Lions return to add extra firepower to Chiefs ranks

Simmonds, Cowan-Dickie and Hill are all poised to feature in clash with Worcester

EXETER Chiefs’ injury and availability picture looks to be rapidly improving heading into Round Four of the Gallagher Premiership when Worcester Warriors visit Sandy Park on Saturday

Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter confirmed he now has all his British and Irish Lions players back in the mix, meaning number eight Sam Simmonds, hooker Luke CowanDickie and lock Jonny Hill can add some extra muscle in the pack after full-back Stuart Hogg provided some star dust to the backline last weekend to help Exeter beat Sale Sharks 25-15 away from home.

The only doubt over Simmond’s involvement is whether he will play having become a new father at the weekend.

Richard Capstick returned from a hamstring injury to play at number eight last weekend to good effect with a barnstorming display against Sale’s physical pack.

Elsewhere Baxter confirmed Scotland international Sam Skinner is also closing in on a return from injury to bolster his second row options with Jonny Gray still unavailable having had surgery on his shoulder.

Baxter said: “Sam is fully fit and training now after his pre-season injury which was relatively minor.

“Jannes [Kirsten] turned his ankle and we are currently assessing it but he is not currently fit.”

In the backline, Harvey Skinner, who started at fly-half last weekend, is available to play despite having failed an initial HIA following a blow to his head from Sale centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg on Sunday which saw the South African redcarded. Skinner passed a second HIA check immediately after the game meaning he just has to be monitored in training this week but should be available for selection, posing Baxter his biggest selection conundrum ahead of Worcester with Joe Simmonds dropped to the bench last weekend.

A further boost to Baxter and his side is the news that Ollie Devoto’s injury on Sunday is not as bad as first feared after the centre was replaced in the first half at the AJ Bell Stadium appearing to hold his arm/shoulder as he left the pitch.

But Baxter explained: “Ollie had a bang. He has very sore ribs at the moment.

“We are running day-by-day with Ollie.

“It doesn’t look like a significant injury, if he is not available this weekend we are not expecting him to be out for the long term.”

Elsewhere in the backline England winger Jack Nowell looks set to return either this week or next against Wasps, Baxter confirmed.

He said: “Nowellsy is back full-on training. Whether this week will be a little bit too early we will see.

“He has bounced through his little niggle relatively quickly, it was never a major thing it was more us deciding to hold him back a little bit. It may be the same this week.

“If he doesn’t play this week it will be because I have decided to pull him back.

“He is walking past me every morning saying ‘C’mon Rob I will play this week. Pick me.’ But I tell him sometimes someone else needs to make the call for you.

“We will wait to see how he comes through the training week.”