Exeter vs Wasps - Prem Final -Saturday 6 pm

[twitchy]

[Puja]

Looks like the COVIDed players from Wasps are McIntyre, Brookes, Shields and maybe Barbeary. Still a very strong team to put out though.

Puja

[Raggs]

Balls. CMK to ref. Would have preferred pretty much anyone else, except maybe Carley. Right. That's my pre match ref whine done.

[FKAS]

Looks like the COVIDed players from Wasps are McIntyre, Brookes, Shields and maybe Barbeary. Still a very strong team to put out though.

Puja

Losses but could have been worse. West is probably Wasps best scrummaging loosehead so playing him against Chiefs won't hurt to much. My opinion on Brookes isn't favourable so I wouldn't say that's much of a loss. Keeping the sizeable Rowlands and Launchbury lock combination together was key as was keeping their flankers fit.

Chiefs have rotated a couple as well so they might have some tired bodies.

Should be a good game.

[Digby]

Balls. CMK to ref. Would have preferred pretty much anyone else, except maybe Carley. Right. That's my pre match ref whine done.

Cheers, I was just coming on here to ask who was reffing. I'd say that probably doesn't help you, but before worrying about the ref Exeter need to not be on it for Wasps to be in the running, even if Wasps are a better watch and by a mile the most improved side over the season

[fivepointer]

Could have been a lot worse for Wasps. Strong side announced. Have to favour Exeter, who have had the luxury of a settled week and only making a few minor tweaks.

[Banquo]

Shame about Barbeary and they will miss Shields and the knock on to the bench.

[Banquo]

Must be the first back to back games for Nowell in a few years

[Oakboy]

Must be the first back to back games for Nowell in a few years

First time he's been able to avoid plastic pitches?

[Oakboy]

Balls. CMK to ref. Would have preferred pretty much anyone else, except maybe Carley. Right. That's my pre match ref whine done.

Cheers, I was just coming on here to ask who was reffing. I'd say that probably doesn't help you, but before worrying about the ref Exeter need to not be on it for Wasps to be in the running, even if Wasps are a better watch and by a mile the most improved side over the season

Wasn't Barnes supposed to be doing it? He's tested positive for covid according to DT.

[Banquo]

Must be the first back to back games for Nowell in a few years

First time he's been able to avoid plastic pitches?

Sick note home or away

[Digby]

Balls. CMK to ref. Would have preferred pretty much anyone else, except maybe Carley. Right. That's my pre match ref whine done.

Cheers, I was just coming on here to ask who was reffing. I'd say that probably doesn't help you, but before worrying about the ref Exeter need to not be on it for Wasps to be in the running, even if Wasps are a better watch and by a mile the most improved side over the season

Wasn't Barnes supposed to be doing it? He's tested positive for covid according to DT.

Yep, I knew Barnes was out, just not who was getting the whistle in his place

[Peej]

The biggest COVID impact is Maxwell-keys getting the whistle. He'd be 5th choice for me, so balls. Absolutely zero chance of Exe being called for not binding into a ruck or going off their feet.

Barbeary is still an academy player, so it could be he's thinking between the original 4 academy players that caught COVID and the main squad. Shields is also a massive loss.

Desperate for Wasps to take it, but can't really see past a fairly straightforward Exeter win.

[padprop]

Agreed. If this game is reffed how the breakdown was reffed a couple months ago, wasps will have a sniff. It it goes back to sealing off and not a sniff for Willis and Young, it’ll be a landslide.

[Peej]

Or even if how the breakdown in the Ireland-Italy game was reffed

[Mikey Brown]

Weird seeing De Jongh going from nowhere this season (it seemed?) to starting in a final.

Great to see Devoto get this opportunity with Eddie watching. Would be delighted if he can show the performance of us many of think he's capable of.

[Peej]

Great scramble kick from Umaga undone by shite from Robson under no pressure

[Peej]

Just timing? He's literally jumped into him in the air and tackled him CMK

[Mikey Brown]

Nowell lucky there.

Hill and Skinner all over their lineout has saved them.

[Peej]

Wasps set piece has been shocking. Chiefs not really contesting the breakdown to spread across the field, although the weather makes it harder for Wasps to play their normal game anyway

[Peej]

Though that was a bloody good scrum

[padprop]

West is a good operator isn’t he. Had Williams on toast in the first scrum

[Peej]

That's a ridiculous call against Skinner. CMK has blown virtually before he's on the ground. Think he realised he should have blown a couple rucks earlier

[Peej]

Bugger, here we go

[Peej]

Launch you are an absolute animal!