Exeter Chiefs
Chiefs v Scatrlets Preview
Sandy Park
By BlackOtter
August 21 2011
Black Otter previews Exeter Chiefs final pre-season match
Exeter Chiefs v Scarlets
On Saturday, we welcome the Scarlets to Sandy Park - our third and final warm-up game (and theirs) before the season starts in earnest a week later (who cares about the side-show that is the RWC when there's AP matches at hand?! 
)
So what should we expect from the Scarlets?
Note first that they are The Scarlets (no mention of the 'L' word), one of the (5 originally, but now 4) Welsh regional teams formed after the advent of professionalism, but revelling in the history of the famous clubs from which they were formed, particularly Llanelli RFC. The region still rings with the names of Bennett, JJ Williams, Ieuan Evans, Gravell, and the Quinnell family, to name just a few - their history is a proud one and legends have been made in west Wales.
Apart from season 2009-10, they've pretty much always finished in the top half of the Celtic League, and they have a proud record in Europe, losing to Leicester Tigers in the 2006-07 semi-final (non third-time lucky there). Last season we witnessed them play a blend of attacking, running rugby that captured the hearts of their faithful fans (often referred to as 'Turks', occasionally gifted the soubriquet 'one-eyed'!), securing a memorable pool 4-try, home victory over Perpignan, and finishing in 6th place in the Magners League.
The Scarlets have seen a fair bit of personnel turnover in the closed season, with notable losses in Regan King and David Lyons, along with Steve Shingler, Joe Ajuwa, Dafydd Jones, and Martin Roberts, replaced by new recruits Aled Thomas, Rhodri Gomer Davies, Rhys Jones, and Sione Timani (with apparently R Gomer-Davies and A Thomas only short term for the RWC). Additionally, two star players (Welsh captain Matthew Rees & Morgan Stoddard) are ruled out at the start of the season thru injury, and a number of players will be absent on world cup duty (Sean Lamont for Scotland, and Stephen Jones, Josh Turnbull?, Rhys Priestland, George North, John Davies, Tavis Knoyle, and Scott Williams for Wales).
Yet the squad must have some depth, as they put Rotherham Titans to the sword at home in their first pre-season game this year, running out 37-25 winners, and their youngsters put up a good fight against ASM Clermont-Auvergne's blend of youth and experience, losing 6-17 away from home. So, there is one thing that we can be sure of, the Scarlets will bring a challenge to Sandy Park
And what might we expect from the Chiefs?
Well there appears to widespread agreement that the combination of strong recruitment and a tough pre-season sees the Chiefs squad in as good condition as we approach this game as Exe, arguably, have ever been in. In our two pre-season games thus far, Rob Baxter has fielded a total of 34 players in all, securing handsome victories away to Connacht (10-47) and down the road at Mennaye Field (3-58) against local rivals and Championship hopefuls, the Cornish Pirates. With just 3 players away on world cup duty (Junior Polu with Samoa, newby Gonzo Camacho with the Pumas, and newby Craig Mitchell with Wales), no severe injuries and plenty of players putting their hands up, Head Coach Baxter is presented with the luxury of a selection headache.
New recruits Josh Tatupu, Ally Muldowney, Peter Short, Miles Dorrian and Ben White have all shown up well so far, and it has been a fine home-coming for old boys Kevin Barrett and Ulsterman John Andress. Coupled with many of the old stalwarts stating that they are in the best mental and physical shape of their careers, there is reason to be hopeful that the Chiefs pre-season form will continue against the Scarlets.
If last year's selection policy is anything to go by, I would expect Rob Baxter to be using this final pre-season warm-up to give his likely league starting XV a run-out, with replacements giving an indication where there might be a couple of places still up for grabs. But with the additional strength and depth available in the squad, we could see a longer than normal bench being used to try out a few more combinations and get match time in as many of the squad's legs as possible. Hopefully there will be a large crowd on hand to welcome the boys as they run out for their first home appearance at Sandy Park of the season.
Oggy, oggy, oggy, Chiefs, Chiefs, Chiefs!
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21/08/2011 20:11
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