Chiefs must beware of wounded Wasps’ sting Baxter says rematch of 2020 Premiership final is his side’s ‘toughest’ test so far

ROB Baxter welcomes Exeter’s toughest test of the season to date knowing that Wasps will be motivated by revenge in this afternoon’s heavyweight showdown at the Ricoh Arena.

The rematch of the 2020 Gallagher Premiership final sees Baxter’s double winners look to improve on a poor record at the home of their rivals, where they have won only once since 2015.

Their most recent visit to Coventry was also their last defeat, when a weakened team were dismantled 46-5 in October.

Of greater significance is the climax to last season, when Exeter were taken to the wire in a 19-13 victory at Twickenham that saw Wasps fail to capitalise on an attacking line-out in the closing stages.

“Wasps are enjoying how they play and are playing with a lot of energy. No one appreciates more than me how tough it is to go there and get a win,” Chiefs director of rugby Baxter said.

“They’ve got a confidence about them and there will be an element of wanting to get their own back after the final, to prove a point there.

“We’ll have to have more energy than we did against Gloucester last weekend because it will be a tough and fast-paced game. But this is something we need – a tough, challenging game away from home.

“This should be the type of thing that gets us ready for our return to Europe in a couple of weeks.”

Wasps’ build-up to the final was affected by an outbreak of coronavirus that severely restricted their training.

“What a great challenge – to take on the European and Premiership champions. That’s something we’re excited about,” head coach Lee Blackett said.

“We went into that game at Twickenham with a way of beating them, but then we got there and there was horizontal rain lashing down.

“We’ve got a plan and it’s a very similar plan to what we were going to use in the final until the conditions changed our plan on the day. Hopefully we’ll get better conditions on Saturday.”

Exeter’s victory against Gloucester last week came at a cost, with Scottish skipper Stuart Hogg hobbling out of the action with a tight hamstring, while South African powerhouse Jannes Kirsten picked up a nasty facial injury. Both miss today’s trip to the Ricoh, while the likes of Luke Cowan-Dickie, Harry Williams,

Jonny Gray, Jonny Hill, Sam Skinner and Henry Slade are all rested following their involvement in the Autumn Nations Cup.

Even without such talent, the Chiefs are still able to parade a formidable squad, which includes academy youngsters Marcus Street and Richard Capstick in the pack alongside the recalled Alec Hepburn, Jack Yeandle, Will Witty and Don Armand.

Behind them, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne makes his first league start of the season at scrum-half, while Hogg’s absence means a re-jig of the back division with Tom O’Flaherty moving to the anchor role, Ian Whitten switching to the wing and Tom Hendrickson partnering Ollie Devoto at centre.