Balding beefs up Falcons for brutal Brive
Wed, 15 Oct 2008 09:28
Newcastle Falcons welcome back fit-again flank Adam Balding for Thursday's European Challenge Cup Round Two encounter with French club Brive.
Balding returns after the head injury sustained against Gloucester two weeks ago, and joins a Falcons team also seeing wing John Rudd included.
Rudd takes the place of Danny Williams on the wing, with Williams sidelined by an ankle injury picked up in last Saturday's emphatic 63-0 victory over Spanish champions Cetransa El Salvador.
Speaking ahead of the game, Newcastle Director of Rugby, Steve Bates, said: "We have travelled a day early to give ourselves the best possible preparation time for this game.
Newcastle and Brive have been drawn in the same pool for an incredible four seasons in a row, with Bates stating: "What it does mean is there should be no surprises for us.
"We know we will be in for a tough game against a determined side in a vocal atmosphere, but in terms of the hotel, the training facilities and the town itself these are all things we are very familiar with from our past travels here."
Newcastle Falcons: 15 Steve Jones, 14 Tim Visser, 13 Jamie Noon, 12 Tom May, 11 John Rudd, 10 Rory Clegg, 9 Hall Charlton, 8 Phil Dowson (captain), 7 Ed Williamson, 6 Adam Balding, 5 Mark Sorenson, 4 Andy Perry, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Andy Long, 1 Joe McDonnell.
Replacements: 16 Matt Thompson, 17 Micky Ward, 18 Tim Swinson, 19 Russell Winter, 20 James Grindal, 21 Ollie Phillips, 22 Tom Dillon.
Date: Thursday, October 16
Venue: Stadium Municipal, Brive
Kick-off: 20.45 (18.45 GMT)
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)
Touch judges: David Wilkinson (Ireland), Mark Hermin (Ireland)
TMO: Eanna O'Dowd (Ireland)
