Preview: Exeter v Northampton
Fijian powerhouse Nemani Nadolo will be handed his first Aviva Premiership start when Exeter play host to Northampton on Sunday.
Fijian powerhouse Nemani Nadolo will be handed his first Aviva Premiership start when Exeter host Northampton at Sandy Park on Sunday.
The 133kg winger had a brief run off the bench during last weekend's narrow 12-9 defeat to Bath, but he will be on the field from the outset as Rob Baxter's side look to rediscover their winning formula at the first attempt.
The inclusion of the 23-year-old back is one of three changes the home side have made to their side from that which had tackled Bath. Nadolo comes in for Matt Jess, who drops to the bench; Phil Dollman takes over in the centre in place of the rested Jason Shoemark; whilst the sole change in the pack sees Chad Slade replace James Hanks, who is still feeling the effects of a blow he took last time out. Slade's place on the bench is filled by Dave Gannon.
Nadolo's inclusion means the Chiefs will now have two imposing Fijian stars within their back division – the other being former Stormers star Sireli Naqelevuki, who ironically made his first start for Exeter against Northampton in the corresponding fixture at Franklin's Gardens back in October.
For Nadolo just being part of the Chiefs match-day starting XV is something he is keen to savour. Signed from Top 14 side Bourgoin at the end of January, last Saturday's fleeting appearance was the first time he had experienced a full house at Sandy Park and he was suitably impressed.
“I played two minutes last week and even that was awesome,” said Nadolo, who is cousin of former Australian international Loti Tuqiri.
Now, though, Nadolo is aiming to have a similar impact on English rugby as that of Naqelevuki, who has scored three tries in 12 appearances so far.
“Sireli has been playing some good footy, I think he was just named the club's player of the month,” Nadolo said.
“He's made yards on yards. With me as a player of the same size, I want to work towards getting over the gain line like he does.
“It's good that he's in the team because it makes me want to work even harder – there aren't many clubs around here with two Fijians playing in the same team. It's awesome, another exciting part of the game is playing alongside your fellow countryman, and I'll be looking to him for guidance out there.”
Saints are one of just three teams who had experienced Sandy Park before the 2010/11 season got underway, having played there in November 2007 during the National League One campaign.
But with just five out of the 22 Northampton players who turned out that day having been named in Sunday's 23-man squad, director of rugby Jim Mallinder says that a lot has changed at both clubs.
“It was obvious then that Sandy Park was a Premiership venue and that the Chiefs were an ambitious club, and this season they have showed that they belong in the top flight,” Mallinder said today.
“They have played really well this season both home and away, but it is at Sandy Park where they are particularly strong.
“They like to get over the gain line with their big runners, but they like to spin the ball wide as well. And we will have to keep our discipline as well because they have some excellent goal kickers.
“However we are going to Exeter in good spirits. The atmosphere and commitment in training has been good all week. Although the results haven't been going our way recently we have performed reasonably well in patches. Now we have to turn those patches into a full 80 minutes and get a positive result on Sunday.”
The teams:
Exeter: 15 Luke Arscott, 14 Nemani Nadolo, 13 Phil Dollman, 12 Sireli Naqelevuki, 11 Nic Sestaret, 10 Gareth Steenson, 9 Haydn Thomas, 8 Richard Baxter, 7 James Scaysbrook, 6 Tom Johnson, 5 Chad Slade, 4 Tom Hayes (capt), 3 Chris Budgen, 2 Neil Clark, 1 Brett Sturgess.
Replacements: 16 Simon Alcott, 17 Ben Moon, 18 Ignacio Elosu, 19 Dave Gannon, 20 James Phillips, 21 Junior Poluleuligaga, 22 Ignacio Mieres, 23 Matt Jess.
Northampton: 15 Bruce Reihana, 14 Joe Ansbro, 13 Jon Clarke, 12 James Downey, 11 Paul Diggin, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Stuart Commins, 8 Mark Easter, 7 Phil Dowson (capt), 6 Calum Clark, 5 Mark Sorenson, 4 Courtney Lawes, 3 Brian Mujati, 2 Brett Sharman, 1 Soane Tonga'uiha.
Replacements: 16 Andy Long, 17 Alex Waller, 18 Tom Mercey, 19 Christian Day, 20 Adam Eustace, 21 Ryan Powell, 22 Shane Geraghty, 23 Greig Tonks.
Date: Sunday, March 6
Kick-off: 15:00
Venue: Sandy Park
Referee: JP Doyle
Assistant referees: Alan Biggs, Roger Baileff
TMO: Geoff Warren