After 3 wins from 4 and qualification from the group, I think we can be fairly satisfied with the “preseason games”. Don’t think we could have asked for much more result wise, whilst
performances have shown some positive signs, especially in attack. Lineups still a major concern, not too sure why we can’t get it working. Hopefully its because we have been mixing different combinations... with more continuity in selection may bring better results with it.

I presume the World Cup returnees from Fiji and also Campagnaro and Lasike will be slowly bedded in but next week will definitely be too soon. I think we’ll see something like this next week, what does everyone else think:

Brown
Ibitoye
Marchant
Tapuai
Murley
Smith
Landajo

Botta
Baldwin
Collier
Symons
Lewies
Chisholm
Robshaw
Dombrandt

Subs:
Elia Elia
Auterac
Kerrod
Young
Lawday (could be tempted to start him to show Exeter what they are missing...)
Saunders
Lang
Saili

Agree with Honkytonk are Freeman, dego adds baaulk. Have not been too impressed with Young so far, looks like a like for like with Charlie Matthews in his younger years.

Provided he didn’t take a knock against Gloucester the other week, I’d have Morris instead of Ibitoye - far better defensively and takes a bit of pressure off Browny

I doubt we will see him until next year (Clifford)

Its a fair shout about Morris aswell.  PG is not short of options

From watching what was near enough a full strength Exeter side in the Cup (obviously minus RWC absentees), they looked ominously good.

That said, without Slade or Devoto, they’re lacking any kind of subtlety in midfield and are even more one dimensional than normal. Whitten and whoever partners him will just run hard and straight. Knowing what they’re going to do doesn’t make it easier to stop, but it’s all bludgeon and no rapier right now.

They’re also running dubiously legal dummy lines in attack on virtually every play so we’ll need to be alive to that.

I’d go with the team QFL suggested with the switch of Freeman for Young on the bench. It’s going to be a hard opening day, but we have the ability to turn them over if we play to our potential.

I’m excited to see Landajo and Smith together as I think Care dominated the playmaking a bit too much last season which limited Smith and often meant he was trying to hard to make something happen whenever he did get the ball.

Brown
Morley
Marchant
Taps
Morris
Smith
Landajo (unless Care is fully fit)
Dombrandt
Robshaw
Chisholm
Lewies
Symonds
Collier
Baldwin
Botta

Auterac, Buchanan if fit (if not Elia), Kerrod, another lock (unsure who is best out of Lamb/Young/Freeman), Bothma, Mulchrone, Lang, Ismaiel

Wot, no Gabs?!

I see folks are putting Taps above Saili in their selection. I'd play Saili first, assuming they're both fit.

I see folks are putting Taps above Saili in their selection. I'd play Saili first, assuming they're both fit.

Normally I would be tempted to agree, I think Salli is great going forward for us and creates momentum, loves an offload but....I cant see conditions being ideal for throwing it around.  I think  a tighter, more reserved game to start with.  Any mistake (like a wild offload) will play right into their hands.