Chiefs set for toughest assignment in Europe
EXETER captain Jack Yeandle has challenged his men to take it to the mammoth French pack as the Premiership champions look to back up last week’s win against one of the tournament favourites.
Chiefs travel in buoyant mood having overcome a Glagow Warriors side who arrived in Devon with an unbeaten record in this season’s PRO14.
Montpellier suffered defeat in their opening fixture, going down 24-17 at Leinster, but they did manage to claim a losing bonus point, thanks in the main to a try double from giant winger Nemani Nadolo and Yeandle is expecting a fierce battle.
He said: “They’ve got a big pack and real class out in the backs, but we just have to stick to our principles and go again.
“What we have to do is impose ourselves on them as early as we can and challenge them in the same way that we’ve challenged all the other big teams we’ve come up against in the past.
“If we can do that, then we give ourselves a great chance of getting something from the game.”
Aussie scrum-half Nic White knows first hand how dangerous Montpellier can be having swapped life in the South of France for the West Country this summer.
White said: “We want to take on every competition this year, so winning against Glasgow at home was an important step in us going forward in the competition.
“It’s done and dusted now. We had a bit of pressure on us to get that win last week, but now we have to go again this weekend.
“What we have to do is get that same attacking mindset in place for this weekend against what will be a very strong and physical Montpellier side.
“It’s about us not giving them an inch to play. It will be tough, we know that, but we feel confident we can go down there, go with an attacking attitude, and really attack the game.”
Victory would put Rob Baxter’s side in a great position within the pool, which will reconvene in December with back-toback clashes against Leinster.
“A win would really put us in good stead,” continued White. “If you can get an away win, it goes a long way. A lot of teams win their home games, but it’s the ones who can pick things up on the road that are the ones who go through to the finals.
“It’s up to the guys to empty their tanks knowing it will go a long way.”
Thomas Waldrom returns at No.8 for Exeter. The 34-year-old makes his first start since breaking a bone in a pre-season friendly as Sam Simmonds drops to the bench.
Wales international Tomas Francis comes in at prop in place of Harry Williams in the Chiefs’ only other change.
Montpellier, third in Top 14, have Louis Picamoles at No.8. Fiji wing Nadolo and former Ulster scrum-half Ruan Pienaar also start.