Aviva Play Off 2: Exeter Chiefs v Wasps, 21 May

      
Exeter Chiefs v Wasps
Saturday 21 May 2016
KO: 15:15
Sandy Park

Live on BT Sport

Referee: Greg Garner (100th Premiership game).
Assistant Referees: Tom Foley & Ross Campbell.
TMO: Stuart Terheege.

A. Head to Head

13 Played 13
9 Wins 4
4 Losses 9
0 Draws 0
331 Points 253

B. Form

Sun 1st May 16
Exeter Chiefs 24 - 3 Wasps

Sat 9th April 16
Wasps 25 - 24 Exeter Chiefs

Sat 5th Dec 15
Wasps 27 - 41 Exeter Chiefs

Sun 26th Apr 15
Wasps 36 - 29 Exeter Chiefs

Sat 22nd Nov 14
Exeter Chiefs 31 - 15 Wasps

C. Teams

Exeter Chiefs 

Dollman; Nowell, Slade, Whitten, Woodburn; Steenson (capt), Chudley; Moon, Cowan-Dickie, Williams, Lees, Parling, Ewers, Salvi, Armand.

Replacements: Yeandle, Hepburn, Francis, Atkins, Waldrom, Lewis, Hill, Short.

Wasps

C. Piutau; Wade, Daly, S. Piutau, Halai; Gopperth, Robson; Mullan, Festuccia, Cooper-Woolley, Launchbury, Davies, Haskell (capt), Smith, Hughes.

Replacements: Johnson, McIntyre, Cittadini, Rowlands, Jones, Simpson, Jackson, Miller.

I am really tired of all these people rushing at once to post on these threads.

Well, it is still 12 days away and not many devotees of these clubs still active on the boards.

Asbo would have been all over this.

This is a really interesting game. Wasps were in great form but then Exeter destroyed them and Quins so I think have to be favorites.

Is there a rugby team with worse hair than Exeter?

Couldn't believe the state of Nowell's barnet in his interview for the highlights show

Have Exeter peaked too soon?

They played the perfect game against Quins and might struggle to reach those levels again.

On the other hand the whole squad seems to be flying high, it could take them far.

Wasps seem a little off form, but then they could be conserving their energy.

Exeter by 12

yappysnap wrote:Have Exeter peaked too soon?

They played the perfect game against Quins and might struggle to reach those levels again.

On the other hand the whole squad seems to be flying high, it could take them far.

Wasps seem a little off form, but then they could be conserving their energy.

Exeter by 12

LI could've beaten Quins on Saturday, they were simply awful less the 1st 20 minutes when they actually threatened. Chiefs have been playing at that level pretty much all season, apart from a very small number of average games - hence their 2nd place league position....

That's the beauty of Chiefs, they've just gone quietly about their business, going under the radar for almost the entire 1st half of the season. At Sandy Park, I'd expect them to beat Wasps fairly comfortably, I'd say 12 points is a fair guess.

I think this will be a close one and a lot will depend on the line ups when named. Chiefs have been strong all season but Wasps are capable of pulling sensational performances out of the bag at times.

CHIEFS SIDE TO FACE WASPS
15 Phil Dollman 14 Jack Nowell 13 Henry Slade 12 Ian Whitten 11 Olly Woodburn 10 Gareth Steenson (capt) 9 Will Chudley 1 Ben Moon 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie 3 Harry Williams 4 Mitch Lees 5 Geoff Parling 6 Dave Ewers 7 Julian Salvi 8 Don Armand
16 Jack Yeandle 17 Alec Hepburn 18 Tomas Francis 19 Ollie Atkins 20 Thomas Waldrom 21 Dave Lewis 22 Sam Hill 23 James Short

Waldrom on bench is an interesting call.

Wasps team to take on Exeter Chiefs on Saturday

15. Charles Piutau
14. Christian Wade
13. Elliot Daly
12. Siale Piutau
11. Frank Halai
10. Jimmy Gopperth
9. Dan Robson
1. Matt Mullan
2. Carlo Festuccia
3. Jake Cooper-Woolley
4. Joe Launchbury
5. Bradley Davies
6. James Haskell (c)
7. George Smith
8. Nathan Hughes

Replacements
16. Ashley Johnson
17. Simon McIntyre
18. Lorenzo Cittadini
19. Will Rowlands
20. Sam Jones
21. Joe Simpson
22. Ruaridh Jackson
23. Rob Miller

Unavailable for selection through injury

Thomas Young – has unfortunately been ruled out for up to 8 weeks following a double injury, sustained against London Irish on Saturday 7 May. A scan revealed a partial tear of his hamstring tendon, while he also suffered a shoulder injury in the same game.

Kearnan Myall - is making good progress from his knee injury, but will not be fit in time for the Semi Final.

James Cannon –- is making good progress from his neck injury, but will be ruled out for the rest of the season.

James Gaskell - is continuing his rehab from a foot injury, which unfortunately ruled him out for this season.

