Chiefs side to face Northampton Saints
After weeks of detailed preparation, the waiting is finally over and the time has come for Exeter Chiefs to once again venture into the heat of battle in the Aviva Premiership.
First up for Rob Baxter's Class of 2013/14 is a daunting opening test against Northampton Saints at Franklin's Gardens tomorrow (3pm).
It is, however, a fixture that is sure to whet the appetite of everyone associated with the Chiefs, who will be looking to claim the scalp of the East Midlanders for the first time on their own patch.
In three previous top flight meetings at the Gardens, the best Baxter's side have managed to achieve is a losing bonus point on two occasions. It's a statistic the Exeter head coach is clearly keen to rectify in this seasonal opener.
"We're aware it will be a big test at Northampton, but we like big tests as it oftens brings the best out of us," said Baxter. "We're looking forward to going up there because games between ourselves and Northampton are normally cracking games of rugby.
"It's a fantastic start for us because it's tough opposition who perform well at home. That's what you should want in the Premiership – a chance for the guys to show what they're made of against good quality opposition, in individual battles and collectively.
"We should be looking to make sure we take part in the game the way we want to. That's the battle – who can make it about themselves for the longest."
After three decent warm-up tests against Scarlets, Bristol and Glasgow, Baxter insists he is happy with the make-up of his squad, which has been bolstered by the addition of seven new faces during the summer months.
"I'm very happy with the squad we've assembled and the way pre-season has gone," added Baxter. "Yes, we were a little disappointed with the result and a few issues against Glasgow last week, but that is what pre-season is all about. It's helped focus our minds a bit more this week and in a way it keeps you on a steady path. Moving forward we've had a good training week and now we're very much looking forward to playing Northampton this weekend."
With the Chiefs keen to build on another impressive year last term, Baxter refuses to set too many long-term targets for either his team or his players. Instead, the aim initially for tomorrow is to ensure the "nuts and bolts" of his side's performance are in place and then to assess what happens afterwards.
"The way I structure what we want to do here is that what comes at the end of the season will come," he said. "What I want the players to be concentrating on is what they have to do now and how we want to develop the team that potentially means we move the club forward.
"If that means that down the line we push ourselves into the top four that'll be fantastic, but for me it's not about saying our only target is the top four or top half, it doesn't work like that.
"The way it works is you get what you deserve. We have to make sure we deserve to keep collecting points on a regular basis during the season. I haven't sat down and worked out how many points we need to possibly be in the top four. What's more important is how we move the side forward individually and collectively."
Ahead of their first outing, the Chiefs adopt a familiar look to their starting line-up, even though playing resources have been bolstered. Of the newcomers brought in by Baxter during the close season, only Welsh winger Tom James starts from the outset.
The former Cardiff Blues flyer has been in impressive form during the pre-season and his three tries in as many games have certainly brought him to the attention of Baxter and his fellow coaches.
Elsewhere, Aussie international Dean Mumm skippers the Chiefs for the first time in the Premiership from the second-row, whilst Dave Ewers is given the task of taking over the No.8 jersey for the first time since the retirement of the long-serving Richard Baxter. Behind, a finger injury sustained against Glasgow means Luke Arscott is sidelined, so Phil Dollman takes over at full-back in his absence.
On the bench, centre Sam Hill - fresh from helping England's Under-20s to Junior World Championship success in France - is included in a Premiership squad for the first time; whilst Dave Lewis is another new addition following his move from Gloucester.
15 Phil Dollman
14 Matt Jess
13 Ian Whitten
12 Jason Shoemark
11 Tom James
10 Gareth Steenson
9 Haydn Thomas
1 Brett Sturgess
2 Jack Yeandle
3 Hoani Tui
4 Dean Mumm (capt)
5 Damian Welch
6 Tom Johnson
7 James Scaysbrook
8 Dave Ewers
16 Chris Whitehead
17 Ben Moon
18 Carl Rimmer
19 Tom Hayes
20 Ben White
21 Dave Lewis
22 Henry Slade
23 Sam Hill
Words by Mark Stevens
