Exeter Chiefs
Exeter Chiefs v Saracens
By thechiefstribe.com
January 23 2025
TEAMS, MATCH INFORMATION, PRE-MATCH DISCUSSION THREAD AND SCORE PREDICTION
Please post your score predictions in this thread
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StumbleuponExeter Chiefs v Saracens
Discussion started by thechiefstribe.com (IP Logged), 23/01/2025 10:19
23/01/2025 10:19
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Sarries missing 11 players through injury, with a further 9 away on international duty this week. Meaning 20 first team players are missing.
If you guys can't beat us with the squad we are sending that is a serious worry!
If you guys can't beat us with the squad we are sending that is a serious worry!
Quote:jimfitz12
Sarries missing 11 players through injury, with a further 9 away on international duty this week. Meaning 20 first team players are missing.
If you guys can't beat us with the squad we are sending that is a serious worry!
Couldn't agree more. What concerns me, as a Chiefs fan, is that we are now expected to win so I don't know if we can deal with that pressure.
Cueto wasn't in touch, at least in my dreams.
Quote:No offence intended, jimfiz, but we couldn't afford keep most of our internationals, so there's little sympathy from here whilst we try to rebuild, at the same time fending off unsolicited poaching! I'm not suggesting we're lacking in talent, but as yet this season it just hasn't helped gor the full 80, mins.jimfitz12
Sarries missing 11 players through injury, with a further 9 away on international duty this week. Meaning 20 first team players are missing.
If you guys can't beat us with the squad we are sending that is a serious worry!
Thanks for posting, and good luck ... but not too much! 😁
In Rob we trust.
By the way - cream on first. There's nothing to debate.
Quote:jimfitz12
Sarries missing 11 players through injury, with a further 9 away on international duty this week. Meaning 20 first team players are missing.
If you guys can't beat us with the squad we are sending that is a serious worry!
No real arguments from me, we really should win this one easily.
Sarries don't have the strength in depth they used to, they have on occasion looked really poor this year when fielding a weakened 15.
As an aside I don't think any English side really has strength in depth now, as shown in Europe this year. This is partly due to financial reasons but also the lack of game time for those players on the fringes, a smaller fragmented league, which stops in international windows, and a lack of an A league really don't help. Sending players out on loan is ok but the standard below the premiership is not great.
I'll await the teams before I predict a Chiefs win!!
Agree big chief i feel this one is for the taken but will wait for the team announcement, A must win in my view or there could be consequences
Quote:jimfitz12
Sarries missing 11 players through injury, with a further 9 away on international duty this week. Meaning 20 first team players are missing.
If you guys can't beat us with the squad we are sending that is a serious worry!
Thats quite enough underdogging for today, thank you!
Quote:Big Chief Little Chief
As an aside I don't think any English side really has strength in depth now, as shown in Europe this year. This is partly due to financial reasons but also the lack of game time for those players on the fringes, a smaller fragmented league, which stops in international windows, and a lack of an A league really don't help. Sending players out on loan is ok but the standard below the premiership is not great.
Given the size of playing squads we've had in the past, and indeed still have compared to others, and the percentage of those that we've ever actually used in a game each season, could it be argued that we've had weakness in depth for too long?
