Len Ikitau arrives: The frightening Exeter Chiefs backline Rob Baxter could deploy as ‘stuff of dreams’ partnership realised
Len Ikitau (right) has arrived at Sandy Park, and looks to form a strong backline with Henry Slade (centre) and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (left)
Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter believes his newly-assembled backline will become the best the club has seen to date, with star signing Len Ikitau now among the squad.
The Wallabies ace, who starred for Joe Schmidt’s side during the British and Irish Lions series and the subsequent Rugby Championship, arrived in the South West earlier this week and has already begun training with his new employers.
While it remains unlikely that he will feature in Exeter’s squad for their upcoming PREM clash against Bristol Bears this weekend, there is already plenty of excitement over his impending partnership with Chiefs icon Henry Slade.
‘It’s an exciting group to be working with right now’
That is also felt by Baxter, too, who is hoping they, alongside the already exciting wing combination of Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Paul Brown-Bampoe, could become the best backline in the club’s history.
“They’ve got the potential to be as good as any combo we’ve put together,” Baxter told BBC Sport.
“You don’t have to be a genius to look at the group we’ve had there training today and the two games we’ve had and go ‘this just looks better than last season’ – you can just see that,
“Without doubt, it’s an exciting group to be working with right now. We’re looking at a group at the minute where we can go ‘right, we can be competitive every single game we play home and away’ and that always starts an exciting season for us.”
As Baxter himself says, there is certainly potential for this to be the best backline in the club’s history, but just what does that look like?
Well, here is our take on Exeter’s strongest backline with Ikitau in the picture.
9 Stephen Varney
The Italian international has settled in pretty well in Devon, following his summer move from Vannes, giving Exeter that sort of control they’ve been longing for at scrum-half for a while.
His work around the ruck and reading of space were fundamental in that comeback win over Northampton Saints in round one, and last time out he seemed even more comfortable alongside Harvey Skinner.
He’s already proving to be a great recruit.
10 Harvey Skinner
He endured a rough ride last year, but he impressed in the win over Newcastle Red Bulls and will be hoping to kick on from here.
As we’ve seen with Skinner over the past few seasons, he’s a confidence player, and hopefully, that display should give him a major boost to carry over into the rest of the season. If he can do that, it could see him realise his true potential.
11 Paul Brown-Bampoe
While still fairly raw, there is no doubting his electric, game-breaking talent. He’s again been a major weapon in the Chiefs’ arsenal this year, notching an average of 81.5 metres per game this season, but with Feyi-Waboso back in the team, he can share some of the load and save himself for those truly explosive carries.
He’s also developing new skills within his game, too, which is a scary proposition.
PREM teams: Major call on England star made as British and Irish Lions forward returns
England star opens up on contract ‘priority’ amid R360 links with Test milestones ‘to tick off’
12 Len Ikitau
The star recruit might have to wait to make his debut, but he walks straight into this backline when he’s available for selection. Ikitau has been one of the Wallabies’ standout players this Test year, impressing throughout the Rugby Championship and the Lions series too, and again just gives Exeter some pizzazz in their attack.
His ability to blend deft hands with brute strength in the carry will only take Exeter’s attack up a gear, and crucially fit the new Dave Walder system down to a T.
13 Henry Slade
Another player really coming into his own again after a hard season is Slade. He’s been an automatic choice for Baxter almost since he joined the senior squad, and he looks to be relishing his new role within the Walder system, where his playmaking skills really come to the fore.
Slade is certainly a Rolls-Royce of a player in his own right, but his impending connection with Ikitau in midfield is also the stuff of dreams for the Chiefs faithful.
14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso
We’re starting to run out of superlatives to talk about the world-class winger, who commands a starting spot for both club and country. He is a truly X-factor player who can flip a game on its head in a matter of moments. Like wing partner Brown-Bampoe, he is a real weapon within this new-look Chiefs attack, notching an average of 83.5 metres per game this year, and in this new system is given that freedom to come off his wing and cause chaos around the park.
15 Josh Hodge
He might be forced to the sidelines for now, but when he’s back available, Josh Hodge should come back into the side. His raw pace makes him a really unique threat within this backline, but his eye for space and combination with the playmakers in this side means he can use his speed as effectively as possible.
Still to come back: Tommy Wyatt
The versatile back-three player is still sidelined through a serious knee injury, but when he’s back up and running, he will only strengthen the depth across Exeter’s backline. Wyatt really made a mark at the start of last season, which is saying something considering Exeter’s form at that time, and he, too, could be a player who shines in this new system.
