Preview: Premiership, Round 11
Tank, as he is known to his friends, has scored 43 tries in 67 Chiefs appearances since making the move from the East Midlands to Devon, in 2014.
And even though the 33-year-old can't quite put his finger on what makes the Chiefs so appealing, Waldrom can't get enough of life in the west country.
"That Tigers chapter is closed and I'm loving the Exeter chapter at the moment. I'’s going way better than I could have ever expected," he said.
"The environment is enjoyable and some of the characters I meet down here are the strangest, but the best as well.
"This place has its own unique feel and quirky style, which makes the team.
"You have to embrace it, enjoy it and add your little bit. You don't want to sit back and just watch, you’ve got to go in there and add a bit of stuff, as well.
"I think the boys have definitely found a way of getting me into that banter, for the way I look, so it's nice."
Chiefs take on Tigers on the back of an impressive win in Bordeaux last weekend, and are on a three-game Premiership winning run.
Waldrom's side sit in fifth ahead of the festive fixtures, and the No.8 thinks his side have turned a corner after a rocky start to the season.
"It wasn't going to plan but we knew we weren't a million miles away," he added.
"We lost a few games by a score so were still picking up points, which was nice, but we had to make a step forward, and as a collective I think we did that well and have carried it on for a couple of months.
"Going away to France last week was nice, it wasn't our best performance but we dug in deep and got the performance we wanted.
"If that had happened in the first round of the Champions Cup we probably would have lost it. So we're turning those things around and have to just keep pushing on our game."
And the Kiwi said there will be no holding back against Tigers, for whom he made 78 appearances and scored 13 tries during his five-year stay at Welford Road.
"Exeter has been everything I wanted and more," he concluded. "I still owe a lot to Leicester for what I achieved there and I still hold a little bit in my heart for Leicester because of what I achieved there.
"I only could have achieved it with those players and coaches, so I definitely hold a little bit in the heart for them.
"It's one of those games where it won't take much for me to get up for it during the week, and it's one that I look forward to, you’re playing a few of your mates and you want to put in a good account of yourself against the opposition and go out and perform the best you can."
We take a look at all the Round 11 action!
Friday, December 23:
Northampton Saints v Sale Sharks
(Franklin's Gardens – Kick-off: 19.45; 19.45 GMT)
The last seven meetings between the two clubs in the Premiership have all been fairly comfortable home victories, with the only losing bonus point in that sequence grabbed by the Saints at Salford last November.
Sale have not won at Franklin's Gardens since May 2006.
Teams:
Northampton Saints: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Ken Pisi, 13 Luther Burrell, 12 JJ Hanrahan, 11 Juan Pablo Estelles, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Teimana Harrison, 6 Tom Wood (captain), 5 Christian Day, 4 Courtney Lawes, 3 Kieran Brookes, 2 Mikey Haywood, 1 Alex Waller.
Replacements: 16 Charlie Clare, 17 Ethan Waller, 18 Paul Hill, 19 Api Ratuniyarawa, 20 Jamie Gibson, 21 Tom Kessell, 22 James Wilson, 23 Nafi Tuitavake.
Sale Sharks: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Denny Solomona, 13 Sam James, 12 Johnny Leota, 11 Josh Charnley, 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 TJ Ioane, 7 Magnus Lund (captain), 6 Cameron Neild, 5 Andrei Ostrikov, 4 Bryn Evans, 3 Halani Aulika, 2 Rob Webber, 1 Ross Harrison.
Replacements: 16 Neil Briggs, 17 James Flynn, 18 Kieran Longbottom, 19 Josh Beaumont, 20 Jonathan Mills, 21 David Seymour, 22 James Mitchell, 23 Tom Arscott.
Referee: Gregory M Garner
Assistant referees: Ian Tempest Gareth Copsey
TMO: Rowan Kitt
Saturday, December 24:
Saracens v Newcastle Falcons
(Allianz Park – Kick-off: 13.30; 13.30 GMT)
Saracens slipped up at Bath in Round 10 of the Premiership but have not lost successive encounters in the tournament since May 2015. Sarries have won their last 13 home games in all competitions since Northampton beat them at Allianz Park in the Premiership on March 5.
Newcastle Falcons have won three of their last four contests in all tournaments whilst in the Premiership they are attempting to achieve a third successive victory for the first time since season 2009-10.
Saracens have won their last 15 fixtures against Newcastle in all tournaments since the Falcons 13-9 victory at Kingston Park in the Premiership in February 2009 whilst Newcastle's only win on Saracens soil since 2011 was at Vicarage Road in December 2007.
Teams:
Saracens: 15 Sean Maitland, 14 Nathan Earle, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Nick Tompkins, 11 Chris Wyles, 10 Owen Farrell (captain), 9 Ben Spencer, 8 Jackson Wray, 7 Michael Rhodes, 6 Maro Itoje, 5 George Kruis, 4 Will Skelton, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Jamie George, 1 Richard Barrington.
