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Exeter bench Lions pick Stuart Hogg for semi-final rematch versus Sale

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Rob Baxter has dropped Lions pick Stuart Hogg to the bench for Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership semi-final, the full-back’s demotion one of three changes to the Exeter XV that will take on Sale who have made four changes to their XV following last weekend’s dramatic contest between the teams.

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Despite losing Sam Skinner to a red card, Exeter were able to turn a 3-19 losing margin into a 20-19 win to secure home advantage for the semi-finals. However, having since lost Skinner and his fellow forward Dave Ewers to four-game games, Baxter has reshuffled his line-up and the changes surprisingly extend to full-back.

Scotland skipper Hogg has been touted as the starting Lions No15 for next month’s Test series versus the Springboks but he has to settle for a place on the Exeter bench this weekend after Baxter opted to start with fit-again England winger Jack Nowell at full-back.

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Unless Hogg is privately nursing some sort of niggle it is an eye-catching selection decision five weeks out from the Lions’ first Test in South Africa. Elsewhere, Baxter has chosen Jonny Gray and Richard Capstick to take over from suspended forwards Skinner and Ewers.

For Sale, Curtin Langdon, Ben Curry and Rob du Preez are chosen for Akker van der Merwe, Cameron Nield and AJ MacGinty, who all left the Sandy Park field injured last weekend. The fourth starting XV switch is Marland Yarde for Arron Reed on the wing.

EXETER: 15. Jack Nowell; 14. Alex Cuthbert, 13. Henry Slade, 12. Ollie Devoto, 11. Tom O’Flaherty; 10. Joe Simmonds (capt), 9. Jack Maunder; 1. Alec Hepburn, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Harry Williams, 4. Jonny Gray, 5. Jonny Hill, 6. Jannes Kirsten, 7. Richard Capstick, 8. Sam Simmonds. Reps: 16. Jack Yeandle, 17. Ben Moon, 18. Marcus Street, 19. Sean Lonsdale, 20. Don Armand, 21. Stu Townsend, 22. Harvey Skinner, 23. Stuart Hogg.

SALE: 15. Simon Hammersley; 14. Byron McGuigan, 13. Sam James, 12. Manu Tuilagi, 11. Marland Yarde; 10. Rob du Preez, 9. Faf de Klerk; 1. Ross Harrison, 2. Curtis Langdon, 3. Coenie Oosthuizen, 4. Cobus Wiese, 5. Jean-Luc du Preez, 6. Tom Curry (capt), 7. Ben Curry 8. Daniel du Preez. Reps: 16. Ewan Ashman, 17. Valery Morozov, 18. Will-Griff John, 19. James Phillips, 20. Jono Ross, 21. Raffi Quirke, 22. Kieran Wilkinson, 23. Rohan Janse van Rensburg.

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f
fl 1 hour ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

“A succession of recent ex-players going straight back into the game as coaches in their early 40’s would prob be enough to kill it stone-dead. Innovation would die a death.”

Would it? I do think one of the major differences between rugby and most other sports - which we’ve been overlooking - is the degree to which players are expected to lead team meetings & analysis sessions and the like. Someone like Owen Farrell has basically been an assistant coach already for ten years - and he’s been so under a variety of different head coaches with different expectations and playing styles.


“The most interesting ppl I have met in the game have all coached well into their sixties and they value the time and opportunity they have had to reflect and therefore innovate in the game. That’s based on their ability to compare and contrast between multiple eras.”

I don’t doubt that that’s true. But having interesting insights doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be the best able to inspire a team, or the best at managing the backroom staff.


“Wayne Smith winning the WWC in his mid sixties three years ago prob means nothing to you but it meant a lot to him. It took him back to the roots of is own coaching journey.”

I don’t doubt that! But I don’t think coaches should be hired on the basis that it means a lot to them.


“The likes of Carlo Ancelotti and Wayne Bennett and Andy Reid all have a tale to tell. You should open your ears and listen to it!”

I agree! Never have I ever suggested otherwise!

176 Go to comments
J
JW 5 hours ago
French bid to poach 109kg 17-year-old dual-code Aussie prospect Heinz Lemoto

Yes that’s what WR needs to look at. Football had the same problem with european powerhouses getting all the latin talent then you’re gaurenteed to get the odd late bloomer (21/22 etc, all the best footballers can play for the country much younger to get locked) star changing his allegiance.


They used youth rep selection for locking national elifibilty at one point etc. Then later only counted residency after the age of 18 (make clubs/nations like in this case wait even longer).


That’s what I’m talking about, not changing allegiance in rugby (were it can only be captured by the senior side), where it is still the senior side. Oh yeah, good point about CJ, so in most cases we probably want kids to be able to switch allegiance, were say someone like Lemoto could rep Tonga (if he wasn’t so good) but still play for Australia’s seniors, while in someone like Kite’s (the last aussie kid to go to France) case he’ll be French qualified via 5 years residency at the age of 21, so France to lock him up before Aussie even get a chance to select him. But if we use footballs regulations, who I’m suggesting WR need to get their a into g replicating, he would only start his 5 years once he turns 18 or whatever, meaning 23 yo is as soon as anyone can switch, and when if they’re good enough teams like NZ and Aus can select them (France don’t give a f, they select anybody just to lock them).

9 Go to comments
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