win game if we have any aspirations of a top 4 finish as cant see quins making the top 4. Can’t understand not starting Zambonin, brilliant in the line out and has very good ball skills, big test for Tuima to step up and deliver a powerful performance. Weather may be a bit iffy but so looking forward to seeing the 2 Aussie internationals both real quality players.
I just hope the ref has a good game and is not the focus of debate post match. Crowd not looking that good hopefully 10k.
Chiefs 38 quins 24.

Quins stepped up last week against their old foes. Not sure they'll be as hungry this weekend and will revert to previous form.
Chiefs 38 Quins 22

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

Do not think a top four likely this season. This is a big match to assess whether we can see improvement this year. I think Zambonin should certainly be starting. Suspect the result will be the interpretation of scrums and who wins the breakdown. Conditions suggest a lot of knock-ons hence scrums and two very different types of back row. keen to see our two international signings and hope they suffer no injuries! I am going to be brave with no confidence but Harvey has to kick well and not too long. - Marcus needs an off day. Chiefs 30 Quins 27. Lose the breakdown and front row interpretation with lots of penalties against we could lose quite heavily.

I’m highly skilled at guessing the wrong result so I’m going

Chiefs 19 Quins 21

I too am not expecting top four, an improvement on last year is a must though. Although, having said that below Bath and Saints it's all very tight, so you never know! To improve on last season we need to be winning most of our home games.

Quins are a strange side to predict, they are consistently inconsistent! I think we have a more powerful pack, both starting, and certainly of the bench. Given conditions it could become a kicking contest, hopefully Marcus has an off day!!

No result here would really surprise me! I'm going for a slightly lower scoring game than others due to conditions. Chiefs 24 Quins 19.

Exeter 25 - 24 Harlequins

Unsure of the reasoning behind Tuima over Zambonin, but he's a quality operator to bring off the bench. Not sure Tuima has quite developed as we hoped he would, some big performances maybe needed to justify a new deal?

If our pack can get good ball to Varney then I fancy our backline to cause them some trouble. However, that Quins back row is dangerous.

Chiefs 31 Quins 26

Lineout option of Zambonin not so important with Hooper in the backrow. Might have decided that an extra 20 kilos at scrum and carrying more important for first 50 mins.

Chiefs 28 - Quins 24

A really difficult match to predict but here goes
Exe 27 - 19 Quins but I have been wrong before!

Chiefs 19 Quins 15

Quote:

Chief Bert
2 very good looking teams although I think our bench is stronger, think it could go either way. They will be confident after beating Salarysins last week but hopefully home advantage will see us through. Chiefs 29 - 25 Quins

[quote Lowerwatha]Weather forecast not great. Smith kicked the leather off the ball at every opportunity against Sarries so wouldn’t be surprised to see the same game plan so our back three have to catch

Most of our problems in the last 2 games have started with us not being able to deal with kicks to us, mainly shorter kicks where Hodge has to run into traffic to catch it

Chiefs 22 Quins 20

Hopefully home advantage and the new boys will give us an edge - Chiefs 28 Quins 24

Chiefs 24 - 21 Quins

I don't do the score predictions but sometimes you have to smile at what happens on the pitch compared to predictions!!. Not sure we saw that coming!!!

Hellova score in these conditions

Certainly didn't see that coming, and as far as being good under the high ball, Ollie's back!!!
Well, I got it half right!

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

Fans who understand the game could see this when the teams where announced

Quote:

Chief Fire Water
Fans who understand the game could see this when the teams where announced

That's nobody on here then, based on the score predictions!

Quote:

Chief Fire Water
Fans who understand the game could see this when the teams where announced

It doesn't look like many of us understand the game then...

First time in living memory that this referee does not get a mention after the game !
Is it purely because we won ?

Quote:

Osmium

Quote:

Chief Fire Water
Fans who understand the game could see this when the teams where announced

That's nobody on here then, based on the score predictions!

Including Chief Fire Water!

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