Exeter Chiefs
15 Tommy Wyatt
14 Ben Hammersley
13 Joe Hawkins
12 Will Rigg
11 Paul Brown-Bampoe
10 Will Haydon-Wood
9 Stu Townsend
1 Scott Sio
2 Jack Innard
3 Josh Iosefa-Scott
4 Dafydd Jenkins (c)
5 Richard Capstick
6 Ethan Roots
7 Jacques Vermeulen
8 Greg Fisilau
Replacements:
16 Dan Frost
17 Kwenzo Blose
18 Marcus Street
19 Rusi Tuima
20 Franco Molina
21 Tom Cairns
22 Harvey Skinner
23 Zack Wimbush
15 Tommy Wyatt
14 Ben Hammersley
13 Joe Hawkins
12 Will Rigg
11 Paul Brown-Bampoe
10 Will Haydon-Wood
9 Stu Townsend
1 Scott Sio
2 Jack Innard
3 Josh Iosefa-Scott
4 Dafydd Jenkins (c)
5 Richard Capstick
6 Ethan Roots
7 Jacques Vermeulen
8 Greg Fisilau
Replacements:
16 Dan Frost
17 Kwenzo Blose
18 Marcus Street
19 Rusi Tuima
20 Franco Molina
21 Tom Cairns
22 Harvey Skinner
23 Zack Wimbush
Looks like a fairly sensible team selection to me, so I’m going to stick with my mindless optimism and go for:
Chiefs 31, Sarries 26
I look forward to maintaining my position at the bottom of the league…
Chiefs 31, Sarries 26
I look forward to maintaining my position at the bottom of the league…
Saracens
1 Phil Brantingham
2 Kapeli Pifeleti
3 Fraser Balmain
4 Harry Wilson
5 Hugh Tizard
6 Max Eke
7 Nathan Michelow
8 Juan Martin Gonzalez
9 Ivan van Zyl (c)
10 Louie Johnson
11 Brandon Jackson
12 Olly Hartley
13 Alex Lozowski
14 Tobias Elliott
15 Liam Williams
Replacements:
16 James Hadfield
17 Eroni Mawi
18 Alec Clarey
19 Olamide Sodeke
20 Nick Tompkins
21 Gareth Simpson
22 Fergus Burke
23 Sam Spink
1 Phil Brantingham
2 Kapeli Pifeleti
3 Fraser Balmain
4 Harry Wilson
5 Hugh Tizard
6 Max Eke
7 Nathan Michelow
8 Juan Martin Gonzalez
9 Ivan van Zyl (c)
10 Louie Johnson
11 Brandon Jackson
12 Olly Hartley
13 Alex Lozowski
14 Tobias Elliott
15 Liam Williams
Replacements:
16 James Hadfield
17 Eroni Mawi
18 Alec Clarey
19 Olamide Sodeke
20 Nick Tompkins
21 Gareth Simpson
22 Fergus Burke
23 Sam Spink
Match Officials
Referee: Ian Tempest
Assistant Referees: Sara Cox and Gareth Holsgrove
TMO: Dan Jones
Referee: Ian Tempest
Assistant Referees: Sara Cox and Gareth Holsgrove
TMO: Dan Jones
Weather Forecast as at 1200 Friday
Clear skies and light winds from the south
Temperature: 6 degrees will feel like 4 degrees
Precipitation is not expected
Clear skies and light winds from the south
Temperature: 6 degrees will feel like 4 degrees
Precipitation is not expected
TV Coverage
Channel 409 TNT Sports 2 SD 1715-1945
Channel 431 TNT Sports 2 HD 1715-1945
Channel 409 TNT Sports 2 SD 1715-1945
Channel 431 TNT Sports 2 HD 1715-1945
No mugs in the Sarries set up - and an opportunity for new stars to shine
Let’s hope for better defence and attack where the ball is kept alive….
I’ll do my best as 16th man COYC
Let’s hope for better defence and attack where the ball is kept alive….
I’ll do my best as 16th man COYC
Almost as strong as we could go... the Capstick in the second row thing still baffles me when we've got Molina and Tuima.
Hammersley surely deserves a rest. He's been running into brick walls for us every week, seemingly comes off for a HIA most weeks, and then carries on.
Still some experience in key positions there for Sarries, Balmain, Tizzard, Gonzalez, Van Zyl, Lozowski, Williams, plus a few on the bench too, in what looks like a 4-4 split.
Heart says Chiefs, but... Chiefs 24 Sarries 28
Hammersley surely deserves a rest. He's been running into brick walls for us every week, seemingly comes off for a HIA most weeks, and then carries on.
Still some experience in key positions there for Sarries, Balmain, Tizzard, Gonzalez, Van Zyl, Lozowski, Williams, plus a few on the bench too, in what looks like a 4-4 split.
Heart says Chiefs, but... Chiefs 24 Sarries 28
As my earlier post above, 16 players missing and we have a centre covering our back row...
Anything but a Cheifs win would be an enormous shock and probably one of the best results in Sarries history.
Anything but a Cheifs win would be an enormous shock and probably one of the best results in Sarries history.
I fear no man. But that Saracens bench...it scares me.
Aside from that, look at how many players are in position. I can't believe it!
If we let our talent play to their strengths, I can easily see us snatching this. No love lost between the two teams. The lads do not need a motivational speech to be up for this.
Heart over head (for the first time this season): Chiefs 29 - 22 Saracens.
#COYC
Cueto wasn't in touch, at least in my dreams.
Aside from that, look at how many players are in position. I can't believe it!
If we let our talent play to their strengths, I can easily see us snatching this. No love lost between the two teams. The lads do not need a motivational speech to be up for this.
Heart over head (for the first time this season): Chiefs 29 - 22 Saracens.
#COYC
Cueto wasn't in touch, at least in my dreams.
Cold, possibly damp but not too much wind forecast. But under floodlights which causes potential issues for both sides. Suspect a close game and fairly low scoring.
