Changes aplenty for busy Falcons
Fri, 02 May 2008 15:03
Newcastle Falcons have named no less than six changes to their team for Sunday's Guinness Premiership visit of Leicester Tigers to Kingston Park.
In the first of two home games in the space of four days, acting Director of Rugby Steve Bates named the changes from the side which faced Worcester Warriors last Friday, according to a Falcons media release.
In the front row Jon Golding gets a start at loosehead with Andy Long in at hooker, while a shoulder injury for Mark Sorenson sees Andy Buist move up to the second row as Geoff Parling comes on to the blindside flank.
Fit-again Ben Woods returns on the openside after recent hand trouble, while in the backs injury to England centres Toby Flood and Jamie Noon sees Tim Visser and Tom Dillon included in the starting XV.
On the bench there could be a first Kingston Park appearance for back row forward Ross Beattie in his second spell at the club, while
scrumhalf Hall Charlton returns to the 22 after recovering from a stomach injury.
Newcastle Falcons: 15 Mathew Tait, 14 Tom May, 13 Tom Dillon, 12 Tim Visser, 11 John Rudd, 10 Jonny Wilkinson, 9 James Grindal, 8 Phil Dowson (captain), 7 Ben Woods, 6 Geoff Parling, 5 Andy Buist, 4 Andy Perry, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Andy Long, 1 Jon Golding.
Replacements: 16 Rob Vickers, 17 David Wilson, 18 Ross Beattie, 19 Russell Winter, 20 Ed Williamson, 21 Hall Charlton, 22 Ollie Phillips.
Date: Sunday, May 4
Venue: Kingston Park
Kick-off: 15.00 (14.00 GMT)
Referee: Andrew Small
Touch judges: Don Helme, Mike Buck
Assessor: Colin High
Television match official: Trevor Parlett
