Exeter Chiefs thread

[Scotty]

Suddenly getting Frost, Bell, Fisalau and Feyi-Waboso for small contracts must be a saving factor. Clearly Baxter has a plan but its some serious turnover.

I hope we can keep a couple of them and intergrate them. But still young even if talented.

So the pack would be
1 Sio Hepburn
2 Innard Frost
3 Schickerling Southworth?
4 Grey, Dunne
5 Jenkins, Bell
6 Vermulen Tuima
7 Tshiunza, not sure
8 Fislau Capstick

Sure ive missed a few but top 2 in each position, not many big names and a few too many inexperienced players in there. Really hope for one or 2 signings to bolster us. We are truely in a proper rebuild.

 

[BPM]

I think Ehren Painter has been linked as the replacement for Williams. Sort of makes sense all round, but a bit ironic considering he's lost his place at Saints to Petch.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

I think Ehren Painter has been linked as the replacement for Williams. Sort of makes sense all round, but a bit ironic considering he's lost his place at Saints to Petch.

Saw that. Really hope that it isn't true. I've never rated Painter.

 

[BPM]

Me neither. He's massive, but seems to punch well below his weight in the set piece and the loose.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Yeah he's not great around the park either. I get the impression he's about the right weight but way too much body fat. Needs to add muscle/ lose fat to get to the correct body composition.

The problem is (and I've said this loss of times) the saints S&C team never seem to do that with any of our players. I've thought since the hood left us that our players just look underpowered and lacking size compared to other clubs.

 

[Scotty]

Me neither. He's massive, but seems to punch well below his weight in the set piece and the loose.

If it is true then hopfully Baxter can turn him around like he did with Woodburn and Waldrum ect, he has a track record of taking average players better.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

turn him around like he did with Woodburn and Waldrum ect, he has a track record of taking average players better.

No way you're talking about Thomas Waldrom?
He was mega for Tigers!

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

At the very least it can be said that Baxter turned Harry Williams from a Champ player into an England international. So he does have a track record of turning around big, unfit tightheads. Hopefully he can do the same with Painter but my hopes aren't super high.

 

[BPM]

Yeah. I hope Painter proves me wrong, but for a huge bloke, he just seems soft and lacking aggression/desire. The tighthead spot for England will be pretty open post RWC, but he has a long way to go before being anywhere near IMO.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

At the very least it can be said that Baxter turned Harry Williams from a Champ player into an England international. So he does have a track record of turning around big, unfit tightheads. Hopefully he can do the same with Painter but my hopes aren't super high.

Tom Francis from Donny/London Scottish to being well on his way to being a test centurion as well

Painter's a baby for a prop, tbf, plenty of time for him to come good - not sure how much I rate Saints' scrummaging coaches considering Paul Hill's lack of development there

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Tom Francis from Donny/London Scottish to being well on his way to being a test centurion as well

Painter's a baby for a prop, tbf, plenty of time for him to come good - not sure how much I rate Saints' scrummaging coaches considering Paul Hill's lack of development there

That's harsh, look how he's improved…..ummm errrrr ummmm

Fair enough then

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Baxter pretty scathing about his players yesterday. A load of departures on the horizon and struggling to make the playoffs. Add in a long serving but probably slightly stale coaching group and without drama queening it too much there's a bit of an end of era feel.

The way Baxter built his original team won't work now. No-one has a divine right to stay at the top and it will be fascinating to see if / how quickly he can turn things around next season.

 

[Scotty]

Baxter pretty scathing about his players yesterday. A load of departures on the horizon and struggling to make the playoffs. Add in a long serving but probably slightly stale coaching group and without drama queening it too much there's a bit of an end of era feel.

The way Baxter built his original team won't work now. No-one has a divine right to stay at the top and it will be fascinating to see if / how quickly he can turn things around next season.

It wont be a quick turn around, looking at the players coming through that won the prem cup then if a few of them are in next season plus the likes of Daf Jenkins, Tshiunza, Fisilau and even Hodge. It will be a few seasons for us to get back up there.

The Chiefs style of play is very physical and requires a high level of fitness so a real buy in from the whole squad. Also needs some big units to make it work As its not as simple as working hard.

As for coaching we really need someone to come in and work on the breakdown and just getting to the rucks we are getting turned over far to easily sometimes.

As for signings i dont mind if we make a few signings and invest in youth fully or make big signings i just dont want panic signings. We need the right players.

Weve been at the top with a European champions cup, 2 prems wins and in the final for 6 consecutive seasons, if Sarries wernt so strong at the same time it could have been more than just 2.

So i accept our time has come to rebuild. And work our way bacm up

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Seems that after the SOB announcement there's a bit of doom and gloom going around again in regards to Chiefs so I thought I'd contextualise where we're at right now by looking at the team that just played it's way into a Champions Cup semi-final, and how many of those players are sticking around next year.

Bold players staying.
Italicised players leaving.