Chiefs 21 Sarries 15
Chiefs 21 Sarries 15
Could be close and holding out for a win!
Chiefs 27 - 23 Saracens
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:01:24:19:56:07 by Scottish Chief .
Chiefs 27 - 23 Saracens
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:01:24:19:56:07 by Scottish Chief .
Can't make this one as will be down in Plymouth but looking forward to the catch up.
Going to lean towards optimism with that Sarries lineup. Chiefs 30 Sarries 25.
Going to lean towards optimism with that Sarries lineup. Chiefs 30 Sarries 25.
I have a feeling of impending disappointment, but nevertheless Chiefs 26 - 21 Sarries
Quote:jimfitz12
As my earlier post above, 16 players missing and we have a centre covering our back row...
Anything but a Cheifs win would be an enormous shock and probably one of the best results in Sarries history.
Be serious! There isn't anyone on this forum or yours who thinks that it would be a shock, let alone an "enormous shock" if chiefs lose. And that's even before you check out the pundits and the bookies!
I admire the obvious wind up, but it isn't very subtle!
Nevertheless I'm sure that you're having fun and, partly to humour you, and partly because I cant bring myself to predict a home loss against Saracens, I predict a miserable, short tempered slugfest with 3 cards, atrocious refereeing and a narrow, cantankerous win for Ex. Chiefs 17 - 'Underdogs, missing even their kitman, 15.
Enormous shock - 🤣😅🤣😄😇
A must win for the whole coaching team, never will we have faced such a changed up Sarries team before. Excluding Vincent from the squad (who scored an incredible individual try last week) and Frost from the starting 23 means that we will have little pace in the forwards which is bizarre as is playing a flanker in the second row instead of an international lock. I think Sarries will try and play a fast offloading game and capitalise on our lack of pace across the 23 and will score points so we will I think have to score 4 tries.
A game we should win.
Chiefs 31 Sarries 24
A game we should win.
Chiefs 31 Sarries 24
Got to click sometime Chiefs 30 Sarries 17. Strange to see the like of Burke and Tomkins on the bench given their injuries and lack of England internationals.
Just think this is a win game never the less frost should be starting picking the score is pot luck but its chiefs 29 sarries 24
Sorry to say this but expectation triumphs over hope, Chiefs 21 Saracens 35.
For all that this is undoubtedly a weakened Sarries side, its worth noting that they are fielding 6 full internationals with a combined total of 146 caps in their starting XV.
Chiefs start with 3 ( Sio, Jenkins an Roots) with a total of 96 caps,
I didn't count the u20s caps or the benches but im pretty certain that they have the edge there too.
Pretending that they are underdogs is disingenuous.
Chiefs start with 3 ( Sio, Jenkins an Roots) with a total of 96 caps,
I didn't count the u20s caps or the benches but im pretty certain that they have the edge there too.
Pretending that they are underdogs is disingenuous.
I'm sorry but that is a seriously underpowered pack from sarries. We should win this through forward power alone, even with the ridiculous selection of a flanker in the second row again!
I'm normally on the pessimistic side but I would be hugely disappointed if we lost this, I would even put it as a worse result than losing away at Newcastle. They are having a bit of a form wobble, even with all the England players available. I can't see them suddenly finding form and playing some sort of offloading masterclass.
We beat a much stronger Gloucester side at home and ran a full strength-ish tigers side very close at welford road. We've not been that far away in most prem games, Europe being a different story!
I'm going Chiefs 42 Sarries 12 I really do believe we are playing a prem cup type side with pretty much our first team. I may be proved completely wrong but I'm not accepting excuses we should win this and well.
I'm normally on the pessimistic side but I would be hugely disappointed if we lost this, I would even put it as a worse result than losing away at Newcastle. They are having a bit of a form wobble, even with all the England players available. I can't see them suddenly finding form and playing some sort of offloading masterclass.
We beat a much stronger Gloucester side at home and ran a full strength-ish tigers side very close at welford road. We've not been that far away in most prem games, Europe being a different story!
I'm going Chiefs 42 Sarries 12 I really do believe we are playing a prem cup type side with pretty much our first team. I may be proved completely wrong but I'm not accepting excuses we should win this and well.
Quote:+1 Ridiculous.Not Manichean
Pretending that they are underdogs is disingenuous.
Anyway, heart over head ... not for the first time this year...
Chiefs 32: Salarysins 26
In Rob we trust.
By the way - cream on first. There's nothing to debate.
