Exeter Chiefs vs Bristol Bears Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Exeter Chiefs vs Bristol Bears taking place? Exeter Chiefs vs Bristol Bears will take place on Saturday 1st January, 2022 at 16:30 (UK)
Where is Exeter Chiefs vs Bristol Bears taking place? Exeter Chiefs vs Bristol Bears will take place at Sandy Park in Exeter
Where can I get tickets for Exeter Chiefs vs Bristol Bears? Ticket information for Exeter Chiefs vs Bristol Bears can be found on each side’s official website
What TV channel is Exeter Chiefs vs Bristol Bears on in the UK? Exeter Chiefs vs Bristol Bears will be televised live on BT Sport
Where can I stream Exeter Chiefs vs Bristol Bears in the UK? BT Sport subscribers can stream Exeter Chiefs vs Bristol Bears live on the BT Sport Player & app
THE TEAM NEWS
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Jack Nowell, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Ollie Devoto, 11 Tom O’Flaherty, 10 Joe Simmonds, 9 Jack Maunder, 8 Sam Simmonds, 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Dave Ewers, 5 Jonny Hill, 4 Sam Skinner, 3 Sam Nixon, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie (c), 1 Alec Hepburn
Replacements: 16 Jack Yeandle, 17 Ben Moon, 18 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 19 Sean Lonsdale, 20 Don Armand, 21 Sam Maunder, 22 Harvey Skinner, 23 Ian Whitten
Bristol Bears: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Luke Morahan, 13 Semi Radradra, 12 Sam Bedlow, 11 Ioan Lloyd, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Harry Randall, 8 Nathan Hughes, 7 Dan Thomas, 6 Fitz Harding, 5 Chris Vui, 4 Joe Joyce (c), 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Harry Thacker, 1 Yann Thomas
Replacements: 16 Will Capon, 17 Jake Woolmore), 18 John Afoa, 19 John Hawkins, 20 Mitch Eadie, 21 Andy Uren, 22 Piers O’Conor, 23 Henry Purdy
THE PREDICTION
Exeter Chiefs were gearing up for a Premiership Rugby Cup clash with rivals Bath but that was cancelled by Bath due to covid-19 cases in the camp. Exeter have little time for turnaround as they welcome another regional rival Bristol Bears to Sandy Park in the Premiership, where their most recent fixture was a superb 18-15 win over Saracens at the start of December. A 22-7 defeat at Glasgow Warriors in the Champions Cup most recently was symptomatic of Rob Baxter’s stuttering side but they should have enough to win this home tie against struggling Bristol. The visitors came perilously close to beating leaders Leicester Tigers on Boxing Day in a rip-roaring 26-28 result and they are clearly on the right track now after a torrid start to the campaign. Exeter can still cover around -7 at home but reducing that pick in uncertain times would be wise.
