Hogg and Cordero still absent for Exeter Chiefs
EXETER Chiefs look set to be without Scotland captain Stuart Hogg and Argentine sensation Facundo Cordero this weekend to face Bristol Bears.
The full-backs are two of Exeter’s most dangerous attacking backs, with Cordero impressing in the autumn with his outstanding stepping ability while British and Irish Lions star Hogg needs no introduction.
Cordero, who is the younger brother of former Chiefs star Santiago, has beaten more defenders than any other player in the Premiership so far this season (23) and is in the top 10 for metres (253) made and clean breaks (7).
Discussing the injury situation ahead of the top of the table clash with Bristol Bears at Sandy Park tomorrow, director of rugby Rob Baxter said: “Most people are progressing, and are progressing pretty quickly.
“Stuart Hogg has a hamstring injury and so does Facundo Cordero so he couldn’t be involved last week either.
“They are progressing well, they are close and have been on the pitch running so they are close but this week might be too early for them, time will tell.”
With both men absent last weekend Baxter selected Tom O’Flaherty at full-back in the 34-5 defeat at Wasps with a much-changed side.
Meanwhile Bristol Bears welcomed back former All Black star Charles Piutau in the 15 shirt in Round Five of the Gallagher Premiership after a three month absence with an Achilles injury and he did not waste any time getting on the scoresheet with an instinctive one handed pick up on his way to scoring a try in the 29-17 bonus point win over previously unbeaten Newcastle Falcons.
Chiefs’ selection this weekend will also be slightly hampered by fresh positive Covid-19 cases within the
Exeter camp this week, with the entire club getting a second round of testing ahead of the game to ensure the virus has been contained.
Baxter also provided an update on two of his long term injured players: winger Jack Nowell and flanker Jannes Kirsten.
England international Nowell has not featured for the club this season after going under the knife for a foot/ toe injury which he played through the pain with as Exeter won the European and domestic double in October.
Baxter said: “Jack is doing okay. It was a serious injury which required an operation, I think looking at time scales I don’t want to be overly positive. I think we are looking at five to eight weeks with Jack but time goes by incredibly quickly.
“A lot of our guys who have had operations or tidy ups, or even recently got injured, there is a period where we could get them back in a bit of a block which seems to be around the 4, 8-10 weeks when a number of injured players could be back but at the moment we have a strong squad anyway and we will certainly be aiming to win this weekend and going forward.”
Forward Kirsten, who can play at both lock or on the flank, picked up a facial injury in the 28-20 Boxing Day win over Gloucester Rugby at Sandy Park, the same say Hogg injured his hamstring.
Baxter said: “Unfortunately Jannes came off for a HIA and when he did we realised there was something more going on.
“When he went in for X-rays it showed he has got a very small fracture around his eye socket and he has had a small operation.
“He has come back in and has been around, he is okay, but he is now going through his rehab which initially for a facial fracture is about rest because any build-up of pressure can cause you issues.
“At the moment he is just resting and recuperating and then he will start that process of return to play in five or six weeks.”