Five changes for the Falcons as they face Challenge in the cup
NEWCASTLE Falcons have named a power-packed line-up for tonight’s EPCR Challenge Cup opener at home to Worcester Warriors.
The 8.00 kick-off at Kingston Park sees the Falcons going with the same back line which started last weekend’s Gallagher Premiership trip to London Irish, director of rugby Dean Richards making five changes to his forward pack.
Will Welch returns to captain the side from the openside flank, Carl Fearns also coming into the back row.
Italian international Marco Fuser is in at second row, with Kyle Cooper and Mark Tampin rotated in as the two props.
Richards, whose side drew 24-24 at home to Worcester less than two weeks ago in league action, said: “We have a lot of boys carrying injuries or niggles and aside from that we are putting out the strongest team available.
“Playing Worcester around a fortnight ago is useful in many ways and gives us a good understanding of what they are about.
“If I was being blunt about it we were very disappointed with the performance that day, to score four tries and only pick up three points. We were not happy with conceding the three tries in the manner in which we did and then on top of that we conceded a shed-load of points at London Irish last weekend.”
Backing his squad to respond positively to those setbacks, the Falcons’ boss added: “There is a lot of stuff we have been working on to address those things. “The boys have been working really hard to get back on track.
“The squad has responded really well to last weekend and they are a positive group of boys who work incredibly hard for one another.
“They are very honest when it comes to their analysis and preparation.
“It is all done with the intention to become better players and to help the team to progress.”
Newcastle Falcons team v Worcester Warriors (tonight, 8.00, Kingston Park Stadium): 15 Mike Brown, 14 Tom Penny, 13 Max Wright, 12 Luther Burrell, 11 Adam Radwan, 10 Will Haydon-Wood, 9 Louis Schreuder; 1 Kyle Cooper, 2 George McGuigan, 3 Mark Tampin, 4 Marco Fuser, 5 Sean Robinson, 6 Callum Chick, 7 Will Welch (captain), 8 Carl Fearns. Replacements: 16 Robbie Smith, 17 Adam Brocklebank, 18 Logovi’i Mulipola, 19 Greg Peterson, 20 Gary Graham, 21 Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti, 22 Joel Hodgson, 23 Ollie Lindsay-Hague.
Playing Worcester a fortnight ago is useful - it gives us an understanding of what they are about Dean Richards