PREVIEW…
Today. Kick-off 3pm, Sandy Park
EXETER Chiefs head coach Susie Appleby says her side are ‘raring to go’ ahead of today’s semi-final against reigning champions Saracens.
Last time out Exeter secured an impressive 58- 19 win at league leaders Gloucester-Hartpury, in a result that ensured Appleby’s side home advantage in the last four.
Exeter, who finished second this season, have never lost at home to Saracens and Appleby knows her team will have to be at their very best if they are to advance into a second successive Premier 15s final following last season’s 43-21 defeat.
“You have to call Saracens a champion side because that is what they are but I know our girls are all raring to go,” said Appleby. “Saracens know how to win tournaments, they know how to win knockout games, but they haven’t come to Sandy Park and played a semi-final, so we have to use that to our advantage.
“They are a quality side, who are very physical with the likes of Marlie Packer, Poppy Cleall, Hannan Botterman… I could reel off more names. They also control the game really well with Leanne (Infante) and Hollie (Aitchison) at halfback and they’ve got gas out wide, so they have the whole package but equally, so do we.”
Appleby welcomes the return of Merryn Doidge at full-back in place of the injured Brooke Bradley (ankle). Up front, there are also recalls for prop DaLeaka Menin and back row Abbie Fleming, both of whom missed last weekend’s game due to concussion.
Menin replaces Charli Jacoby in the front row, while Fleming gets the nod over Ebony Jefferies. Centre Nancy McGillivray is set for an extended spell on the sidelines after she ruptured her ACL in the final minutes at the Alpas Arena last weekend.
“Who can bring their game to the fore and who can put it on the field in what will be a high pressured game, live on national television, will be the big thing. It’s two of the top sides going at it, so it’s hugely exciting.” In the opposing camp, Poppy Cleall is relishing the prospect of a trip to Devon. “We’re hunting them, and we’ve got to remember that we’ve never lost a semi-final. We’ve got to take massive faith from that,” she said. “It’s a completely new challenge, but it’s one that we’re so excited for. We never take these moments for granted, so we want to go out there and do everyone proud.”
Sarries have won 12 matches on the bounce to make it into the play-offs, and Cleall says her team can take heart from their recent performances.
She said: “We’ve built really well into this semi-final. We had four hard games on the bounce and the questions they all posed to us will make us better as a side. You don’t need any more motivation than Exeter away in a semi-final.”
Saracens have been able to welcome back a number of experienced heads for this semi-final.
In the second row Louise McMillan returns from injury and Poppy Cleall shifts from the back row. Georgia Evans returns at blindside, as does co-captain Lotte Clapp on the wing.
Saracens have never played an away semi-final in the Premier15s era, but Cleall believes that her side are capable of going down to Devon and upsetting the odds.
“All the pressure is on Exeter,” she said. “There’s a real never say die attitude in this group. We’re really up for it and we’re hoping we can get ourselves into another final.”
TEAMS
EXETER CHIEFS: Doidge, Buchanan, Zackary, Cantorna, Sinclair, McGoverne, Robinson; Rogers, Tuttosi, Menin, Fryday, Leitch (c), Fleming, Allen, Johnson
Replacements: Moloney, Turani, Jacoby, Van der Velden, Jefferies, MacDonald, Wilkins, Cramer
SARACENS: Breach, Grant, Gregson, McKenna, Clapp (c), Aitchison, Infante; Botterman, Campbell, Clifford, McMillan, Cleall, Evans, Kasolo, Packer (c)
Replacements: Rettie, Carson, Ellis, McIntosh, Moore, Wyrwas, Williams, Alejandro
REFEREE: Charlie Gayther
The best betting sites
