Two of Europe’s heavyweights are primed for a breath-taking battle in Round 2 of Champions Cup action, with last year’s Premiership and Guinness PRO14 runners-up primed to do battle in Devon. The Warriors have looked impressive with three consecutive victories since the return of the bulk of their Rugby World Cup contingent but know a trip to Sandy Park is just about as tough as it gets. After a fast start in the #HeinekenChampionsCup for both sides, @ExeterChiefs and @GlasgowWarriors are set to do battle ⚔️ Two teams stacked with talent, but who are you expecting to come out on top in Round 2️⃣ ? 👀 Check out our match preview 🎥 👇 pic.twitter.com/UBgQgFzxH1 — Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) November 19, 2019 Rob Baxter’s men have endured a hit-and-miss start to their domestic campaign but looked much more at the races last time out with a 31-12 win at last year’s Challenge Cup beaten finalists La Rochelle. And following Glasgow’s 13-7 victory over Sale Sharks, Saturday’s clash will hand the victors the ascendency in Pool 2, with both teams eager to stamp their authority in Europe and ultimately claim the top prize for the first time. Team news Exeter make just one change to their starting line-up, with England ace Jack Nowell taking the place of Welshman Alex Cuthbert on the wing. Sam Hill fills the void on the bench, while former Warriors star Stuart Hogg starts at full-back for a first appearance against his old club. 🆕 Here is your Glasgow Warriors team to take on @ExeterChiefs in the #ChampionsCup at Sandy Park tomorrow afternoon, brought to you by @MackenzieConstr 📺 The game will be live on BT Sport 2 from 3pm. — Glasgow Warriors (@GlasgowWarriors) November 22, 2019 For the visitors, head coach Dave Rennie makes just one alteration with Chris Fusaro coming into the XV in place of fellow openside Callum Gibbins. Fusaro partners captain Ryan Wilson on the flanks, as Matt Fagerson maintains his record of starting every match so far this season by lining up at No.8. Previous form Glasgow Warriors have won three of their four previous Champions Cup games against Exeter Chiefs, however, all four were decided by a single-digit margin. The two sides have been drawn together in the pool stages on two previous occasions – with both sides winning their respective home match in the 2017⁄18 season. The Chiefs have lost their opening home game of the season in just one of their last five Champions Cup campaigns (W3, D1), that defeat coming against ASM Clermont Auvergne in 2016⁄17. What they said Exeter Chiefs skipper Jack Yeandle: “We’ve had a tough start in the Gallagher Premiership but it’s more about the small details than one big fix and we are close to clicking – we showed that last weekend. “You can’t go into too much detail looking at other teams, we’ve got to get our own bits right. “We want a perfect performance, we want the result every game - particularly at home.” Glasgow Warriors lock Scott Cummings: “It will be a big game. Exeter are a team that are consistently good and they have a lot of great England internationals playing for them. “We are probably going down as underdogs but that’s a card we like playing. “It’ll be good to play Stuart Hogg and I’m sure everyone will be trying to rile him up as much as possible!” Key stat Glasgow have won just two of their previous 22 away games against Premiership opposition in the Champions Cup (L20), although one of their two victories in that run did come against Exeter Chiefs in 2013⁄14. Prediction Fine margins could be the difference in this difficult-to-call encounter, but if the Warriors start strongly they could have enough to creep past a so-far inconsistent Chiefs side. Teams Exeter Chiefs: Hogg, Nowell, Slade, Whitten, O’Flaherty, J Simmonds, White, Hepburn, Yeandle (capt), Williams, Dennis, J Hill, Ewers, Vermeulen, S Simmonds Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Moon, Street, Kirsten, Armand, Maunder, Steenson, S Hill Glasgow Warriors: Seymour, Tagive, Grigg, Johnson, Van der Merwe, Hastings, G Horne, Kebble, Brown, Z Fagerson, Harley, Cummings, Wilson (capt), Fusaro, M Fagerson Replacements: Turner, Allan, Rae, McDonald, Gordon, Price, P Horne, Steyn Sat 23 November 2019, KO: 15:15, Sandy Park Referee: Pascal Gauzere (France) Assistant referees: Maxime Chalon (France), Jonathan Dufort (France) TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)