Replacements: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Titi Lamositele, 18 Juan Figallo, 19 Schalk Burger, 20 Joel Conlon, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 Alex Lozowski, 23 Chris Ashton.
Newcastle Falcons: 15 Alex Tait, 14 Marcus Watson, 13 Fred Burdon, 12 Juan Pablo Socino, 11 Vereniki Goneva, 10 Joel Hodgson, 9 Sonatane Takulua, 8 Ally Hogg, 7 Mark Wilson (captain), 6 Callum Chick, 5 Evan Olmstead, 4 Calum Green, 3 Jon Welsh, 2 Scott Lawson, 1 Rob Vickers.
Replacements: 16 Ben Sowrey, 17 Ben Harris, 18 Paddy Ryan, 19 Will Witty, 20 Opeti Fonua, 21 Sam Egerton, 22 Craig Willis, 23 Dominic Waldouck.
Referee: Matthew Carley
Assistant referees: Roger Baileff Andrew Jackson
TMO: David Sainsbury
Wasps v Bath
(Ricoh Arena – Kick-off: 14.00; 14.00 GMT)
Wasps have lost twice in the last five rounds of the Premiership: at Saracens on October 9 and at Gloucester on November 19. Wasps have won their last 17 matches at the Ricoh Arena since Saracens beat them there in the Premiership on December 27.
Bath only defeat in their last six Premiership Rugby encounters was by a single point to Harlequins at Twickenham Stoop in Round Nine. Bath have lost their last three away games in all competitions since beating Exeter at Sandy Park in Round Seven of the Premiership.
The two clubs met on four occasions last season with Bath's only victory being 25-23 at Ricoh Arena in the European Champions Cup on December 13.
Teams:
Wasps: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Jimmy Gopperth, 11 Frank Halai, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Joe Simpson, 8 Nathan Hughes, 7 Thomas Young, 6 Ashley Johnson, 5 James Gaskell, 4 Joe Launchbury (captain), 3 Marty Moore, 2 Tommy Taylor, 1 Matt Mullan.
Replacements: 16 Alex Rieder, 17 Tom Bristow, 18 Phil Swainston, 19 Kearnan Myall, 20 Guy Thompson, 21 Dan Robson, 22 Kyle Eastmond, 23 Rob Miller.
Bath: 15 Tom Homer, 14 Semesa Rokoduguni, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Aled Brew, 10 George Ford (co-captain), 9 Kahn Fotuali'i, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Matt Garvey (co-captain), 5 Dave Attwood, 4 Luke Charteris, 3 Max Lahiff, 2 Ross Batty, 1 Nathan Catt.
Replacements: 16 Tom Dunn, 17 Nick Auterac, 18 Kane Palma-Newport, 19 Elliott Stooke, 20 Tom Ellis, 21 Darren Allinson, 22 Adam Hastings, 23 Max Clark.
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
Assistant referees: Peter Allan Paul Burton
TMO: Graham Hughes
Exeter Chiefs v Leicester Tigers
(Sandy Park – Kick-off: 15.00; 15.00 GMT)
Exeter Chiefs only defeat in their last six first team matches was 7-13 to Bordeaux in Round Three of the European Champions Cup. The Chiefs five fixtures at Sandy Park in the Premiership this season have been evenly split, won two, drawn one, lost two.
Leicester Tigers only defeat in their last seven fixtures in all competitions was 0-38 at Munster in Round Three of the European Champions Cup. The Tigers have a won three, lost two record on the road in the Premiership this season. Leicester have lost just one of their last eight encounters with the Chiefs in the Premiership: 6-19 at Sandy Park in November 2015.
Teams:
Exeter: 15 Phil Dollman, 14 Jack Nowell, 13 Ollie Devoto, 12 Henry Slade, 11 Olly Woodburn, 10 Gareth Steenson (captain), 9 Will Chudley, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 Don Armand, 6 Dave Dennis, 5 Jonny Hill, 4 Mitch Lees, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Jack Yeandle, 1 Ben Moon.
Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Carl Rimmer, 18 Greg Holmes, 19 Ollie Atkins, 20 Kai Horstmann, 21 Jack Maunder, 22 Sam Hill, 23 James Short.
Leicester: 15 Freddie Burns, 14 Adam Thompstone, 13 Jack Roberts, 12 Manu Tuilagi, 11 Peter Betham, 10 Owen Williams, 9 Sam Harrison, 8 Luke Hamilton, 7 Brendon O'Connor, 6 Mike Williams, 5 Mike Fitzgerald, 4 Ed Slater (captain), 3 Pat Cilliers, 2 George McGuigan, 1 Ellis Genge.
Replacements: 16 Harry Thacker, 17 Logovi'i Mulipola, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Graham Kitchener, 20 Will Evans, 21 Jono Kitto, 22 George Worth, 23 Tom Brady.
