EXETER
The Premiership unners-up have built up a squad to be reckoned with.
The Chiefs’ combination of home-grown young England talent such as Jack Nowell, Henry Slade and Luke Cowan-Dickie blended with carefully selected imports has worked a treat.
The Aussie infusion at Sandy Park that started with Dean Mumm and Julian Salvi has continued with Wallabies’ tighthead Greg Holmes and former Australia captain Dave Dennis joining wing Lachlan Turner.
One of the elements that sets Rob Baxter and his coaching team apart is that they have the Midas touch when it comes to getting the best out of most incomers.
Irrespective of whether they are internationals, imports from the Championship like lock Mitch Lees and tighthead props Harry Williams and Tomas Francis, or those looking for a new lease of life, like Premiership top try-scoring No.8 Thomas Waldrom and wing James Short, they flourish down in Devon.
The arrival of Ollie Devoto from Bath should add even more lustre to a potent Exeter backline which already features the impressive Italian centre, Michele Campagnaro.
Given that Exeter boast the most effective driving maul in the league, with Dave Ewers and Don Armand lending back row clout, the Chiefs will be on the warpath again.