Why o why is Capstick starting at 5. Makes no sense to me. We should win this but I don't see our players being allowed to play to their strengths and hence I'm predicting a narrow loss in a close game. Chiefs 17 Salaries 22.
you could be right big chief little chief it could be one of those days and i would not write that scoreline off.
I just don’t have faith in our backs.
Sarries may be short of players but they still have a good team out.
Chiefs 19 Sarries 26
Sarries may be short of players but they still have a good team out.
Chiefs 19 Sarries 26
Bring the 50p coins for when the lights go out on the west grandstand! Surely you westies can have a whip round!!!!!
We need the win but if we do not start well..... Interpretations of ref at breakdown could be key - how many pens are we going to give up? Lots I fear Chiefs 25 Sarries 32.
How can we keep finding new ways to get worse week after week? That first half had not a single moment to redeem it and the pa has been turned up again plus the idiot announcer. FFS this is becoming unbearable…
Blimey, anyone watching this sxxt?
Glad to see all the training and prep for a depleted Sarries side is coming to fruition !!
Townsend having a mare as is Innard.
Is this the 'evolving' style??
Second half..change the blooming plan!;
Glad to see all the training and prep for a depleted Sarries side is coming to fruition !!
Townsend having a mare as is Innard.
Is this the 'evolving' style??
Second half..change the blooming plan!;
Let's just hope the second half is better! That was as bad as I can ever remember seeing a chiefs side play! Error after error some truly brainless! We are clearly physically stronger than Sarries yet keep finding ways to gift them the ball! Oh also the music/pa/announcer are properly annoying!!
Yes, I'm watching it and you're right it is absolute sxxt. We're getting worse.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:01:25:18:34:31 by Chief Boldeagle.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:01:25:18:34:31 by Chief Boldeagle.
Ten unforced errors in the first 8 minutes. And it didn't get better. Line out is an unmitigated disaster.
Let's hope Frosty livens it up.
Let's hope Frosty livens it up.
Try bonus point. That is very welcome!
Lets hope we keep playing rather than try and see this out.
Lets hope we keep playing rather than try and see this out.
How was that a red card!!! If I was saracens player or supporter I’d feel hard done by
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:01:25:19:15:58 by Kainai.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:01:25:19:15:58 by Kainai.
Quote:Kainai
How was that a red card!!! If I was saracens player or supporter I’d feel hard done by
Really... Have you been watch any rugby in the last few years????
Very happy to be wrong with my prediction of Sarries win!
The full 5 points is a brilliant outcome from what was, for the most part, still a very patchy and error-strewn game.
Two months now until our next league game. Lets hope that those who've picked up injuries/knocks can get back to 100% ready for that, and we can have some good performances in the Premiership Cup.
The full 5 points is a brilliant outcome from what was, for the most part, still a very patchy and error-strewn game.
Two months now until our next league game. Lets hope that those who've picked up injuries/knocks can get back to 100% ready for that, and we can have some good performances in the Premiership Cup.
Quote:Kainai
How was that a red card!!! If I was saracens player or supporter I’d feel hard done by
You don't have to like them, but those are the laws.
Chief Boldeagle must have been praying for Lozowski to miss that conversion at the end!
Ok, I concede I’m wrong, i’m a Dinosaur and need to read the rule book!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:01:25:20:31:11 by Kainai.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:01:25:20:31:11 by Kainai.
Quote:Kainai
Ok, I concede I’m wrong, i’m a Dinosaur and need to read the rule book!
Im not sure that anyone likes to see those kind of red cards, but there have been dozens of them over the last two years or so, many far less obvious than that one. Most ex players and fans of a certain age are dinosaurs regarding those calls but brain damage prevention is an existential issue for the sport now.
Quote:Not ManicheanQuote:Kainai
Ok, I concede I’m wrong, i’m a Dinosaur and need to read the rule book!
Im not sure that anyone likes to see those kind of red cards, but there have been dozens of them over the last two years or so, many far less obvious than that one. Most ex players and fans of a certain age are dinosaurs regarding those calls but brain damage prevention is an existential issue for the sport now.
Especially in the current precautions financial position. Rugby is a class action from oblivion.
Thank you and goodbye. Mod, please delete my account, I will do it if I can.
Quote:Kainai
Thank you and goodbye. Mod, please delete my account, I will do it if I can.
Kainai, please stick around, we all have differences of opinion at times, it’s what makes the forum interesting.
Quote:Midlands_chiefQuote:Kainai
How was that a red card!!! If I was saracens player or supporter I’d feel hard done by
Really... Have you been watch any rugby in the last few years????
I think Kainai must have had to many tackles to the head
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