1. Sio
2. Frost
3. Street
4. Gray
5. Jenkins
6. Kirsten - being replaced by Roots, who I don't see as a downgrade but isn't an obvious upgrade either.
7. Tshiunza
8. Simmonds - Vermeulen to return from injury. Not necessarily a downgrade - there are definitely facets of the game in which he's significantly better - but he is a very different style of player.
9. Becconsall
10. Simmonds - this is probably the only major downgrade we'll see next season. Skinner has looked fine when he's played and WHW has a lot of potential but I don't expect either to be performing to Simmonds' level next season.
11. Woodburn
12. O'Brien - being replaced by Hawkins which I think most would agree is a major upgrade.
13. Slade
14. Nowell - no replacement signed as of yet but with Nowell undoubtedly on the decline and youngsters like Hodge and Feyi-Waboso on the rise I have no concerns here. Expect that Kata could also be used here to fill the Nowell role.
15. Wyatt

So that's 5 of 15 leaving. Of the replacements I'd say that:
1 is a significant upgrade (Hawkins for SOB).
2 are pretty lateral changes (Roots for Kirsten, Vermeulen for Simmonds).
1 is currently a downgrade but I expect the replacements to overtake him reasonably soon anyway (Hodge/Feyi-Waboso for Nowell).
1 is a pretty noticeable downgrade (Skinner/WHW for Simmonds).

As a fully fit 23 next season we're looking at:
1. Sio
2. Frost
3. Schickerling
4. Gray
5. Jenkins
6. Roots
7. Tshiunza
8. Vermeulen
9. S. Maunder
10. Skinner
11. Woodburn
12. Hawkins
13. Slade
14. Wyatt
15. Hodge

16. Yeandle/Innard
17. Hepburn/Abuladze
18. Street/Iosefa-Scott
19. Williams/Dunne
20. Capstick/Davis
21. J. Maunder/Townsend/Becconsall/Cairns
22. WHW
23. Devoto/O'Loughlin/Kata/Feyi-Waboso

For a team that will be in its first year of a rebuild, I'd say that's pretty damn good.

 

[will311293]

Seems that after the SOB announcement there's a bit of doom and gloom going around again in regards to Chiefs so I thought I'd contextualise where we're at right now by looking at the team that just played it's way into a Champions Cup semi-final, and how many of those players are sticking around next year.

Bold players staying.
Italicised players leaving.

1. Sio
2. Frost
3. Street
4. Gray
5. Jenkins
6. Kirsten - being replaced by Roots, who I don't see as a downgrade but isn't an obvious upgrade either.
7. Tshiunza
8. Simmonds - Vermeulen to return from injury. Not necessarily a downgrade - there are definitely facets of the game in which he's significantly better - but he is a very different style of player.
9. Becconsall
10. Simmonds - this is probably the only major downgrade we'll see next season. Skinner has looked fine when he's played and WHW has a lot of potential but I don't expect either to be performing to Simmonds' level next season.
11. Woodburn
12. O'Brien - being replaced by Hawkins which I think most would agree is a major upgrade.
13. Slade
14. Nowell - no replacement signed as of yet but with Nowell undoubtedly on the decline and youngsters like Hodge and Feyi-Waboso on the rise I have no concerns here. Expect that Kata could also be used here to fill the Nowell role.
15. Wyatt

So that's 5 of 15 leaving. Of the replacements I'd say that:
1 is a significant upgrade (Hawkins for SOB).
2 are pretty lateral changes (Roots for Kirsten, Vermeulen for Simmonds).
1 is currently a downgrade but I expect the replacements to overtake him reasonably soon anyway (Hodge/Feyi-Waboso for Nowell).
1 is a pretty noticeable downgrade (Skinner/WHW for Simmonds).

As a fully fit 23 next season we're looking at:
1. Sio
2. Frost
3. Schickerling
4. Gray
5. Jenkins
6. Roots
7. Tshiunza
8. Vermeulen
9. S. Maunder
10. Skinner
11. Woodburn
12. Hawkins
13. Slade
14. Wyatt
15. Hodge

16. Yeandle/Innard
17. Hepburn/Abuladze
18. Street/Iosefa-Scott
19. Williams/Dunne
20. Capstick/Davis
21. J. Maunder/Townsend/Becconsall/Cairns
22. WHW
23. Devoto/O'Loughlin/Kata/Feyi-Waboso

For a team that will be in its first year of a rebuild, I'd say that's pretty damn good.

I think Fisilau will play a lot next year too. Strikes me as a strong option and for me is a starting 8 in a year or two. Feels like maybe moving either J Maunder/Townsend on and using money elsewhere would be an option too. 5 scrum halves seems one too many and with two youngsters and Becconsall getting good game time, could be an option.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

I think Fisilau will play a lot next year too. Strikes me as a strong option and for me is a starting 8 in a year or two. Feels like maybe moving either J Maunder/Townsend on and using money elsewhere would be an option too. 5 scrum halves seems one too many and with two youngsters and Becconsall getting good game time, could be an option.

Agree on Fisilau. Totally forgot about him as he hasn't really played since he went away for U20s duty but he is going to be a very capable replacement.

On the 9s, I don't necessarily disagree but both Becconsall and Cairns are still in the Acad so won't be on much money at all. 5 scrum-halves across your main squad and academy is probably around the right number really. After all, Becconsall and Cairns have only been getting game time recently because the 3 main squad 9s are injured, so if we hadn't had 5 total we'd have been in some trouble.

