Wasps v Exeter Chiefs: Champions Cup quarter-final preview
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 09/04/16 5:26pm
Thomas "The Tank" Waldrom will rumble into Coventry on Saturday for a return Ricoh Arena trip that could see him drive Exeter further towards their intended destination of a European Champions Cup final place.
The last time he stopped off in Wasps' territory, Waldrom scored three tries as Exeter's Champions Cup quarter-final opponents suffered their heaviest defeat of the season.
Whether history repeats itself is debatable but it is unlikely to be for the lack of trying given Waldrom's remarkable statistics.
After topping last year's Aviva Premiership try chart with 16 touchdowns, the 32-year-old leads the way this term after adding another 13 to his collection, making it 29 in 40 league appearances for Exeter.
We are proud to have come through such a tough pool to earn a home quarter-final, but we obviously don't want it to end here.
Dai Young
The majority of Waldrom's prolific points accumulating is done from close range at his fellow forwards' heels, yet he is so good at it that a player who tips the scales at almost 18 stone proves pretty much unstoppable.
"Physically, his shape does allow him to hold his feet," said Exeter head coach Rob Baxter.
"A taller, rangier guy could get lassoed and chopped down.
"Obviously, his physique does help but it takes some rugby-smart thinking as well to decide the right moment and when to go and know when support is around you.
"He doesn't just do the same thing every time. There is a bit of variety to what he does.
"He also plays with a group of lads who know what he's going to do, and so there is a bit of a synergy there now to helping him over the line.
"The lads don't think in any way that he is being greedy. They know he is good at it, and they help him do it."
Exeter enter uncharted territory on Saturday as the only one of five English quarter-final challengers making a top-flight European debut in the knockout phase, while Wasps are bidding for a first last-four appearance since 2007.
Australia international Lachie Turner lines up at full-back for the Chiefs in the absence of an injured Phil Dollman.
England flanker James Haskell captains Wasps, with a return among the replacements for scrum-half Joe Simpson, who has not played since suffering an ankle injury 11 weeks ago.
"It has been a real squad effort to reach the last eight and we are proud to have come through such a tough pool to earn a home quarter-final, but we obviously don't want it to end here," said Wasps director of rugby Dai Young.
"Everything now comes down to 80 minutes on Saturday. This is knockout rugby at the highest level that any player can compete at with their club."
Wasps: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Siale Piutau, 11 Frank Halai, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Dan Robson; 1 Matt Mullan, 2 Carlo Festuccia, 3 Jake Cooper-Woolley, 4 Joe Launchbury, 5 Kearnan Myall, 6 James Haskell (c), 7 George Smith, 8 Nathan Hughes.
Replacements: 16 Ashley Johnson, 17 Simon McIntyre, 18 Lorenzo Cittadini, 19 Bradley Davies, 20 Thomas Young, 21 Joe Simpson, 22 Ruaridh Jackson, 23 Rob Miller.
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Lachlan Turner, 14 Jack Nowell, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Ian Whitten, 11 Olly Woodburn, 10 Gareth Steenson (c), 9 Will Chudley; 1 Ben Moon, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3 Moray Low, 4 Mitch Lees, 5 Geoff Parling, 6 Don Armand, 7 Julian Salvi, 8 Thomas Waldrom.
Replacements: 16 Jack Yeandle, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Harry Williams, 19 Damian Welch, 20 Dave Ewers, 21 Dave Lewis, 22 Michele Campagnaro, 23 James Short.