Chiefs aim for cup double

Twickenham final against Wasps preview

For the fifth successive year, Exeter Chiefs contest a Premiership final play-off at Twickenham today, in the most unusual of circumstances. No crowds will be shouting them, or their opponents Wasps, on. The 80,000 seater stadium will echo just to the sound of players, officials and journalists, including a sole representative of Radio Exe, sports reporter Sam Sterrett. 

Wasps are in-form, but their training schedule has taken a battering after 11 members of the club, including players, were stuck down by covid. The Chiefs, though, will come into the contest oozing with confidence having secured a first-ever European crown with victory over Racing 92 in last weekend’s European Champions cup final in Bristol.

Director of rugby Rob Baxter is relishing the heavyweight showdown, which is a repeat of the 2017 final, which Exeter won in extra-time to claim their one and only Premiership crown to date.

“It’s been a tough season for all of us, but we’ve got to the end and it’s great that the teams that finished one and two in the table, then came through the semi-finals, are now contesting the final,” said Baxter. 

“Wasps have been smouldering for a few weeks, sitting there waiting, preparing, getting themselves ready for what in every sense is the biggest game of the season. “Yes, we had last week to contend with, but that’s gone now and it’s this weekend which is the most important thing. That’s what we have spoke to the players this week about."

In what Baxter described as a ‘fantastic occasion’  for the club, he said the focus on celebrations was quickly curtailed, safe in the knowledge that his side could achieve a dream double and write themselves into folklore. Securing the double would be the stuff of dreams for Baxter and the Chiefs, but the Exeter leader knows that nothing is given in sport and that past experience has taught him it’s what is produced on the day that ultimately counts.

“Of course you dream,” said Baxter. “We’re one game away from doing the double, but experience has taught me many teams that dreams don’t count for much, it’s the hard work you put out on the field which makes it all happen. All we can do is hope and pray that the team make it happen on Saturday and that we win the final.”

Although victorious, Baxter has made changes to his winning formula of a week ago. Up front, Sam Skinner takes over from his Scottish international team-mate Jonny Gray, while Jannes Kirsten is preferred to compatriot Jannes Kirsten in the back-row. 

Behind them, Ollie Devoto comes into the centre alongside Henry Slade, while Olly Woodburn is given the nod over Tom O’Flaherty on the right wing. With the exception of O’Flaherty, Gray, Vermeulen and Ian Whitten all drop to the bench, alongside Gareth Steenson, the club’s record points-scorer, who will be making his final appearance in a Chiefs jersey.

The Ulsterman is set to join the club’s coaching team next season after 12 years of service with the Chiefs. During that time he has amassed 311 appearances, scored 2,630 points, and helped the club out of the Championship and onto title success in the Premiership, Anglo-Welsh Cup and, most recently, Champions Cup. 

Score updates on Radio Exe throughout the match, with half-time and full-time reports to follow. The Chiefs' squad is:

15 Stuart Hogg
14 Jack Nowell
13 Henry Slade
12 Ollie Devoto
11 Olly Woodburn
10 Joe Simmonds (capt)
9 Jack Maunder
1 Alec Hepburn
2 Luke Cowan-Dickie
3 Harry Williams
4 Sam Skinner
5 Jonny Hill
6 Dave Ewers
7 Jannes Kirsten
8 Sam Simmonds

16 Jack Yeandle
17 Ben Moon
18 Tomas Francis
19 Jonny Gray
20 Jacques Vermeulen
21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne
22 Gareth Steenson
23 Ian Whitten