Rugby
Falcons Changes
14 November 2007
Newcastle Falcons have made seven changes to their team for Thursday’s European Challenge Cup clash against French side CA Brive Correze at Kingston Park (kick-off 7.45pm).
All Black prop Joe McDonnell returns to captain the side, as the Falcons revert to the same pack which drew 18-18 Gloucester three weeks ago and defeated Newport Gwent Dragons 29-24 the week after.
McDonnell joins a new-look front row from last weekend’s 71-10 opening pool victory at Spanish champions Cetransa El Salvador, taking the place of Jon Golding while Matt Thompson and David Wilson slot in for Andy Long and Micky Ward respectively.
In the back row Geoff Parling comes in at blindside flanker as Brent Wilson moves round to seven in place of Ben Woods, while South African Russell Winter is back for Phil Dowson at the base of the scrum.
There are just two changes in the backs as Tom May reverts to fullback in place of last weekend’s hat-trick hero Alex Tait and John Rudd replaces Tim Visser on the left wing with the Falcons looking to extend their lead at the top of Pool C against fellow opening round victors, Brive.
Despite naming England centre Jamie Noon in his team for the game, director of rugby John Fletcher revealed that his selection will only be confirmed after undergoing cognitive testing on Wednesday.
“When you suffer a concussion, even a mild one, you have to undergo what they call a cog test, and after his bang to the head in Spain on Saturday Jamie will do this on Wednesday to see if he is able to play the following day,” said Fletcher.
“We have every confidence that he will be okay, and he’s mad keen to get back out there after leaving the field early last weekend.”
Having been afforded the luxury of resting a number of players for the trip to Spain, he stated: “We didn’t get back to the early hours of Monday morning, so we’ve had a very short turnaround for a Thursday game.
“The way we’ve rotated some key positions means that the players generally have a full tank of energy, but psychologically we need to be right up to the mark. We’ve been reasonably fortunate that we’ve been able to give a few guys last weekend off, and the short time between games means they come in to this next match nice and fresh.
“The added bonus is that it gave guys like Phil Dowson and Ben Woods time to come back from their injuries and get out on to the pitch over in Spain. The players in the pack for the Gloucester and Newport games did a fantastic job, and we are going to stick with them for Thursday, but what we now have is the situation where guys like Dows and Woodsy can come on from the bench.”
With Dowson currently club captain despite only being named as a replacement, Fletcher explained his thinking by saying: “I thought Dows did well over in Spain, but then I also have to be fair to Russell Winter, Geoff Parling and Brent Wilson, all of whom have been outstanding in the last few weeks.
“I’m not too emotional about things like who the club captain is, or who has been at the club the longest when I pick the side. My job is just to select what I believe is the best team to win the next game. It’s as uncomplicated as that.
“You have to reward the guys who have been playing well and manage the selection for the good of the team. Dows will have his part to play, and if he continues to progress well then there is every opportunity for him to force his way back in to the starting XV with the competition for places we now have at the club. What I will say is that I’d be happy for any of them to play, they are all quality back rowers and it bodes well for us that we now have such depth in that area.
“In lots of positions we are very strong, scrum half is a classic example with three very good players who I would be happy to have in my team, but in one or two areas we are maybe a bit light and are looking to rectify that.
“We can do that either internally through our academy or through recruiting players from outside. You need at least two top quality players in each position. If you have that then you have a chance, and if you don’t then every time there is an injury or an international call-up you find yourself compromised.”
Two players who will not feature this weekend are England pair Jonny Wilkinson (ankle) and Toby Flood (scrotum), with Fletcher stating: “Jonny’s ankle is just a trauma injury from the World Cup, and all you can do really is give it time to settle down and heal itself.
“We’re managing that on a daily basis and monitoring his progress. It’s a case of days rather than weeks now, but this game on Thursday unfortunately is just a little bit too soon for him. If he was a forward you could perhaps get away with playing with limited movement, but with the amount of kicking Jonny does it just has to be 100 per cent right.
“Toby meanwhile has been in a lot of discomfort, as any man will tell you having been hit in the Crown Jewels!
“It was actually Mathew Tait’s head that inflicted the killer blow in the Newport game apparently, but there’s nothing fishy going on, it was just an accidental collision!
“The hope at this stage is that Toby will be fine for next weekend at Wasps. He’s doing a small amount of rehab at the moment, medically he should be okay to start training next week and from there it’s just a case of how much pain he can manage. Any bloke knows it’s a fairly sensitive area down there, so I’m sure they can appreciate the situation!”
Having resisted the urge to select hat-trick hero Alex Tait in the starting XV this Thursday after his man-of-the-match showing in Valladolid last weekend, Fletcher said: “What we shouldn’t do with Alex is go over the top.
“Let’s keep things in perspective, he played well on Saturday but the quality of the opposition was nowhere near what it will be against Brive. Two of his three tries were basically flops over the line on the end of a move, and he also did a few things which weren’t so hot. Let’s not get carried away, he is a young kid who is just starting his development as a player at this level.
“But saying that I thought he played well, and he is just progressing at his own pace. He is a talented player who definitely has a future in the Premiership. Whether he then takes it on to the next level it’s far too early to tell, but what is certain is that he has huge potential. What he needs to be in is a good environment with good people, and that’s what he has here at Newcastle.
“You can’t press the fast forward button with these kids, they’re not machines. Two important factors for any developing player are experience and physical maturity, both of which only come with time. He is a different player to Mat, and I don’t think it’s fair to compare the two, so just let him keep making progress without rushing things.”
Turning attention to Thursday’s opponents, Brive, Fletcher stated: “We’ve played them four times in the last two years, so we both know a lot about each other and we’re expecting a tough game.
“They will be abrasive and aggressive upfront, but they also have a lot behind the scrum so it will be a good test right across the field.”
One notable selection for the French club could be that of former England hooker Steve Thompson after his remarkable comeback from injury-enforced retirement, with Fletcher stating: “Our understanding is that he will be in the squad.
“All I know of the situation is basically what I’ve read in the papers, but as with any player we just wish him well in doing what he does best – playing rugby.
“He is a World Cup winner, a top quality player and someone who has caused us problems in the past. I’m not sure what stage of his comeback he is in fitness-wise, whether he is playing hooker or lock like last weekend, so we’ll just have to wait and see what sort of a side they name for the match.”
Tickets for Thursday’s game are still available by calling 0871 226 60 60, by clicking here or by visiting Kingston Park during office hours and on match day.
Newcastle Falcons team to face CA Brive Correze:
15 Tom May
14 Ollie Phillips
13 Mathew Tait
12 Jamie Noon
11 John Rudd
10 Steve Jones
9 James Grindal
1 Joe McDonnell (captain)
2 Matt Thompson
3 David Wilson
4 Andy Perry
5 Mark Sorenson
6 Geoff Parling
7 Brent Wilson
8 Russell Winter
Replacements:
16 Andy Long
17 Jon Golding
18 Phil Dowson
19 Ben Woods
20 Lee Dickson
21 Tim Visser
22 Alex Tait
Not considered due to injury: Andy Buist (shoulder), Matthew Burke (knee), Ross Beattie (shoulder), James Hoyle (hip), Jonny Wilkinson (ankle), Toby Flood (groin), Adam Dehaty (knee).
» top | more articles | 
| 
| shown 120 times
