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investec-champions-cup
Exeter Chiefs boss Rob Baxter is giving rookie outside center Zack Wimbush just his second gig on the wing for Investec Champions Cup travel to Top 14 champions Toulouse on Sunday afternoon.
Baxter made the forced change because England winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso picked up a hamstring injury in their first Gallagher PREM win of the season against Newcastle Red Bulls last weekend.
Wimbush is part of an all-new back three, with Tommy Wyatt on the opposite wing and Sam Harris at fullback, while Bosses they are also without Ollie Woodburn and Paul Brown-Bumpo through injury.
Will Goodrick-Clarke will make his first start of the season at loosehead and Tighthead Josh Iosefa-Scott will lead the team in his 100th club appearance, with Wallaby star Tom Hooper returning to the side from the opening game to partner Dafydd Jenkins in the second row.
Baxter admits there aren’t many bigger challenges than traveling to Toulouse, who have been crowned champions of France six times in the last eight years.
“There probably aren’t many bigger challenges than going to Toulouse. Obviously, Bordeaux The Begles were fantastic in this competition last season, but arguably the most consistent team in recent years has been Toulouse.
“They are one of those teams that keep appearing both in European and domestic competitions, so it’s all good. We had a good season last year and one of the drivers was returning to the Champions Cup.”
“So now you have to accept the challenge and try to improve by participating while you want to be ultra-competitive. People will automatically think it’s going to be all singing, dancing, running tries from all over the place.”
“However, if you look at their last game, both Toulouse and Bayonne actually scored a lot of points from the pressure aspect of their game – going to the corner and looking for maul attempts. It was a pretty draining game from that perspective.
“There’s more than one way to win in rugby and Toulouse can certainly beat them in different ways. They’re very happy to roll up their sleeves and beat them the hard way, but they also have the ability to open up the game and hurt you if you give up.”
“As with playing any good side, you have to be aware of all aspects of their game. Try to give yourself as many opportunities as possible to be in the game and score your points wherever possible.”
“We’re going to need a lot more defensive work rate than last weekend and I think if we can do that then we look dangerous in attack. We’re creating scoring chances, moving the ball well and our set pieces are working well.
“It’s going to give us some good fundamentals. There’s no reason why we can’t be competitive in big parts of this game,” Baxter said.
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Sam Harris, 14 Zack Wimbush, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Will Butt, 11 Tommy Wyatt, 10 Harvey Skinner, 9 Stephen Varney, 1 Will Goodrick-Clarke, 2 Jack Yeandle, 3 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 4 Tom Hooper, 5 Jenkins Daf, 5 Vincent, 8 Greg Fisilau
Replacements: 16 Louie Gulley, 17 Ethan Burger, 18 Jimmy Roots, 19 Harry Wilson, 20 Kane James, 21 Sam Wolstenholme, 22 Will Haydon-Wood, 23 Ben Hammersley
