Noon adds firepower to Falcons line
Thu, 04 Dec 2008 17:04
Newcastle Falcons welcome back England centre Jamie Noon for Saturday's European Challenge Cup trip to Italian side Overmach Cariparma.
Noon's return at outside centre sees Tom May push out to the wing, with a new half back pairing also installed as Hall Charlton and Rob Miller come in for James Grindal and Rory Clegg respectively.
In the pack there is a return for fit-again flank Adam Balding, with the summer signing back on the blindside after a knee injury - Ed Williamson himself missing out after picking up a knock in last Friday's match against London Wasps.
Elsewhere in the side Tim Swinson takes over from Geoff Parling in the second row, while Rob Vickers assumes hooking duties on the bench as a broken finger rules out Andy Long for the next month.
Coming up against a Parma side yet to lose in European competition, and positioned third in Italy's domestic competition, director of rugby Steve Bates said: "Parma are top of the group at the moment, so home-and-away wins over the next two outings against them would put us in the best position to continue through to the knock-out stages.
"They have already beaten Brive over there this season, and with Stuart Grimes having played in Italy last year we've done a good amount of research on them so we know what sort of test awaits us."
Asked what lies in wait, Bates said: "I'm expecting Parma to be fired up, they will look to put the ball in behind us and apply a bit of pressure at the back.
"They will be hoping that we are as indisciplined as we were last week so they can just kick their goals, but obviously we're aware of all these things and we'll be working to prevent them happening.
"The players are keen to build on some of the positive aspects from what has been a disappointing run of results, such as the defence we showed last week against Wasps, the set piece which has functioned well, and to make those things components of a winning performance.
"We have a very clear and simple game plan, but that has to be underpinned first by hard work in the forwards and much tighter discipline than we saw last weekend."
With a powerful midfield of Tane Tu'ipulotu and Jamie Noon combining for the first time, Bates said: "I thought Tane was really very influential in the game last Friday, and we saw a few touches of what he is capable of.
"He is settling down now and making much more of a verbal contribution in the team meetings and games, so I'm looking forward to seeing how he and Jamie link up on Saturday as a partnership. After a month away with England Jamie is absolutely raring to go, he wants to get straight back out there and I believe it is a midfield pairing capable of causing some problems."
With Rob Miller coming in for Rory Clegg at fly half, Bates explained: "Rory has done a great job, but we have to remember that he is only 18 and he needs some considerable looking after in terms of his workload.
"Had Rob been fit for more of this season then he and Rory would have shared the burden much more equally, and this week with England Under-20s being away in Portugal gives Rory the ideal chance to have a bit of a break and continue his development with guys his own age.
"The England age group stuff is important for Rory's career in the long term, and it would be unfair to ask him to play every single game for us. Fortunately we have another highly talented player in Rob Miller to slot in, and I'm looking forward to seeing what contribution he has to make."
Overmach Parma: 15 Giulio Rubini, 14 Riccardo Pavan, 13 Hayden Pedersen, 12 Paul Emerick, 11 Roberto Quartaroli, 10 Barry Irving, 9 José Pellicena, 8 Manoa Vosawai, 7 Liviu Pascu, 6 Francesco Minto, 5 Pelu Taele, 4 Alex Ainley, 3 Abraham Winter, 2 Davide Giazzon, 1 Alberto de Marchi,
Replacements: 16 German Fontana, 17 Massimiliano
Ravalle, 18 Juan Martin Soffredini, 19 Pablo Sciarretta, 20 Alessandro Chillon, 21 Gilberto Pavan, 22 Roberto Mariani.
Newcastle: 15 Steve Jones, 14 Danny Williams, 13 Jamie Noon, 12 Tane Tu'ipulotu, 11 Tom May
10 Rob Miller, 9 Hall Charlton, 8 Phil Dowson (captain), 7 Brent Wilson, 6 Adam Balding, 5 Mark Sorenson, 4 Tim Swinson, 3 David Wilson, 2 Matt Thompson, 1 Jon Golding
Replacements: 16 Rob Vickers, 17 Micky Ward, 18 Andy Perry, 19 Peter Browne, 20 John Rudd, 21 James Grindal, 22 Spencer Davey
Date: Saturday November 6
Venue: Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
Time: 13:30 (13:30 GMT)
Referee: Stefan Pomarède (France)
With thanks to www.newcastle-falcons.co.uk
