| Date: Saturday, 9 April Kick-off: 17:30 BST Venue: Sandy Park |
| Coverage:Live on BBC Radio Devon and online |
England trio Henry Slade (Sam Simmonds), Harry Williams and Harry Williams will face Munster at the Exeter Line-up in the first leg their Champions Cup last-16 tie.
Scotland forward Sam Skinner moves into the second row while Jannes Kirsten falls to the bench.
Munster is without fly-half Joey Carbery, (knee/leg), and captain Peter O’Mahony, (hamstring), although both are still in contention for the return leg.
After Wings Simon Zebo’s departure, Keith Earls and Keith Earls will return missing the defeat by Leinster.
Ben Healy, who was previously on the bench, takes over at fly-half. Jack O’Donoghue (left), John Hodnett (right) and Alex Kendellen (right) complete the back row.
The aggregate score over two legs will determine the progress to the quarter-finals for the first time. Munster hosts the return match at Thomond Park, 16 April.
For the tie’s final eight, the possible opposition is Ulster or the current champions Toulouse.
Exeter and Munster are fourth and fifth in the Premiership respectively. Both were previously winners of the Champions Cup.
Exeter won the title for the first-time in 2020, while Munster won it in 2006 and 2008.
What they have to say
Rob Baxter, Exeter director of rugby:We should all enjoy the first leg, and keep on the upward trajectory we have been building over the past few weeks.
When you play Irish sides, you can be sure you will be challenged in every area. This is one of their strengths.
The games between these two clubs have been close, with some down to goal-kicking. I don’t doubt that this could continue.
Munster senior coach Stephen Larkham:They have world-class players, and I believe they’ve found their game over the past month.
They are very dangerous, even though we have analysed the potential for them to be successful.
Match stats
- This season’s Champions Cup saw Exeter concede the most turnovers (52), while Munster has had more (29).
- Sam Simmonds from Exeter is the tournament’s top try scorer this season. He has crossed seven times so far.
Line-ups
Exeter: Hogg; Woodburn, Slade, Whitten, O’Flaherty; J Simmonds, S Maunder; Hepburn, Yeandle (c), Williams, Gray, S Skinner, Ewers, Vermeulen, S Simmonds
Replacements: Innard, Moon, Schickerling, Kirsten, Capstick, J Maunder, H Skinner, Hodge
Munster: Haley; Earls, Farrell, De Allende, Zebo; Healy, Murray; Loughman, Scannell, Archer; Kleyn, F Wycherley; O’Donoghue (c), Hodnett, Kendellen
Replacements: Barron, J Wycherley, Ryan, Jenkins, Ahern, Casey, Scannell, O’Sullivan