Toulouse are forced to make a change: Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter has announced an unchanged team against Toulouse on Sunday which he believes is in line with their performance of the season against Bath last week.
Baxter praised the maturity of his young squad as Chiefs beat Bath in wild conditions at Sandy Park in the last 16 of the Investec Champions Cup.
The 2020 Champions Cup winners travel to Europe’s unhappiest hunting ground for visitors on Sunday, the Stade Ernst-Wallen, to face a Toulouse side who made just one change to their XV after dismantling Racing 92 last week.
Paul Costes comes in for the injured Pierre-Louis Barassi in the starting XV in midfield for the reigning Top 14 champions, while France fullback Thomas Ramos returns from injury to start on the bench.
“I think the performance against Bath Rugby was probably one of our best of the season in many ways,” Baxter said after naming his team.
“They’re a good team and they’ve had some good results against us this season. They’re one of the form teams in the Gallagher Premiership – home and away – so we’re very happy with the result.
I think it shows a level of maturity where the team can or should be.
So, I think it’s good for where we’re going as a Premiership team. Now this weekend is our test where we are also going as a European team.
Exeter are the same team with the same name while Toulouse are forced to make a change.
“We said in the changing room that, as a team, the players have to do one of the hardest things in sport which is to push themselves for two weeks at a very competitive level. At the same time, how do you win trophies. When you come back, trophies and big games.
Exeter are the same team with the same name while Toulouse are forced to make a change.
Toulouse are forced to make a change: Exeter Chiefs XV
15 Josh Hodge
14 Emmanuel Faye-Waboso
13 Henry Slade
12 Ollie Devoto
11 Ollie Woodburn
10 Harvey Skinner
9 Tom Cairns
Toulouse are forced to make a change:
1 Scott CO
2 Jack Yendel
3 Ehren Painter
4 Russian Tuima
5 Dafydd Jenkins (C)
6 Ethan Root
7 Christ Sheunga
8 Ross Vincent
Replacements
16 Jack Innard
17 Danny Southworth
18 Marcus Street
19 Lewis Pearson
20 Greg Fisilau
21 Stu Townsend
22 Will Haydon-Wood
23 Zack Wimbush
Toulouse are forced to make a change: Toulouse XV
- Blair Kinghorn
- Juan Cruz Malia
- Paul Costes
- Pita Ahki
- Mathis label
- Romaine tobacco
- Antoine Dupont (c)
- Cyril Bell
- Peato Mauvaka
- Dorian Aldegheri
- Richie Arnold
- Emmanuel Mefu
- Jack Willis
- Francois Cross
- Alexander Rumat
Toulouse are forced to make a change: Replacement - Julien Marchand
- Rodrigue Neti
- Joel Merkler
- Thibaud Flament
- Joshua Brennan
- Paul Grau
- Tomas Ramos
- Santiago Chocobares