Kenningham returns as Harlequins make 4 changes for Exeter

Flanker Jack Kenningham is set to return for Harlequins after a seven-month absence due to injury. Harlequins have revealed their matchday squad for Saturday's Gallagher Premiership fixture against Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park and the back row is named on the bench.
Kenningham hasn't played for Quins since injuring himself against Bristol last October.
The English side are looking to bounce back after giving Toulouse a scare before bowing out of the Investec Champions Cup at the semi-final stage.
The squad includes four changes to the starting XV. Joe Marler and James Chisholm are back and are joined by Will Porter and Oscar Beard. Prop Fin Baxter will make his 50th appearance for Harlequins.
In the front row, Joe Marler and Will Collier will pack down with hooker Jack Walker. Irne Herbst and Stephan Lewies continue their second-row partnership. Chandler Cunningham South and James Chisholm are on the flanks, and Alex Dombrandt retains the No.8 jersey.
Will Porter and Marcus Smith form the half-back pairing, with Luke Northmore stepping in for the injured Andre Esterhuizen at inside centre. Oscar Beard will line up outside him at 13. Cadan Murley and Louis Lynagh stay on the wings, and Tyrone Green takes up the fullback position.
The replacements include a 6-2 split: Fin Baxter, Sam Riley, and Dillon Lewis are in the front row with George Hammond in the second row and Kenningham and Will Evans in the back row.
Danny Care and Jarrod Evans will provide cover for the backs.
Director of Rugby Billy Millard commented: "It was a good result against Exeter. The boys worked hard and I thought we showed signs of consistency in our performance. This week is a different challenge, Bristol have started the season in good form and present another exciting matchup."
HARLEQUINS: 1. Fin Baxter 2. Sam Riley 3. Will Collier 4. Joe Launchbury 5. George Hammond 6. Jack Kenningham 7. Will Evans 8. Alex Dombrandt (Captain) 9. Will Porter 10. Jarrod Evans 11. Louis Lynagh 12. Lennox Anyanwu 13. Oscar Beard 14. Tyrone Green 15. Nick David
REPLACEMENTS: 16. Nathan Jibulu 17. Jordan Els 18. Simon Kerrod 19. Dino Lamb 20. James Chisholm 21. Max Green 22. Will Edwards 23. Bryn Bradley
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We’re behind on player development in NZ. We still think we know it all and therefore still have amateur age systems in place we call professional because the people in it are paid.
Players like Prendergast and Finn Smith already have a few seasons at top club level under their belt and are now test players, at an age when NZ players make their debuts in SR. 21 is young now. Dan Carter was an AB at that age. Jacomb is 23 already. Never mind France, where talented young players are loaned out to clubs in lower leagues where they play men instead of boys. The ProD2 toughens you up pretty quickly. It’s where real talent goes that is too good for the espoirs (U21).
Our development is all over the place. Club, school, then back to the club, NPC, SR, ABs. Leinster is a good example. They decide how schools play, who plays and in what position. Schools play the ‘Leinster way'. French clubs have academies where kids enter as young as 12. They have clear pathways on their player development. What position(s) they play etc. Our schools are only interested in themselves.
SR clubs need the same control over schools in their catchment area as Leinster has. That would be a start.
Go to commentsI’d love to know the odds on a Western Force/ Highlanders final?
If Barrett and Ioane keep this lacklustre form up, they should not make the ABs squad. Getting outplayed by a whole team of young and inexperienced players should not win you any favours.
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