Exeter Chiefs name side to face Saracens in final

Joe Simmonds starts at fly-half for the Exeter Chiefs in tomorrow's Aviva Premiership Final at Twickenham.

Team news for the Chiefs ahead of kick-off is relatively simple as Baxter selects the same match-day squad for that which saw off Newcastle Falcons 36-5 in last weekend’s semi-final at Sandy Park. That means Don Armand skippers the side from the back-row, Joe Simmonds gets the nod at fly-half, and only four of last season’s starting XV for the final – Luke Cowan-Dickie, Armand, Jack Nowell and Olly Woodburn – start this time around.

Speaking to Exeter Chiefs website, Baxter said: “I know there is only four starting that started last year, but it is a little bit false because we have a numerous number of the bench and a couple of guys running full on with the squad now and just getting back from injury. The group itself isn’t as changed as it sounds and they were guys that were involved in semi-finals, our run to the semi-finals, and training and they were all there at Twickenham.

“I think actually it is a big group that has been involved and they have an experience of it, I think the freshness can add a bit of desperation when you need it sometimes. We have quite a number of guys there who weren’t the guys that lifted the trophy last year and as much as they were delighted to be part of the squad, they haven’t had that feeling and it is something you should fight for and you should want to taste and experience.

“We have got to expect those guys to be part of our driving force and part of our motivation to be a better side. If the guys who haven’t yet achieved things for you can’t add to your motivation, they shouldn’t be at the club, they should go somewhere else.

You can’t just rely on the guys that have done it for you before and say they are going to be the most highly motivated people, they can only be driven by the people beneath them and I think that is what we have seen from the group this year.”

CHIEFS SIDE TO FACE SARACENS

15 Lachie Turner
14 Jack Nowell
13 Henry Slade
12 Sam Hill
11 Olly Woodburn
10 Joe Simmonds
9 Nic White
1 Alec Hepburn
2 Luke Cowan-Dickie
3 Tomas Francis
4 Mitch Lees
5 Jonny Hill
6 Dave Ewers
7 Don Armand (capt)
8 Sam Simmonds

16 Jack Yeandle
17 Ben Moon
18 Greg Holmes
19 Sam Skinner
20 Thomas Waldrom
21 Stuart Townsend
22 Gareth Steenson
23 Ian Whitten