Alapati Leiua - is continuing his recovery from an ACL reconstruction.

Andrea Masi - continues his rehab for an Achilles injury.

LondonTiger wrote:Waldrom on bench is an interesting call.

Chiefs playing an 80 minute game. Get the three big tacklers stuck in to the explosive Wasps team early doors and then bring on the tank as they start to tire.

Great to see Cooper-Woolley back, though I'm not sure if it will be enough. Wasps have not hit the peak of their purple patch, valentines day etc. While the Chiefs look hot and of course will again want to repay the semi final compliment.

The weather will also play its part which will benefit the home sides local knowledge and the greater level of detail to their overall game/coaching (though Wasps have at times aligned in sublime perfection I still feel they rely too much on individual performance).

Come on Wasps, Wade to win it!

I'm looking forward to this match, I hope the weather is good!!!

These 2 have been the most exciting teams in europe this season in my opinion, and this could have all the makings of a classic, I just wish this was the final!

My money is probably on Wasps, but fear for the final if Saracens win.

weather is dire..

How has Salvi been playing since he left the Tigers?

Does anyone think Lol has his Wasps shirt on?

Class from Nowell

shaping up to be a great game considering the conditions

did the Hask try a hitchkick just then

nathan wrote:did the Hask try a hitchkick just then

Haha yep, I laughed

Best AP game I've seen this season so far, finally some decent rugby.

Dumb yellow by Wasps. Even the commentary team said "What they don't want to do now is give away a try and a yellow card".

mid_gen wrote:

nathan wrote:did the Hask try a hitchkick just then

Haha yep, I laughed

Best AP game I've seen this season so far, finally some decent rugby.

you haven't seen much then this season, or you're in a good mood today

BT seem pretty certain that Exeter should have seen a red card for a reckless kick on Launchbury's head.

Rugby Fan wrote:BT seem pretty certain that Exeter should have seen a red card for a reckless kick on Launchbury's head.

I have to disagree with them

Nowell is getting through a load of work. He's keeping his spot on that England wing!

Nice to see Ewers getting on the scoreboard.

Strange for Davies to go for the legs on Ewers so he could just flop over the line.

Mullen looked like he was pulling that down?

Ooh was that naughty from Smith or ok...need to see the replay

nathan wrote:

mid_gen wrote:

nathan wrote:did the Hask try a hitchkick just then

Haha yep, I laughed

Best AP game I've seen this season so far, finally some decent rugby.

you haven't seen much then this season, or you're in a good mood today

I am a quins fan which may cloud my view of this season :P

Decent game, solid kicking from both teams, good attacking plays, low handling errors, competitive. Especially good considering the conditions. A world away from the dross in Europe.

AH they're ok

would of pinged Haskell though for pushing the scrum half

Would you say Nowell MOM?

Nowell MotM for me, great game for him, hope he keeps it up for England.

ha ha ha ha cheeky

have to agree, he's been everywhere.

Wasps will be disapointed with a few of there players.

Daly has been quite, both wingers have been quite. Haskell has had a few brain farts

Ah Chudley MOM....oh well

think im about a minute behind lol

BT have just given MOTM to the bloke they say should have been red-carded.

So chiefs in the final.

You have to take your hat off to the whole management , chairman etc etc of that club. They are a magnificent example of how to progress a club.

Well done Exeter, hope you beat Sarries but i doubt you will.

Where does Chudley come in the England rankings? Is he a chance of an AUssie tour?

Agree Nathan...Sarries are on another level to anyone at the moment.

Wasps are going to be a different proposition next year when they have a playmaker at 10 instead of just a reliable kicker. Exeter's decision making in attack was markedly better.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Where does Chudley come in the England rankings? Is he a chance of an AUssie tour?

If BT are right - and I don't know that they are - then the citing officer might look at him for a red card and a ban. Then again, it's similar to the Mike Brown incident during the 6N, and that worked out OK for the Quins man.

mid_gen wrote:Wasps are going to be a different proposition next year when they have a playmaker at 10 instead of just a reliable kicker. Exeter's decision making in attack was markedly better.

For me there just wasn't enough Wasps players putting there hand up today. Wade, Daly, some of there best players had quite games

Gopperth is not a great player. I'm sorry, but I just don't rate him. I didn't when he was with us and I don't whilst hes at Wasps.

Wasps will be a different proposition with Cipriani pulling the strings...especially if he can continue his game control.

GeordieFalcon wrote:So chiefs in the final.

You have to take your hat off to the whole management , chairman etc etc  of that club. They are a magnificent example of how to progress a club.

I agree 100%. No superstars in their team yet as a unit they play exceptionally well, and could go on to produce some superstars.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Gopperth is not a great player. I'm sorry, but I just don't rate him. I didn't when he was with us and I don't whilst hes at Wasps.

Wasps will be a different proposition with Cipriani pulling the strings...especially if he can continue his game control.

I can't understand why he starts when Jackson is sat on the bench. You don't lose much off the tee but you gain mu have more in attack.