Greg Fisilau looks ready for Test rugby in Exeter’s sloppy win over Leicester

Round eight of the Gallagher Prem concludes at Sandy Park as the Exeter Chiefs welcome Leicester Tigers. Leicester secured the league double over Exeter last season, winning 17-14 in this fixture at Sandy Park in September 2024 before winning 28-15 at home at Welford Road back in January.

Exeter secured a comeback victory last time out in the Prem, winning away at Saracens. In fact, they are unbeaten in all competitions in their last five matches. They begin the day in fourth, with the chance to go top of the tree with a bonus-point victory. They have though been dealt a major blow this week by the news that Australia centre Len Ikitau will miss three months due to a shoulder injury. Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter is disappointed to be losing a player for an extended period of time who has been in “outstanding form”.

“The good news is that we can get him in for the operation pretty quickly, though unfortunately it does mean he will miss the block of games over the festive period and into the cup competitions in the new year,” Baxter said.  “It is very unfortunate for Len, who has been playing out of his skin for us and was in outstanding form. It is a shame for him and a shame for us because he has been an important part of what we have achieved so far this season. However, after a pretty long period of quite intense rugby, it will give him a bit of a break and give his body plenty of time to recover and refresh. Hopefully, he can have a big end of the season impact for us, and we will remain in contention to be challenging for some success or silverware.”

Baxter is anticipating a tough game this afternoon against a side that did the league double over them last season.

“I have been really impressed with Leicester,” Baxter added. “Even when they have been playing in really tough situations, tough conditions, and against very good sides, they are very dogged and they are in the fight all the time. That is probably the most important quality a team can have and I would like to think that is something that we look like we have got at the moment, or that we have improved upon at the start of this season.”

Like Exeter, Leicester were victorious last time out, comfortably beating Gloucester 45-14 to claim the Slater Cup. They have now won their last four Prem games and go into this game in fifth, with the chance to go level on points with Bath in second. Speaking ahead of the game, head coach Geoff Parling has outlined his side’s style of play.

“We had a very simple game plan at the start of the year and we are trying to evolve that as we push on,” said Parling. “I do not think we will ever be a team that holds the ball for as many phases, as for example, Bristol do in their own half but I want players to play what they see. I want us to be efficient at times but I give them the framework to play heads-up rugby and we will work on them to improve that decision-making.”

Kick-off from Sandy Park is at 3pm.