By Moorsman
April 14 2016
It's back on the AP horse this week for Exeter Chiefs following last weeks departure from the Champions Cup
Gloucester Rugby v Exeter Chiefs
It's back on the AP horse this week for Exeter Chiefs following last weeks narrow loss and departure from the Champions Cup. Although it was deeply dissapointing to come so close to progressing to a Semi Final spot there was a lot to like about the Chiefs performance. As Rob Baxter put it in his post match interview had Jimmy Gopperth not converted the Wasps try we'd all be feeling a totally different set of emotions. Nothing would have changed about the rest of our play but sometimes no matter how well you play things don't always turn out the way you planned. My personal view is that I was mighty pleased to see the Chiefs satrting to regain their form from early in the season. This bodes well for our last three 'league' games and sets Chiefs up well to not only gain our first plkay-off place but a home semi-final. I think a 4 point win at Kingsholm will guarantee the former and defeating Wasps at Sandy Park the latter.
I don't think there will be any problem for Rob Baxter and his fellow coaches in getting the Chiefs players fired up for Friday night under the lights at Kingsholm. With regards to the team I don't see many changes being made from last week although Phil Dollman would come straight back in as long as he's recovered from injury. The forcast is a bit mixed and could make a strong forwards performance really important. Thankfully the Chiefs pack has been boosted in recent weeks by the return of Damien Welch, Dave Ewers and Mitch Lees. With Thomas Waldrom continuing to score freely this season I think the guys will be helping him to add to the 19 tries he's scored 'in all competitions' so far this season.
The backs have also been buoyed with the return of Henry Slade (injury), Jack Nowell and Michele Campagnaro (International duty). Steeno is likely to Captain the side and he'll also be looking to push his season's tally on towards a possible Golden Boot award.
It's a shame that a Friday evening game will limit the travelling Tribe but I'll be in The Shed with those that do travel and doing our best to roar the guys on.
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