Chiefs cautious with wing Cuthbert

EXETER Chiefs are being ‘cautious’ with star winger Alex Cuthbert after he missed Saturday’s defeat to Northampton Saints with some tightness in his back and hamstring.

The former Wales winger has made a stunning return to action from a long term calf injury, scoring two outstanding tries in two appearances but was replaced the 46th minute in the 26-3 victory over London Irish, which forced him out of contention against the Saints.

Having spent the majority of his Chiefs career sidelined with a series of injuries, including a hamstring tear which required surgery, Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter said he is taking no risks with the explosive 48-cap international.

Baxter said: “He is a bit sore. “He has had a long injury period out, he started to tighten up, you could see how fantastically well he was playing, how well he played against Newcastle as well, but he just started to stiffen up around his lower back.

“It was a bit of neural tightness and tension which was giving him some hamstring tightness so we weren’t going to hang around and we got him off then.

“There is no point in us getting someone back fit and then try to push him through something which has been an issue in the past.

“We took that precaution which means he is okay but he has got that and we are just going to be very careful as to whether we get him back quickly or whether we get him back to 100 per-cent before we get him back out on the field.

“We are just going to have to monitor him and look after him. It is early in his return so it is our responsibility to give him the right game time at the right time.”

Cuthbert will be assessed this week ahead of Friday’s trip to Sale Sharks, while Jack Nowell could also make his return after an operation on a toe injury.