Jenkins captains Chiefs for Ulster semi-final

Rob Baxter has named a changed XV for Exeter Chiefs’ EPCR Challenge Cup semi-final against Ulster Rugby in Belfast.

Dafydd Jenkins will lead the team out at the Affidea Stadium on Saturday evening as 80 minutes stands between Chiefs and a potential final berth in Bilbao.

Chiefs’ director of rugby Rob Baxter said: “This weekend is going to be a pretty big challenge. At their stadium, I imagine with a good crowd in, and after they rested and rotated a lot last week to prepare for this game, we’re expecting a pretty full-blooded, tough game of rugby.

“That’s what it should be though. That’s why you want to qualify for these competitions and why you work hard to get to semi-finals and finals.”

The experienced Scott Sio returns to the line-up at loosehead with Georgian powerhouse Bachuki Tchumbadze packing down at tighthead. Following a battling second-half performance at Kingsholm last weekend, Max Norey earns a start at hooker.

The international pairing of Jenkins and Andrea Zambonin returns to the second row.

With Ethan Roots suspended for three matches following a red card against Gloucester and Greg Fisilau being monitored for a knee issue, Christ Tshiunza starts at openside flanker. Tom Hooper starts on the blindside with Ross Vintcent at number eight.

With 24 try assists between them in all competitions already this season, scrum-half Stephen Varney and fly-half Harvey Skinner slot into their half-back partnership seamlessly.

One week on from his return to action for the first time since December, Len Ikitau starts at inside centre with Henry Slade in the 13 channel.

Paul Brown-Bampoe is unavailable for selection as he continues his return to play protocol having been removed from the field with a head knock last weekend. Ben Hammersley comes into the starting XV at full-back, allowing Campbell Ridl to move back out to the wing with Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.

Baxter added: “Ulster will certainly be expecting to set the physicality of the game early. They will think they can boss large areas of the game but my expectation is that we will turn up and set a different level of intensity at the start of the game to make it a very competitive encounter.”

Chiefs select a traditional 5-3 split for their bench. Front-rowers Joseph Dweba, Ethan Burger and Josh Iosefa-Scott join lock Rusi Tuima and back-rower Finn Worley Brady in covering the pack.

For the backs, newly re-signed Will Haydon-Wood joins Tom Cairns and England U20s’ Nick Lilley.

The game kicks off at 17:30 in Belfast, broadcast live on Premier Sports or you can follow the action in our match centre.

Exeter Chiefs:

15 Ben Hammersley

14 Campbell Ridl

13 Henry Slade

12 Len Ikitau

11 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso

10 Harvey Skinner

9 Stephen Varney

1 Scott Sio

2 Max Norey

3 Bachuki Tchumbadze

4 Dafydd Jenkins (c)

5 Andrea Zambonin

6 Tom Hooper

7 Christ Tshiunza

8 Ross Vintcent

Replacements:

16 Joseph Dweba

17 Ethan Burger

18 Josh Iosefa-Scott

19 Rusi Tuima

20 Finn Worley Brady

21 Tom Cairns

22 Will Haydon-Wood

23 Nick Lilley