Exeter unchanged for European trip to Toulouse
Written by I Dig SportsRob Baxter has named an unchanged squad for Exeter Chiefs' trip to Toulouse in the Investec Champions Cup quarter-finals.
Toulouse make one change as centre Paul Costes replaces Pierre-Louis Barassi.
Fly-half Romain Ntamack returned to the starting XV against Racing after eight months out and continues alongside France team-mate Antoine Dupont.
Ntamack missed this year's Six Nations and Les Bleus' home World Cup in 2023 after sustaining a knee ligament injury in August.
Scrum-half Dupont also took some time away from XVs to focus on Sevens before returning to Toulouse to deputise at fly-half in Ntamack's absence.
Toulouse are the most successful side in the history of the competition with five titles, while Exeter beat the French side in the semi-finals on their way to lifting the trophy for the first time in 2020.
Toulouse head coach Ugo Mola said: "I remember the semi-final. They're a good English team.
"They're up to European Cup standards, strong up front, good goal-kicker, and they're good at taking their chances when they come along."
Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter wants his side to build on the comeback win over Bath in the last 16 in a match that was played in strong winds.
"I think the performance against Bath was possibly one of our best of the season in a lot of ways," said Baxter.
"The way the lads got into the game the way we wanted to and the way they dealt with the scoreboard pressure and the conditions was really good.
"We said in the changing room that, as a team, the players have got to do one of the hardest things you do in sport which is to get yourself to a very competitive level two weeks running.
"At the same time, that's how you win trophies. Winning trophies and getting to big games is when you put back-to-back performances in."
Former England wing Chris Ashton believes Toulouse are favourites to progress to the semi-finals.
"I thought that the Exeter-Bath game was a level below what Bordeaux [who beat Saracens] and Toulouse were operating at," Ashton told BBC's Rugby Union Weekly.
"On your day you can find it and it can click for you, but just going off the weekend's performances there is a step to go in performance to reach where the French teams are."
Line-ups
Toulouse: Kinghorn; Mallia, Barassi, Ahki, Lebel; Ntamack, Dupont (c); Baille, Mauvaka, Aldegheri, Arnold, Meafou, Willis, Cros, Roumat.
Replacements: Marchand, Neti, Merkler, Flament, Brennan, Graou, Ramos, Costes, Chocobares.
Exeter: Hodge; Feyi-Waboso, Slade, Devoto, Woodburn; Skinner, Cairns; Sio, Yeandle, Painter, Tuima, Jenkins (capt), Roots, Tshiunza, Vintcent.
Replacements: Innard, Southworth, Street, Pearson, Fisilau, Townsend, Haydon-Wood, Wimbush.
Referee: Chris Busby (Ireland)