Exeter Chiefs have upped the ante forward of Saturday’s Champions’ Cup conflict with the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld.
Exeter Chiefs chasing prime seeding
The Chiefs’ demolition of the Bulls at Sandy Park, coupled with their away win over Castres has left them second in Pool A, simply behind powerhouse Leinster and one other away win over the Bulls would give them one of many prime seedings earlier than the preliminary spherical has completed.
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While the Bulls haven’t misplaced to abroad opposition at Loftus Versfeld since their present Director of Rugby Jake White has taken over, their latest type, coupled with White’s emergency surgical procedure this previous week that may preserve him away from the aspect for the subsequent few fixtures, may properly have given the Chiefs a gap.
White received’t be again answerable for the aspect till at the least the eighth of February, that means there’s at present a void together with his assistant coaches taking cost. While the Bulls did file a bonus-point win in opposition to the Dragons of their Vodacom United Rugby Championship match final Friday evening, earlier than that they misplaced three in a row and shall be below strain in opposition to a very good Chiefs aspect.
The match is ready to be performed in good circumstances with solar and a tough pitch ready for Exeter and the Bulls may have taken discover of that reality to enhance their confidence when coupled with their good residence type in opposition to abroad opposition.
Loftus below menace
Exeter coach Ali Hepher although, sees the chance for his aspect to lay down a marker of their first journey to South Africa.
“It’s hugely exciting,” Hepher stated. “It’s a special competitors, a special local weather, a special nation, nevertheless it’s one thing to actually get pleasure from.
“For us, although, it’s a large alternative on the finish of subsequent week to push our claims for prime seedings later within the match. It’s a chance for us to actually go after issues.
“It will be tough, we know that, but it’s a chance to test ourselves against the best. It will be good to put ourselves up against one of the best and see where we are at.”
England hooker out
Exeter shall be with out their talisman, England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie, who scored a hat-trick of tries within the first fixture between the 2 sides at Sandy Park. Cowan-Dickie was injured within the win over Northampton Saints final Saturday and shall be missed.
Exeter are nonetheless ready for an replace on his situation and Director of Rugby Rob Baxter believes he shall be out for some size of time.
“I believe he is seeing a surgeon today and the surgeon will then give us an indication,” stated Baxter. “I believe at this stage, we’ve bought to say it’s comparatively unhealthy. I don’t need need to be flippant and say will probably be eight weeks, 10 weeks, 12 weeks (out).
“I believe we’re assessing that, however you aren’t going to be seeing him operating round within the subsequent three or 4 weeks.
“If you have a look at the mechanism of the harm, it’s fairly awkward. He finally ends up type of half-breaking via a deal with, somebody fell on the again of his legs and he finally ends up together with his ankles crossed and one foot twists beneath him.
“He was very irritated on Saturday night, as you’ll be able to think about. He had been massively wanting ahead to coming over right here (South Africa), experiencing being over right here with the membership and being concerned in a giant sport.
“The Heineken Cup means so much to him and the reality is, he’s a very good man and actually desires to have a big effect this season with him leaving. I believe quite a lot of that basically bothered him.
“Having said that, if there is a guy who can come back on time or sooner from an injury, it does tend to be Luke. I think there is a lot of the season left for him, but we just want to get things rolling quickly so we can get that rehab down significantly so he doesn’t miss too much more of the season.”
Injury woes for Exeter Chiefs
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The Chiefs can even be lacking Scotland fullback Stuart Hogg, who’s sitting with a heel harm.
“Stuart did a fitness test on Saturday pre-game and still couldn’t run at speed or couldn’t put any distance in his heel. It was still too sore,” Baxter stated.
“He will be doing a kind of rehab programme this week while we are away. As soon as his heel is comfortable enough, he will be declared fit to play again. It’s not like a ligament thing or something that will require an operation.”
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