Chiefs have two back for league’s resumption
EXETER Chiefs are set to welcome back talisman Dave Ewers as they head to Bath Rugby tomorrow night in a return to Gallagher Premiership action.
Giant blindside flanker Ewers has not played for Chiefs since October 16 having been sidelined by a minor medical issue.
However, director of rugby Rob Baxter revealed he and winger Tom O’Flaherty are now both fit and in contention to play at The Rec against bottom of the table Bath.
Baxter said: “We are an improved picture availability-wise because we have got some internationals back, fit and available which is good.
“Injury-wise we haven’t got stacks of players back and available although Dave Ewers is now back and Tom O’Flaherty is available those were guys who were unavailable before we went into the cup games, so we are looking okay.
“We have got a decent group of players who have come back together really quickly this week and we are just looking to get back to business.”
International contingent Stuart Hogg (Scotland), Henry Slade (England), Sam Skinner (Scotland), Jonny Hill (England), Facundo Cordero (Argentina), Sam Simmonds (England), and Christ Tshiunza (Wales) all return to their club having had strong showings for their respective nations in the Autumn Nations Series.
Hogg became Scotland’s all-time record try-scorer in the 29-20 win over Japan on Sunday, crossing the line for the 25th time to surpass Tony Stanger and Ian Smith, while Henry Slade and Jonny Hill both earned glowing reviews for their impressive displays for England this Autumn, culminating in a 27-26 win over World Champions South Africa on Saturday.
Teenage Welshman Tshiunza is now a two-cap international having made his debut in the win against Fiji before featuring off the bench in the 29-28 victory over the Wallabies last weekend.
While the seven men are back at Sandy Park, Baxter revealed not all of them will feature this weekend while keeping their identity close to his chest.
The Chiefs’ director of rugby said: “They are not all available. One guy has got a bit of a niggly injury, one guy we have decided to give a break to, so it is not a full-on group of internationals back.”
However, the positive news for Exeter is British and Irish Lions hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie looks set to return in the next couple of weeks in time to start Chiefs’ European Heineken Champions Cup campaign in December which begins at home against Challenge Cup winners Montpellier.
Cornish hooker Cowan-Dickie has been sidelined with ligament damage to his ankle.
Baxter said: “Luke is still on track. It might be a little early for him this week, but he is close to being back into full training.
Last week Chiefs signed Argentinian international forward Santiago Grondona for the remainder of the 2021/22 season but Baxter confirmed the 23-year-old has not arrived in Devon yet as he is still going through his visa application.
Baxter hopes to have him on board next week.