Cordero Starts Anglo-Welsh Cup Semi Final

Santiago Cordero is to start the Anglo-Welsh Cup Semi Final, wearing the colors of the Exeter Chiefs on Sunday. The reigning Aviva Premiership champions play host to the Newcastle Falcons on Sunday in what is the second Semi Final.

The winner of the Exeter vs Newcastle match will play either Bath or the Northampton Saints in the 2018 Anglo-Welsh Cup Final.

The Exeter Chiefs and Newcastle Falcons are among the top performers in this season’s Aviva Premiership. Both are currently well-placed to appear in the Semi Finals. It would be an unlikely accomplishment for either club to be able to claim two titles in the one season but it remains entirely possible at present.

Santiago Cordero starts the Semi Final for Exeter from fullback. The position is his natural one but his professional and international career has seen him playing predominantly on the wing. At RWC 2015 he was arguably among the best wings in the tournament and was certainly among Argentina’s leading figures.

Playing for the Newcastle Falcons in the Semi Final will be Santiago Socino. The uncapped Argentine flanker turned hooker will wear the 16 shirt on Sunday. His brother, Juan Pablo Socino, was a teammate of Cordero’s at RWC 2015.

Earlier this week Juan Pablo Socino signed a contract with Scottish capital side Edinburgh. The inside center’s departure from the Newcastle Falcons is expected to be followed by others. Canadian flier DTH van der Merwe is set to return to the Glasgow Warriors, Scotland’s other professional side.

EXETER CHIEFS
15 Santiago Cordero, 14 Tom O’Flaherty, 13 Ian Whitten, 12 Ollie Devoto, 11 James Short, 10 Joe Simmonds, 9 Stu Townsend, 8 Matt Kvesic, 7 Julian Salvi, 6 Dave Dennis (capt.), 5 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 4 Mitch Lees, 3 Greg Holmes, 2 Jack Innard, 1 Moray Low

Replacements: 16 Paul Davis 17 James Kenny 18 Jack Owlett 19 Toby Salmon 20 Kai Horstmann 21 Will Chudley 22 Sam Morley 23 Tom Hendrickson

NEWCASTLE FALCONS
15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Vereniki Goneva, 13 Maxime Mermoz, 12 Josh Matavesi, 11 Sinoti Sinoti, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Sonatane Takulua, 8 Nili Latu, 7 Will Welch (capt.), 6 Ally Hogg, 5 Sean Robinson, 4 Will Witty, 3 Jon Welsh, 2 Kyle Cooper, 1 Sam Lockwood

Replacements: 16 Santiago Socino, 17 Rob Vickers, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Calum Green, 20 Ryan Burrows, 21 Michael Young, 22 Joel Hodgson, 23 Chris Harris