 

[Scotty]

Seems that after the SOB announcement there's a bit of doom and gloom going around again in regards to Chiefs so I thought I'd contextualise where we're at right now by looking at the team that just played it's way into a Champions Cup semi-final, and how many of those players are sticking around next year.

Bold players staying.
Italicised players leaving.

1. Sio
2. Frost
3. Street
4. Gray
5. Jenkins
6. Kirsten - being replaced by Roots, who I don't see as a downgrade but isn't an obvious upgrade either.
7. Tshiunza
8. Simmonds - Vermeulen to return from injury. Not necessarily a downgrade - there are definitely facets of the game in which he's significantly better - but he is a very different style of player.
9. Becconsall
10. Simmonds - this is probably the only major downgrade we'll see next season. Skinner has looked fine when he's played and WHW has a lot of potential but I don't expect either to be performing to Simmonds' level next season.
11. Woodburn
12. O'Brien - being replaced by Hawkins which I think most would agree is a major upgrade.
13. Slade
14. Nowell - no replacement signed as of yet but with Nowell undoubtedly on the decline and youngsters like Hodge and Feyi-Waboso on the rise I have no concerns here. Expect that Kata could also be used here to fill the Nowell role.
15. Wyatt

So that's 5 of 15 leaving. Of the replacements I'd say that:
1 is a significant upgrade (Hawkins for SOB).
2 are pretty lateral changes (Roots for Kirsten, Vermeulen for Simmonds).
1 is currently a downgrade but I expect the replacements to overtake him reasonably soon anyway (Hodge/Feyi-Waboso for Nowell).
1 is a pretty noticeable downgrade (Skinner/WHW for Simmonds).

As a fully fit 23 next season we're looking at:
1. Sio
2. Frost
3. Schickerling
4. Gray
5. Jenkins
6. Roots
7. Tshiunza
8. Vermeulen
9. S. Maunder
10. Skinner
11. Woodburn
12. Hawkins
13. Slade
14. Wyatt
15. Hodge

16. Yeandle/Innard
17. Hepburn/Abuladze
18. Street/Iosefa-Scott
19. Williams/Dunne
20. Capstick/Davis
21. J. Maunder/Townsend/Becconsall/Cairns
22. WHW
23. Devoto/O'Loughlin/Kata/Feyi-Waboso

For a team that will be in its first year of a rebuild, I'd say that's pretty damn good.

Any more information on Roots? I know nothing about him? Never heard of him before we signed him.

Fisilau and Tuima id say will both be in the mix.

Agree Hawkins as 12, i think we will invest heavily in him.

On Wyatt and Hodge. What is Wyatte primary position? I thought it was 15 and he has looked solid there. Hodge i really want to rate as he has so much talent but i dont massively trust him, he makes mistakes/bad decisions

I wonder if we have a big signing in the mix, i hope we do as all the leavers will save us alot more than weve spend on new arrivals, it would be good to sign a maquee player just to add some more experience to help bring these young players forward.

 

[Geordie]

Whats the crack with Alfie Bell? Will he get more gametime next season? Has he been injured alot this season?

 

[Welsh Exile]

Any more information on Roots? I know nothing about him? Never heard of him before we signed him.

Fisilau and Tuima id say will both be in the mix.

Agree Hawkins as 12, i think we will invest heavily in him.

On Wyatt and Hodge. What is Wyatte primary position? I thought it was 15 and he has looked solid there. Hodge i really want to rate as he has so much talent but i dont massively trust him, he makes mistakes/bad decisions

I wonder if we have a big signing in the mix, i hope we do as all the leavers will save us alot more than weve spend on new arrivals, it would be good to sign a maquee player just to add some more experience to help bring these young players forward.

Roots is like a black belt former international martial artist (can't remember what discipline it was he specialised in)

So he's good at throwing people around. Good bit of dog in him, maybe not the most skilful player there ever was but physical with a decent amount of pace to him. I liked him. Solid player. Had some of his best games in an ospreys shirt towards the end of this season.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Any more information on Roots? I know nothing about him? Never heard of him before we signed him.

Like @Welsh Exile has already said, he's solid. Not gonna do the flashy stuff like Simmonds or be an absolute brute like Ewers but he carries well, tackles well, big work rate, etc. A pretty like-for-like replacement for Kirsten really, albeit a couple inches shorter.

On Wyatt and Hodge. What is Wyatte primary position? I thought it was 15 and he has looked solid there. Hodge i really want to rate as he has so much talent but i dont massively trust him, he makes mistakes/bad decisions

I think Wyatt's primary position if you had to pick one would be fullback, but really he's a very capable utility. He's played Prem rugby at 12, wing and 15 and has also done 13 at Prem Cup level. For Pirates it looks like he's primarily used as a 12 or 15.

With his pace and footwork I'd say his best use for Chiefs will be anywhere 13-outwards but I wouldn't feel bad about him covering 12 in a pinch. He's an ideal candidate for the 23 shirt really, although right now he's playing good enough rugby to start.