Preview: Exeter v Sale
Exeter head into Saturday's Aviva Premiership clash with the Sale Sharks looking to keep up their impressive run of form.
Exeter head into Saturday's Aviva Premiership clash with the Sale Sharks looking to keep up the impressive run of form that has seen them rise to seventh on the table.
Having won their last two matches, including an impressive victory over Saracens, the Chiefs are surpassing all pre-season expectations as they continue to push more favourable outfits.
Despite this, Exeter boss Rob Baxter refuses to get too carried away.
“We're very aware we don't want to run before we can walk. We've got 18 points now and that's a nice stepping stone for us, but the reality is there's a hell of a lot of points still to play for,” Baxter told the club's official website.
“Any team that gets on a two or three-game winning streak after Christmas can pick up points very quickly. If that coincides with the team above them getting on a losing run then the form book dumps itself on the head,” he added.
Baxter has decided to tinker with his winning line-up, dropping wing Mark Foster – the club's top try scorer – and centre Bryan Rennie after the pair performed poorly last time out against Leeds. Foster is replaced by Frenchman Nic Sestaret while Rennie is replaced by New Zealander Jason Shoemark who will be making his Premiership debut for the club.
In the only other change, Ruaidhri Murphy replaces Ben Moon on the bench, with Moon struck down by illness.
Visitors Sale head to Sandy Park decimated by injuries and international call-ups. The Sharks were dealt a hefty blow during the week when interim skipper Neil Briggs suffered a shoulder injury during training which will require surgery.
Briggs' injury sees Nick Macleod take over the captaincy duties, with the 27-year-old the fifth man to lead the Sharks this season. Two other previous captains, David Seymour and James Gaskell remain long-term injury absentees.
The trio are joined on the sidelines by Aston Croall, Eifion Roberts and Tom Brady, while six players are away on international leave.
Sale are boosted by the return of experienced centre Mathew Tait.
Form: Exeter Chiefs have risen to seventh spot in the Aviva Premiership Rugby table and are unbeaten in their last four matches in all competitions. The Devonians have lost just once at Sandy Park in the Premiership: 9-12 to London Irish in Round Six.Sale Sharks' only win in their last five Premiership matches was 6-3 at Leeds Carnegie in Round Six. The Sharks have won three of their last four away games in all competitions.
Exeter: 15 Luke Arscott, 14 Andrew Higgins, 13 Phil Dollman, 12 Jason Shoemark, 11 Nic Sestaret, 10 Ryan Davis, 9 Haydn Thomas, 8 Richard Baxter, 7 James Scaysbrook, 6 Tom Johnson, 5 James Hanks, 4 Tom Hayes (capt), 3 Chris Budgen, 2 Simon Alcott, 1 Brett Sturgess.
Replacements: 16 Chris Whitehead, 17 Ruaidhri Murphy, 18 Hoani Tui, 19 Dave Gannon, 20 Chad Slade, 21 Garrick Cowley, 22 Ignacio Mieres, 23 Mark Foster.
Sale: 15 Nick Macleod (capt), 14 Rhys Crane, 13 Mathew Tait, 12 Iain Thornley, 11 Ben Cohen, 10 Rob Miller, 9 Will Cliff, 8 Asaeli Boko, 7 Carl Fearns, 6 Chris Brightwell, 5 Sean Cox, 4 Nic Rouse, 3 Karena Wihongi, 2 Marc Jones, 1Lee Imiolek.
Replacements: Ben Roberts, Simon McIntyre, Henry Thomas, Kristian Ormsby, Neil McMillan, Chris Leck, Matty James, Chris Bell.
Date: Saturday, November 27
Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
Venue: Sandy Park
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth