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Match Preview | Exeter Chiefs
Exeter Chiefs travel to Scotstoun Stadium this weekend, as Danny Wilson’s Glasgow Warriors welcome a familiar foe to for their second match of the 2021/22 Heineken Champions Cup.
The two sides know each other well, having been grouped together in four of the past eight campaigns.
Indeed meetings between the pair have included some of Glasgow’s standout European memories, with matches frequently hotly contested and boasting some unforgettable scores.
Here’s how Exeter shape up ahead of Saturday’s clash:
Exeter Form Guide
Last season’s runners-up in the Gallagher Premiership, Exeter Chiefs have made an uncharacteristically slow start to their 2021/22 league campaign and currently sit fifth in the table having won six of their ten games.
In their first two rounds, the men from Sandy Park lost to both Leicester and Northampton before finding their feet to defeat Sale and then route Worcester Warriors 42 – 5 at Sandy Park.
However, with their internationals returning to them post the Autumn Nations Tests the Chiefs have found their grove defeating bottom of the table Bath and second placed Saracens.
Rob Baxter’s men made light work of Montpellier in their opening Heineken Champions Cup pool match scoring six tires in a 42 -6 win over the French side at Sandy Park last weekend
Ones to Watch
Tomorrow will be the first time Jonny Gray plays in front of the Warrior Nation as an opposing player. Making his first start of the season only two weeks ago after recovering from shoulder surgery in the summer, Gray is back in fine form and showcasing why he’s one of the first names on the team sheet. The man from Cambuslang crossed three times for the Chiefs in their opening the Heineken Champions Cup pool match against Montpellier last weekend.
All eyes of the Warrior Nation will be trained on Hogg at some point over the course of the 80 minutes on Saturday. Fresh off being named the best full-back in the world by being selected in the World Rugby Men’s 15s Dream Team of the year, the Glasgow centurion’s blend of acceleration and footwork keeps every defence in world rugby on it’s toes. His cannon of a boot almost broke the Warriors hearts in his last return to Scotstoun when his 80th minute 60-metre kick to win the game powered off the crossbar.
Fresh off his Lions selection Sam Simmonds has started the season with the bit firmly between his teeth. The number eight has scored five tries in seven matches so far this season, his pace and power causing havoc for opposing defences.
Previous Encounters
The two sides are well acquainted having played each other seven times in the Heineken Champions Cup pool stages.
In the last encounter between the two sides, Glasgow Warriors endured a tough afternoon in Devon in their only Champions Cup outing of the campaign last season, as Exeter claimed a 42-0 victory at Sandy Park.
However, when the two sides met at Scotstoun in January 2020, the Warrior Nation were served an instant European classic; an eight-try thriller eventually saw the points shared, with Tommy Seymour, Huw Jones, George Horne and Niko Matawalu all crossing for Glasgow in a 31-31 draw.
Match Officials
Frenchman Pierre Brousset will be the man in the middle at Scotstoun tomorrow evening, following in the footsteps of fellow French officials Pascal Gauzere, Mathieu Reynal and Romain Poite in refereeing encounters between Glasgow Warriors and Exeter.
Two more Frenchmen will be running touch for the encounter with Luc Ramos and Flavien Hourquet assisting Pierre, with Scotsman Jonny Perriam on hand if required as the Television Match Official.
Broadcast Information
The match is live on BT Sport 2 this Saturday, with kick-off scheduled for 5.30 pm.
BBC Radio Scotland will also have full commentary on FM, whilst you can follow all the action as it happens in our Live Match Centre on glasgowwarriors.org.
