Exeter Chiefs name side to face Gloucester

The Chiefs are back in Premiership action tomorrow night

Over a month has passed since Exeter Chiefs last took to the field in the Gallagher Premiership.

The table toppers return to action tomorrow night as they travel to fourth place Gloucester. The Chiefs are without six England stars: Jack Nowell, Henry Slade, Ollie Devoto, Ben Moon, Harry Williams and Luke Cowan-Dickie. 

When the two sides met in the Premiership earlier in the season, Exeter came out triumphant. 

“It’s an interesting one really,” said Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter. “In all the time we’ve been in the Premiership, neither ourselves or Gloucester have been able to double up wins. We’ve both won games at home and we’ve both won games away, and it was a similar story in the Champions Cup earlier this season, so the challenge this week is to see if we can break that hoodoo.

“Yes, it’s been nice to have a break, but when you look at this time of the year, here we are in February and the Six Nations has started, this is that time when you know you have to get your head down, work hard and fight for points. I say that because in a month’s time, the Six Nations will have finished and then all of a sudden you’re getting into that end stage where as a side you’ll be pushing hard for those top four spots, then look at semi-finals and then trying to drive through for a final place.”

CHIEFS SIDE TO FACE GLOUCESTER

15 Phil Dollman 14 Santiago Cordero 13 Ian Whittenc12 Sam Hill 11 Tom O’Flaherty 10 Joe Simmonds 9 Nic White 1 Alec Hepburn 2 Jack Yeandle (capt) 3 Tomas Francis 4 Dave Dennis 5 Jonny Hill 6 Dave Ewers 7 Sean Lonsdale 8 Matt Kvesic

16 Elvis Taione 17 Billy Keast 18 Greg Holmes 19 Mitch Lees 20 Richard Capstick 21 Jack Maunder 22 Gareth Steenson 23 Tom Hendrickson