CLUB captain Matt Corker has praised London Welsh’s team spirit, saying it would have been easy to succumb to negativity, writes JACK JOHNSON.

The Exiles were beaten 50-12 by London Irish seven days ago after conceding six tries in the first half.

It was the club’s 26th consecutive defeat in all competitions and Welsh travel to Exeter Chiefs today still in search of a first win.

Corker, who will start on the bench, says he is proud of the team’s attitude.

The 32-year-old added: “It has been challenging for everyone, it is so easy to go negative and into a bad place.

“The thing I am most proud of is we are still pulling in the same direction.”

The Exiles have made ten changes for today and have 21 players injured – Nick Scott, Carl Kirwan, James Lewis, Olly Barkley and Dean Schofield the latest to be ruled out.

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Nic Reynolds, Alan Awcock and Tristan Roberts come into the backs.

Nathan Trevett, Nathan Morris and Taione Vea make up the front row, while Ben West, James Down, Lachlan McCaffrey and Richard Thorpe return.

Thorpe will skipper the side and is confident Welsh have enough quality to win a match this season.

He said: “It is very frustrating but we have got it within us to produce a win. We do have good enough players.”

Former Exile Mitch Lees is named on the bench for Exeter.

TODAY’S TEAMS

Exeter Chiefs: Dollman, James, Whitten, Hill, Jess, Slade, Chudley, Rimmer, Yeandle, Francis, Mumm, Welch, Ewers, Armand, Waldrom. Reps: Cowan-Dickie, Sturgess, Brown, Lees, White, Lewis, Steenson, McGuigan.

London Welsh: Kear, Stegmann, Reynolds, Tincknell, Awcock, Roberts, Lewis, Trevett, Morris, Vea, West, Down, McCaffrey, Thorpe, Fonua. Reps: Elloway, Aholelei, Gilding, Corker, Hala’ufia, Davies, Robinson, May.