Referee: Tom Foley
Assistant referees: Ross Campbell Phil Watters
TMO: David Rose
Monday, December 26:
Bristol v Worcester Warriors
(Ashton Gate – Kick-off: 15.00; 15.00 GMT)
Bristol beat Top 14 opponents Pau home and away in the European Challenge Cup but are still without a victory in the Premiership this season. Bristol have not won at Ashton Gate in the Premiership since beating Leicester there in April 2007.
Worcester Warriors only victory in their last six first team matches was 33-20 over Newport Gwent Dragons in Round Three of the European Challenge Cup. The Warriors have not won away from home in any competition since a trip to Harlequins in the Premiership in March.
The two clubs have already met this season with Warriors having the edge 31-25 at Sixways in the Anglo Welsh cup in early November. They have not clashed in the Premiership since Bristol's 37-18 victory at Memorial Stadium in March 2009. Worcester have twice before visited Ashton Gate, in the RFU Championship in season 2014/15, losing 19-23 in the opening round but winning the first leg of the final 29-28.
Teams:
Bristol: 15 Jason Woodward, 14 Jack Wallace, 13 Will Hurrell, 12 Tusi Pisi, 11 Tom Varndell, 10 Billy Searle, 9 Will Cliff, 8 Mitch Eadie, 7 Olly Robinson (captain), 6 Nick Fenton-Wells, 5 Ben Glynn, 4 Dan Tuohy, 3 Gaston Cortes, 2 Rob Hawkins, 1 Ryan Bevington.
Replacements: 16 Max Crumpton, 17 Kyle Traynor, 18 Jamal Ford-Robinson, 19 James Phillips, 20 Mark Sorenson, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Adrian Jarvis, 23 Thretton Palamo.
Worcester: 15 Chris Pennell, 14 Dean Hammond, 13 Ben Te’o, 12 Jackson Willison, 11 Cooper Vuna, 10 Jamie Shillcock, 9 Michael Dowsett, 8 Alafoti Faosiliva, 7 Sam Lewis, 6 Dewald Potgieter (captain), 5 Darren Barry, 4 Christian Scotland-Williamson, 3 Nick Schonert, 2 Jaba Bregvadze, 1 Val Rapava Ruskin.
Replacements: 16 Jack Singleton, 17 Na’ama Leleimalefaga, 18 James Johnston, 19 Will Spencer, 20 Phil Dowson, 21 George de Cothi, 22 Ryan Mills, 23 Josh Adams.
Referee: Wayne Barnes
Assistant referees: Jack Makepeace Paul Dix
TMO: David Grashoff
Tuesday, December 27:
Harlequins v Gloucester Rugby
(Twickenham Stadium – Kick-off: 16.00; 16.00 GMT)
All ten of Harlequins matches in the Premiership this season have been won by the home side on the day. Harlequins have lost just one of their last nine visits to Twickenham Stadium: 25-30 to Northampton in "Big Game 7" two years ago. Harlequins record in "Big Games" at Twickenham is an even won three, drawn two, lost three since the series began in 2008.
Gloucester have not won away from home in the Premiership since the trip to Sale Sharks in Round Three, whilst they are winless in their last six visits to Twickenham Stadium since they won the Powergen Cup there in April 2003, beating Northampton in the Final.
Gloucester were unbeaten against Harlequins last season having drawn the "Big Game" at Twickenham 39-all and then won 28-6 at Kingsholm in February. The two clubs have met on one other occasion at HQ for a league game, also ending in a draw nine-all in Division One in November 1987.
Teams:
Harlequins: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Marland Yarde, 13 Joe Marchant, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Ruaridh Jackson, 9 Danny Care (captain), 8 Jack Clifford, 7 Chris Robshaw, 6 James Chisholm, 5 Charlie Matthews, 4 George Merrick, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Rob Buchanan, 1 Joe Marler.
Replacements: 16 Dave Ward, 17 Owen Evans, 18 Will Collier, 19 Stan South, 20 Luke Wallace, 21 Karl Dickson, 22 Tim Swiel, 23 Alofa Alofa.
Gloucester: 15 James Hook, 14 Charlie Sharples, 13 Matt Scott, 12 Billy Twelvetrees, 11 Jonny May, 10 Billy Burns, 9 Greig Laidlaw (captain), 8 Ben Morgan, 7 Jacob Rowan, 6 Ross Moriarty, 5 Mariano Galarza, 4 Tom Savage, 3 Josh Hohneck, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Paddy McAllister.
Replacements: 16 Motu Matu’u, 17 Yann Thomas, 18 Salesi Ma’afu, 19 Jeremy Thrush, 20 Matt Kvesic, 21 Willi Heinz, 22 Andrew Symons, 23 Henry Purdy.
Referee: JP Doyle
Assistant referees: Simon McConnell Greg Macdonald
TMO: Stuart Terheege