mens
Gallagher-Prime Minister
Buoyed by a 43-40 loss to Toulouse in the Champions Cup, Exeter Chiefs back to the bread and butter of PREM with boss Rob Baxter demanding the same level of commitment from his side.
Bosses welcome back Nika Abuladze and Olly Woodburn for Saturday’s trip to Bristol, and Baxter hopes they can get back to winning ways.
“We showed a lot of good character in the game last weekend, but now we have to go on and show at least the same level of commitment in Prem,” Baxter said.
“This will be a whole new challenge because it won’t be hot and dry, it will be windy and wet. It will be interesting to see how we go through the challenge in a tough away game against one of the top four teams in the league.”
The last time they performed together against Glasgow Warriors in January 2024, sees Abuladze reunite in the front row with hooker Jack Yeandle and prop Josh Iosefa-Scott.
Tom Hooper remains in the boiler room for a second week as he clashes with match captain Dafydd Jenkins, who has been called up to Steve Tandy’s this week Wales squad for the autumn setting of the Nations Championship.
Flanker Ethan Roots and Ross Vintcent pack in with No.8 Greg Fisilau in an unchanged back row.
The Chiefs make a change at half-time, for the first time in the PREM this season, as ex Bristol Bear Sam Wolstenholme enters the starting line-up alongside fly-half Harvey Skinner. After an 80-minute performance against Toulouse last Sunday, Stephen Varney will be looking to make an impact from the bench.
A week after scoring his first try for the Chiefs, Will Butt remains at inside center with Henry Slade manning the outside channel.
Tommy Wyatt’s injury concern promotes Ben Hammersley to the starting XV on the left wing. Zack Wimbush starts at right wing and Woodburn returns from an ankle injury to fill the guard spot.
Exeter team vs Bristol:
15 Olly Woodburn
14 Zack Wimbush
13 Henry Slade
12 Will Butt
11 Ben Hammersley
10 Harvey Skinner
9 Sam Wolstenholme
1 Nika Abuladze
2 Jack Yeandle
3 Josh Iosefa-Scott
4 Tom Hooper
5 Dafydd Jenkins (c)
6 Ethan Roots
7 Ross Vincent
8 Greg Fisilau
Replacements:
16 Max Norey
17 Ethan Burger
18 Jimmy Roots
19 Harry Wilson
20 Kane James
21 Stephen Varney
22 Will Haydon-Wood
23 Sam Harris
