Here we are, the Premiership semi-finals have finally arrived and at the end of the day we'll know which two teams will duel for the 2017 Premiership title at Twickenham Stadium. It's been a pulsating season and today's back-to-back matches.
At the RDS last night the Scarlets showed that in one off matches anything can happen and that will certainly further inspire all of our semi-finalists today.
At the RDS last night the Scarlets showed that in one off matches anything can happen and that will certainly further inspire all of our semi-finalists today.
As you can see Out On The Full didn’t feature the Champions and Challenge Cup finals, do forgive me but I was working on the competition for another and with the intensity of the days I just would’t have been able to do the matches justice here and I certainly didn’t want to rush and publish words that didn't do them justice.
In terms of the two semi-finals I sat down and looked at the key focus points on each for Sky Sports Rugby and I’ll be in the office for them this weekend covering all of the action. With Super Rugby, the London Sevens, the second PRO12 semi-final, a Champions Cup play-off, both Premiership semi-finals and a TOP14 barrage ahead it should be a great couple of days. I truly hope that you have got a rugby marathon planned and that all of your domestic duties have been ticked off by this point. If not, just ignore them and lock into the rugby!
So, ahead of this Premiership afternoon do take a look through the two articles below - each has their own link attached to the image so take your pick or enjoy both!!
So, ahead of this Premiership afternoon do take a look through the two articles below - each has their own link attached to the image so take your pick or enjoy both!!
Key Team News
At Sandy Park Rob Baxter welcomes Dom Armand and Thomas Waldrom back into his back-row while Phil Dollman returns into the starting line-up at full-back.
Gareth Steenson skippers the side from fly-half, Ian Whitten will reach his 100th league appearance today and of course James Short lines up against his former side.
Mark McCall makes just one change to the side that delivered the Champions Cup title in Edinburgh and that is due to injury as Brad Barritt is forced to sit out.
Owen Farrell will captain the side in Barritt’s absence and Duncan Taylor comes into the XV at inside centre.
Tom Youngs will make his 100th appearance for the Tigers and the fortitude that he's showing at such an unimaginably difficult time is truly inspiring. Elsewhere for the Tigers Telusa Veainu returns to start a full-back and he’ll most certainly cause Wasps’ defence some issues.
The hosts at the Ricoh Arena make just two changes - Ashley Johnson and Phil Swainston start in the front row - while Tommy Taylor and Marty Moore return to fitness to take their places on the bench.
Team Line-Ups
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Phil Dollman, 14 Jack Nowell, 13 Ian Whitten, 12 Ollie Devoto, 11 James Short, 10 Gareth Steenson (c), 9 Stuart Townsend 1 Ben Moon, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3 Harry Williams, 4 Dave Dennis, 5 Geoff Parling, 6 Kai Horstmann, 7 Don Armand, 8 Thomas Waldrom Replacements: 16 Jack Yeandle, 17 Carl Rimmer, 18 Tomas Francis, 19 Mitch Lees, 20 Sam Simmonds, 21 Will Chudley, 22 Henry Slade, 23 Michele Campagnaro
Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Duncan Taylor, 11 Chris Wyles, 10 Owen Farrell (c), 9 Richard Wigglesworth 1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Jamie George, 3 Vincent Koch, 4 Maro Itoje, 5 George Kruis, 6 Michael Rhodes, 7 Jackson Wray, 8 Billy Vunipola Replacements: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Titi Lamositele, 18 Petrus Du Plessis, 19 Jim Hamilton, 20 Schalk Burger, 21 Ben Spencer, 22 Alex Lozowski, 23 Mike Ellery
Wasps: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Jimmy Gopperth, 11 Willie le Roux, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Joe Simpson 1 Matt Mullan, 2 Ashley Johnson, 3 Phil Swainston, 4 Joe Launchbury (c), 5 Matt Symons, 6 James Haskell, 7 Thomas Young, 8 Nathan Hughes Replacements: 16 Tommy Taylor, 17 Simon McIntyre, 18 Marty Moore, 19 James Gaskell, 20 Guy Thompson, 21 Dan Robson, 22 Alapati Leiua, 23 Josh Bassett
Wasps: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Jimmy Gopperth, 11 Willie le Roux, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Joe Simpson 1 Matt Mullan, 2 Ashley Johnson, 3 Phil Swainston, 4 Joe Launchbury (c), 5 Matt Symons, 6 James Haskell, 7 Thomas Young, 8 Nathan Hughes Replacements: 16 Tommy Taylor, 17 Simon McIntyre, 18 Marty Moore, 19 James Gaskell, 20 Guy Thompson, 21 Dan Robson, 22 Alapati Leiua, 23 Josh Bassett
Leicester Tigers: 15 Telusa Veainu, 14 Adam Thompstone, 13 Mathew Tait, 12 Owen Williams, 11 Peter Betham, 10 Freddie Burns, 9 Ben Youngs 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Tom Youngs (c), 3 Dan Cole, 4 Dom Barrow, 5 Graham Kitchener, 6 Mike Fitzgerald, 7 Brendon O'Connor, 8 Luke Hamilton Replacements: 16 George McGuigan, 17 Greg Bateman, 18 Fraser Balmain, 19 Ed Slater, 20 Mike Williams, 21 Sam Harrison, 22 Jack Roberts, 23 Matt Smith
