Pepper: prominent

By Rokobilly
September 29 2026

Whoever drew up Bath’s fixtures for the start of the season clearly has an eye for a good story. 108 days after the most famous drop goal that never was, back we all go to The Rec for a repeat fixture against Exeter. Redemption time. Except, of course, not all victories are created equal. A win on Friday won’t make up for that expensive day out sitting on broken trains just to watch Saints beat Chiefs at Twickenham.

Exeter finished last season as the Prem’s form club and one seemingly on the right road to silverware having largely disbanded the team that brought them the Prem and European Double back in 2020. Baxter’s Midas touch was seemingly back and was being supported by considerable off the pitch investment. The future at Junction 30 of the M5 looked very bright indeed.

All of which will mean their result in round one will be incredibly frustrating for all concerned. A record defeat at home to Gloucester was not in the plan. Of particular concern will be the defence out wide.

Gloucester made hay with cross field kicks with the Chiefs back three defence worryingly out of sorts. For all Feyi-Waboso’s talents with the ball, he won’t have enjoyed watching his ‘tackle’ on Will Joseph during Monday’s video review.

You can bet Finn will have taken notice of the space Gloucester exploited.

Injuries have certainly had an impact on Exeter’s back three: Cam Ridl, so impressive in last season, has ruptured an ACL and fellow wing Paul Brown-Bampoe is recovering from heel surgery.
At the other end of the team sheet the re-signed Georgian prop Nika Abuladze has pulled a calf weakening the scrum. More important than any of the above might be the unavailability of the influential Aussie pair who starred in the Chief’s run to the final. Tom Hooper will be back later in the season but Len Ikitau has returned to the Brumbies.

The Sandy Park bubble of pre-season positivity may have burst but no doubt they will travel fully motivated to get back on track and well aware that Bath have a shown a soft underbelly in recent meetings.

Which brings us to the Blue Black and Whites. Unlike Exeter we banked five league points last week in what was ultimately a comfortable but far from perfect start to the season. Most of Quins points came from broken play and most of Bath’s from a powerful maul. Those of us looking forward to a revamped attacking shape were frustrated by repeated scrappy errors. “Room for improvement” would be a fair assessment in that department.

What might be more important this week is our half-backs ability to control the game and the narrative in Ben Spencer’s absence. Twice last year we threw away four try leads at home to Exeter and even if we start quickly again on Friday, our opponents will feel they are still in the game.

Paul O’Connell once described elite rugby as the art of making excellent decisions whilst under immense physical and mental pressure. Leadership matters and we need our older heads to be there and thinking clearly in the final quarter.

Russell is obviously key in this area but he will need his 9s to play their part and some of the more grizzled forwards to step up too.

The latest Bath injury update had bad news for Sam Underhill who joins Jamie Bhatti on the long-term rehab list. Vilikesa Sela is out until late November. In the backs Spencer, Muir and Hennessy are all some weeks away and Arundell is unlikely to be risked.

That suggests we might see a similar back line to the one at Quins but a few changes in the pack. I’d expect Dunn, Roux and Pepper to play prominent roles.

Finally, a word for two former Bath players who may make the Exeter XXIII. I am sure we all hope Will Butt and Sam Harris have very successful seasons in Devon, but should they be selected, absolute stinkers on Friday night. Save the MOTM performances for Saints and Sarries, lads.

COYB.

REDEMPTION TIME: BATH V EXETER

Discussion started by Comeonmylovers.co.uk (IP Logged), 29/09/2026 22:07

Comeonmylovers.co.uk
29/09/2026 22:07

What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.

Reply Quote Report

P G Tips
29/09/2026 22:12

Thanks Roko

Sums it up nicely. Chiefs will be seething about last week and desperate to show their mettle. Baxter has already issued a rallying cry. Expect them to come out snorting.

I expect they will provide a sterner physical test up front than Quins did so the likes of Roux, Dunn, Pepper (possibly Coetzee too) may well be called on. Certainly our back 5 forwards last week would appear lightweight against a traditional Chiefs pack.

It seems illness may have played a part in Exeter's woes last week. We certainly cannot afford any whiff of complacency.

Maybe somebody has been practising a drop goal?

PG

Reply Quote Report

Goto: Forum List•Message List•Search• Log In

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

We record all IP addresses on the Sportnetwork message boards which may be required by the authorities in case of defamatory or abusive comment. We seek to monitor the Message Boards at regular intervals. We do not associate Sportnetwork with any of the comments and do not take responsibility for any statements or opinions expressed on the Message Boards. If you have any cause for concern over any material posted here please let us know as soon as possible by e-mailing abuse@sportnetwork.net