Bath vs Exeter Chiefs Prediction: Chiefs to run Bath ragged

This weekend provides an all-West Country affair in the Premiership Rugby Cup, as Bath host rivals Exeter Chiefs on Saturday (15:05 BST, TNT Sports 1) at The Recreation Ground.

Below are my Bath vs Exeter Chiefs predictions, as well as all the essential team news and match odds for the showdown in the West Country.

Team News

Bath go with Scott Kirk, Jasper Spandler and Kieran Verden in the front row, with locks Harvey Cuckson and skipper Ewan Richards in behind.

Ethan Staddon, Thomson Cowan and Arthur Green start in the back row, with Tom Carr-Smith, James Linegar earning starting roles in the half-backs.

Will Butt and Louie Hennessey combine in the centres, with Bath’s back three made up of Tyler Offiah, Austin Emens and Jack Woods.

As for the Chiefs, Kwenzo Blose, skipper Jack Yeandle and Bachuki Tchumbadze start in the front row for the visitors.

Locks Rusi Tuima and Lewis Pearson will be in the engine room from the off, while back rowers Ethan Roots, Christ Tshiunza and Ross Vincent complete the pack.

Stephen Varney and Harvey Skinner start in the half-backs, with Henry Slade and Ben Hammersley in the centres.

Dan John, Paul Brown-Bampoe and Josh Hodge form the back three for the Chiefs.

Bath vs Exeter Chiefs Odds

Bath are 12/5 to secure the victory and the bragging rights on Saturday, while the Chiefs are 1/3 to head back down the road to Exeter with the win.

A draw in this Premiership Rugby Cup clash at The Rec is available at odds of 16/1.

Exeter Chiefs -6 handicap @ 10/11

Judging by the team selection, it’s clear Bath and Exeter are approaching this game differently in preparation for the highly anticipated start of the Gallagher Premiership campaign.

Bath are using Saturday’s game as an opportunity to blood youngsters, while the majority of their first-team squad are playing on Friday night for what the club have called 'Bath United' in their pre-season friendly against Worcester Warriors.

Stars like Charlie Ewels, Ben Spencer, Cameron Redpath, Ollie Lawrence, Joe Cokanasiga and Henry Arundell are all featuring in that game against Worcester, leaving many academy players to face Exeter on Saturday.

The Chiefs, meanwhile, are using this game at The Rec as a chance to get minutes into first-team regulars, and it’s with that in mind that Exeter are backed to win and cover the handicap in this match.

With plenty of physical presence in the pack, they should give Italy scum-half Varney and fly-half Skinner the platform to put some dangerous outside backs into space.

England centre Slade can run riot in this game, while the Chiefs won’t be short of pace in the wide channels with the likes of John, Brown-Bampoe and Hodge.

This could well turn into a one-sided affair if the Chiefs hit the ground running and a comfortable away victory looks to be on the cards in this Premiership Rugby Cup encounter in the West Country.

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