PREM Rugby Cup Final: Springbok makes timely Exeter return as Leicester Tigers name SEVEN internationals
Joseph Dweba (right) and James O'Connor (left) will take to the field this weekend in the PREM Rugby Cup Final.
Leicester Tigers head coach Geoff Parling has named his strongest possible side for their PREM Rugby Cup Final clash with Exeter, with seven internationals selected.
Chiefs have met fire with fire, though, with three internationals making a timely return to Rob Baxter’s 23-man squad, as the Devonians put their faith in youngsters ahead of their third PREM Rugby Cup Final in four years.
The sides will go toe-to-toe at Mattioli Woods Welford Road this weekend, with the first piece of silverware of the season up for grabs. The Tigers qualified for the final as the top seeds in the competition, and come in off a strong 46-21 win over Bath in last weekend’s semi-final, while second-seed Exeter also secured a decent semi-final win of their own as they downed Northampton Saints 31-14 at Sandy Park.
Leicester Tigers name six internationals in PREM Cup final team
Parling, who could win his first piece of silverware since taking over as Tigers boss this weekend, has named a very strong group for the clash on their home turf, even with a chunk of their squad away on Six Nations duty. Orlando Bailey slots back to full-back, with newly-capped Welsh international Gabe Hamer-Webb and two-capped England back Ollie Hassell-Collins named on the wings. Will Wand and Joseph Woodward are named as the centre pairing, while the in-form Exeter-native Billy Searle starts alongside Tom Whiteley in the halves.
There is further international quality in the back-row, with Los Pumas man Joaquin Moro named alongside Wales ace Tommy Reffell, who captains the side from seven, while Harry Palmer gets the nod at six.
Palmer’s inclusion sees Hanro Liebenberg shift into the locks alongside Harry Wells, while Scotland international Will Hurd joins Charlie Clare and Archie van der Flier in the front-row.
Wallabies duo James O’Connor and Izaia Perese are the headline selections on the bench, while England A man Tarek Haffar joins Finn Theobald-Thomas, Ale Loman, Osain Thomas, Josh Manz and Charlie Bemand on the replacements list.
Commenting on his selection, Parling, who won a PREM title at Exeter, said: “We know what a quality side Exeter are, but it’s about representing our club, fans, and our teammates, including those players that are away on international duty, and putting the best of ourselves out there.”
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The Chiefs are struggling with a few notable injuries across the park, but have named a decent backline considering.
England A man Josh Hodge starts at full-back, with recent England A call-up Paul Brown-Bampoe and hotshot Campbell Ridl named on the wings. Academy graduate Ollie Batson gets the nod at 13, replacing Henry Slade, with Will Rigg slotting in at 12 in place of the injured Zack Wimbush. Will Haydon-Wood also comes into the squad at fly-half, joining scrum-half Tom Cairns in the playmaking axis as a result.
Azzurri ace Ross Vintcent also comes straight in at number eight, with Finn Worley-Bradey and Martin Moloney on the flanks. Rusi Tuima joins skipper Lewis Pearson in the engine room, while there is an all-South African front-row in the form of Khwezi Mona, Joseph Dweba and Ethan Burger.
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Wales ace Christ Tshiunza is the headline selection on the bench, with Julian Heaven, Will Goodrick-Clarke, Tom Gulley, Joe Bailey, Charlie Chapman, Ben Coen and Dan John joining him on the replacements list.
Commenting on his selection, Baxter said: “There is a little bit of a different feeling around a final week. We’ve felt that in training that week, watching the boys run around with a great deal of energy. They’ve got smiles on their faces at the right time but they’re also judging well when they have to lock in at the right time.
“The environment has felt quite vibrant, which is especially exciting for a number of the younger guys who have never been in games like this before. It’s going to be an interesting game, but hopefully it brings out the best in us at Leicester on Sunday.
“Leicester are a competitive team, they’re fourth in the Gallagher PREM and top seed in this competition. Without doubt, they’ve got a consistent group which is something we’ve challenged ourselves to be this season.
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“I was particularly impressed watching them last weekend against Bath Rugby. They moved the ball well, challenged Bath with the width of their early passes in attack and that’s something that we’ll have to be ready for.
“That kind of movement they’re getting into the game to create challenges defensively looks very good. Traditionally, Leicester have always had a strong set-piece and that looks to be the case again.
“So, I think they’re piecing a lot of their game together really well and they’re going to be a challenge across the rest of the season, not just in this final.”
PREM Rugby Cup final teams in full
Leicester Tigers: 15 Orland Bailey, 14 Gabe Hamer-Webb, 13 Will Wand, 12 Joseph Woodward, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Billy Searle, 9 Tom Whiteley, 8 Joaquin Moro, 7 Tommy Reffell (c), 6 Harry Palmer, 5 Hanro Liebenberg, 4 Harry Wells, 3 Will Hurd, 2 Charlie Clare, 1 Archie van der Flier
Replacements: 16 Finn Theobald-Thomas, 17 Tarek Haffar, 18 Ale Loman, 19 Osian Thomas, 20 Josh Manz, 21 Charlie Bemand, 22 James O’Connor, 23 Izaia Perese
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Josh Hodge, 14 Paul Brown-Bampoe, 13 Ollie Batson, 12 Will Rigg, 11 Campbell Ridl, 10 Will Haydon-Wood, 9 Tom Cairns, 8 Ross Vintcent, 7 Finn Worley-Brady, 6 Martin Moloney, 5 Rusi Tuima, 4 Lewis Pearson (c), 3 Khwezi Mona, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Ethan Burger
Replacements: 16 Julian Heaven, 17 Will Goodrick-Clarke, 18 Tom Gulley, 19 Joe Bailey, 20 Christ Tshiunza, 21 Charlie Chapman, 22 Ben Coen, 23 Dan John
Prediction: Leicester by 15