SOUTH WEST RUGBY Bears vs Chiefs team news

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Last Updated on Friday, 07 October 2022 12:19

Published on Friday, 07 October 2022 06:09

Toby Fricker is set to make his return from injury when Bristol Bears tackle Exeter Chiefs at Ashton Gate tonight 1945ko, live on BT Sport.

Ellis Genge and Charles Piutau are also set to return to the starting XV having missed last Friday’s 30-15 defeat at Newcastle.

Harry Randall comes in at scrum half where he partners Callum Sheedy, with Sam Bedlow rejoining Piers O’Conor in the Bears midfield and Rich Lane switching to the wing.

Among the system players, Tom Whiteley is set for his first league appearance since February.

Bears starting 15 Charles Piutau 14 Toby Fricker 13 Piers O'Conor 12 Sam Bedlow 11 Rich Lane 10 Callum Sheedy 9 Harry Randall 1 Ellis Genge 2 Will Capon 3 Kyle Sinckler 4 John Hawkins 5 Joe Joyce 6 Chris Vui 7 Jake Heenan (capt) 8 Magnus Bradbury

Bench 16 Jake Kerr 17 Jake Woolmore 18 Max Lahiff 19 Ed Holmes 20 Dan Thomas 21 Tom Whiteley 22 AJ MacGinty 23 Jack Bates

With a bumper crowd expected at Ashton Gate, Chiefs' director of rugby Rob Baxter expects tonight's Westcountry affair to throw up a mouth-watering encounter.

“Over the years we’ve had some great games against Bristol.

“In all of them, results have gone either way. Right now, you’ve got two teams who are at the top end of the table and both of whom will be pushing hard to get a result.

“What we need to do - and we’ve spelt this out to the boys this week - is go there and put in a big, emotional performance. I’m sure Pat Lam will be saying the same to his team, but more often than not, it’s that team that goes out and really imposes themselves from the outset who put the performance in.

“Like ourselves, Bristol will have been frustrated with their result last weekend up at Newcastle, so we have to be ready to come out of the blocks firing and meet the challenge they throw down head on.”

Ahead of kick-off, Baxter has made changes to his starting line-up. Injuries sustained in the 28-20 defeat at Sale to Jack Dunne, Dafydd Jenkins and Stu Townsend mean they all miss out, so into the fold come Jonny Gray, Christ Tshiunza and Jack Maunder.

Other changes see Jack Yeandle assume the captaincy at hooker in place of Luke Cowan-Dickie, who drops to the bench. Richard Capstick gets the nod at No.8 in place of Sam Simmonds, while in the back division Jack Nowell’s inclusion on the wing means Rory O’Loughlin reverts to centre and Joe Simmonds starts at fly-half ahead of Harvey Skinner.

Chiefs starting 15 Stuart Hogg 14 Jack Nowell 13 Henry Slade 12 Rory O’Loughlin 11 Olly Woodburn 10 Joe Simmonds 9 Jack Maunder 1 Alec Hepburn 2 Jack Yeandle (capt) 3 Harry Williams 4 Jannes Kirsten 5 Jonny Gray 6 Jacques Vermeulen 7 Christ Tshiunza 8 Richard Capstick

Bench 16 Lukę Cowan-Dickie 17 Josh Iosefa-Scott 18 Patrick Schickerling 19 Ruben Van Heerden 20 Dave Ewers 21 Sam Maunder 22 Harvey Skinner 23 Solomone Kata

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