Harlequins v Exeter: Teams
Last Updated: 20/02/15 5:50pm
A sold out Twickenham Stoop awaits Harlequins as they make two changes for their Aviva Premiership clash with Exeter.
Nick Easter has been released from the England camp and will captain the team from No 8. Dave Ward starts at hooker in the only other change from Harlequins' 37-6 loss to Wasps at the Ricoh Arena last week.
Prop Matt Shields, who this week signed with Harlequins until 2016, takes his place on the bench and will make his Premiership debut for the club if he is called into the game.
Meanwhile, Exeter coach Rob Baxter has made no changes to his starting XV from the 46-17 hammering of Sale Sharks at Sandy Park last week.
That means another start for England squad member Jack Nowell, who starts in the No 13 jersey.
The only change to the Exeter 23 from last week is the inclusion of Dave Lewis at the expense of Haydn Thomas as the replacement scrum-half.
Also named among the visiting replacements is Tom Johnson, who will make his 150th league appearance for the club should he play at any point.
Occasion
Chiefs coach Rob Baxter says his side is looking at the big picture.
“Quins have put pressure on themselves saying it’s a ‘must-win’ game,” said Baxter. “But we have less pressure because I’m a big believer that no season should depend on one result.
“As I said, it will certainly be a big occasion for both clubs because we’re both ambitious and we both want to achieve things.”
“With Quins’ being one of the teams in contention around us, obviously it becomes a very important game for the both of us.
“If you look at the games we’ve had with them over the years, whether we win or lose, both sides want to play with ball in hand.”
Harlequins: 15 Ugo Monye, 14 Marland Yarde, 13 Matt Hopper, 12 Tom Casson, 11 Charlie Walker, 10 Nick Evans, 9 Danny Care, 1 Mark Lambert, 2 Dave Ward, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 4 Charlie Matthews, 5 George Robson, 6 Jack Clifford, 7 Luke Wallace, 8 Nick Easter (c).
Replacements: 16 Rob Buchanan, 17 Darryl Marfo, 18 Matt Shields, 19 Netani Talei , 20 Joe Trayfoot, 21 Karl Dickson, 22 Ben Botica, 23 Ollie Lindsay-Hague.
Exeter: 15 Phil Dollman, 14 Ian Whitten, 13 Jack Nowell, 12 Sam Hill, 11 Matt Jess, 10 Henry Slade, 9 Will Chudley, 1 Ben Moon, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3 Tomas Francis, 4 Dean Mumm (c), 5 Damian Welch, 6 Dave Ewers, 7 Ben White, 8 Thomas Waldrom.
Replacements: 16 Jack Yeandle, 17 Carl Rimmer, 18 Alex Brown, 19 Mitch Lees, 20 Tom Johnson, 21 Dave Lewis, 22 Gareth Steenson, 23 Byron McGuigan.
