AWC Final Bath v Exeter Sun 3pm

[fivepointer]

Bath: Homer; Banahan, Hurrell, Wilson, Vuna; Burns, Fotuali'i; Obano, Charles, Lahiff, Douglas, Ewels (capt), Ellis, Bayliss, Phillips.

Replacements: Van Vuuren, Auterac, Thomas, Stooke, Grant, Homer, Tapuai, Brew.

Exeter: Cordero; O'Flaherty, Hendrickson, Devoto, Short; Steenson, Chudley; Low, Innard, Holmes, Salmon, Dennis, Kvesic, Salvi, Horstmann (capt).

Replacements: Davis, Kenny, Owlett, Van der Sluys, Freeman, Snow, Morley, Strong.

[Digby]

I rather think Bath should win this

[Mikey Brown]

What a strange set of teams.

[fivepointer]

Bath field basically everyone they have who is fit. Exeter are sticking with their policy of effectively turning out a 2nd XV for this competition.

[Digby]

Exeter looked much better in the semi-final (without going back to check the team)

[Banquo]

Exeter looked much better in the semi-final (without going back to check the team)

Exeter: Cordero; O'Flaherty, Whitten, Devoto, Short; Simmonds, Townsend; Low, Innard, Holmes, Lees, Van Der Sluys, Dennis (capt), Salvi, Kvesic

Replacements: Davis, Kenny, Owlett, Salmon, Horstmann, Chudley, Morley, Hendrickso

[Digby]

Exeter looked much better in the semi-final (without going back to check the team)

Exeter: Cordero; O'Flaherty, Whitten, Devoto, Short; Simmonds, Townsend; Low, Innard, Holmes, Lees, Van Der Sluys, Dennis (capt), Salvi, Kvesic

Replacements: Davis, Kenny, Owlett, Salmon, Horstmann, Chudley, Morley, Hendrickso

Now I've said it I'm going to claim the absence of Whitten, Lees and Dennis is significant. I couldn't really claim Townsend vs Chudley sees them lose much, and Steenson should be better.

[Banquo]

Exeter looked much better in the semi-final (without going back to check the team)

Exeter: Cordero; O'Flaherty, Whitten, Devoto, Short; Simmonds, Townsend; Low, Innard, Holmes, Lees, Van Der Sluys, Dennis (capt), Salvi, Kvesic

Replacements: Davis, Kenny, Owlett, Salmon, Horstmann, Chudley, Morley, Hendrickso

Now I've said it I'm going to claim the absence of Whitten, Lees and Dennis is significant. I couldn't really claim Townsend vs Chudley sees them lose much, and Steenson should be better.

except Dennis is playing

[p/d]

Exeter: Cordero; O'Flaherty, Whitten, Devoto, Short; Simmonds, Townsend; Low, Innard, Holmes, Lees, Van Der Sluys, Dennis (capt), Salvi, Kvesic

Replacements: Davis, Kenny, Owlett, Salmon, Horstmann, Chudley, Morley, Hendrickso

Now I've said it I'm going to claim the absence of Whitten, Lees and Dennis is significant. I couldn't really claim Townsend vs Chudley sees them lose much, and Steenson should be better.

except Dennis is playing

and Steenson wont be better

[Mellsblue]

Postponed.

[twitchy]

Postponed.

FFS I was looking forward to this.

[Digby]

I assume that's about people travelling to the game, word from Glaws earlier is they were okay to stage the game. Given it's only a game of rugby encouraging people to travel and perhaps create work for the emergency services would be a tad irresponsible

[Which Tyler]

Yeah, it'd be fine here right now (dunno about further South), but I guess they had to decide nice and early, especially after the criticisms levelled 2 weeks ago about leaving decisions too late.
There's always next week

[fivepointer]

Prem is back next week but its the Euro QF's the following week in which neither Bath or Exeter are involved.

[Which Tyler]

Sorry, meant the following week

[fivepointer]

Game set for tomorrow at 2.30

Bath: Homer; Banahan, Hurrell, Wilson, Vuna; Burns, Cook; Obano, Charles, Knight, Douglas, Ewels (capt), Ellis, Bayliss, Phillips.

Replacements: Walker, Noguera, Delmas, Charteris, Grant, Green, Priestland, Atkins.

Exeter: Cordero; O'Flaherty, Hendrickson, Devoto, Short; J Simmonds, Townsend; Low, Innard, Holmes, Salmon, Dennis, Kvesic, Salvi, Horstmann (capt).

Replacements: Malton, Kenny, Owlett, Van der Sluys, Freeman, Snow, Steenson, Strong.

[Puja]

Phillips at 8? That'll be powerful, if not particularly mobile.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

Phillips at 8? That'll be powerful, if not particularly mobile.

Puja

That's alright, our locks are mobile but not particularly powerful...

[Puja]

Phillips at 8? That'll be powerful, if not particularly mobile.

Puja

That's alright, our locks are mobile but not particularly powerful...

You'd've thought the more logical selection would've been Ewels and Phillips in the row and Grant at 8. Unless Grant's just back from injury and they don't want to chance him yet?

Puja

[Which Tyler]

I think it's a way of getting Douglas game time.
It's tough to rotate the squad when you've got something like 25 fit players.

Besides, I don't think there's a problem with Philips at 8. He seems almost as comfortable there as at lock

[Which Tyler]

Just a reminder, KO in about 10 minutes

[Which Tyler]

Bath off to their customary stupid start.
But clawing their way back into things a little.

As for the commentators though - who the hell has been writing off Exeter?

[twitchy]

Well played boys.

[fivepointer]

Pretty comfortable win for Exeter. 2 quick tries in the 1st half sealed the game against a Bath side that seldom tested them. Weather played a part in what was a low key, rather flat game..

[Which Tyler]

Well played Ex - comfortably the better team; and so much more comfortable with what they're trying to do.