Newcastle Falcons name team to host Saracens

Newcastle Falcons name team to host Saracens

Newcastle Falcons have named their team for Friday night’s return to Gallagher Premiership action as they host Saracens in the ‘Big Night Oot’.

The Kingston Park clash is a 7.45pm kick-off – Newcastle making just one personnel change to the side which beat Sale Sharks 28-27 last Friday.

Freddie Lockwood (pictured) comes in at blind-side flanker having scored two tries in his last three games, with Philip van der Walt pushing into the second row for a Falcons side who have won four of their last five in all competitions.

Adam Radwan returns to the Newcastle bench, with replacement props Mike Rewcastle and Callum Hancock poised to make their Premiership debuts after playing in all three recent cup games. Returning Argentina lock Pedro Rubiolo misses out with a foot injury.

Director of rugby Steve Diamond said: “We’re coming into it on the back of a home win against a pretty strong Sale side, and it was one of our best performances of the season.


“We played for 80 minutes, we were two scores down with a few minutes to go but we kicked a penalty and created a try right at the end, which was great for the lads. We were patient, we executed well and it’s a performance that we can build on.

“We’re well aware that the Gallagher Premiership is another level up from the Prem Cup, and Saracens will be a tough nut to crack. But from where we were in the first few rounds of the season I feel like we’ve made steady progress, and we’ve won four from five now in all comps. For a team who hadn’t won a game in almost a year it’s a bit of a mentality shift around the building, but as I’ve said we’re not getting carried away because Saracens will be a massive test.


“They’ll likely be missing a couple of their internationals but they’re very well coached and they’ve got incredible strength in depth, so we’re going to have to be at our very best to challenge them. I just want it to be a competitive game where we’re within seven points going into the last 20 minutes, and if we can do that then we’ve got a real chance of winning up here.”

Asked about his side’s injury situation, Diamond said: “Every club has them, and I’m not one to complain because injury to one player means opportunity for another.

“In terms of who is currently out, Adam Brocklebank has had an operation on a bicep tear so will be out for another few weeks, John Kelly will be out long term with a serious knee injury unfortunately, Tim Cardall is out with his foot, Eduardo Bello is unlikely to play again this season after doing his ACL playing for Argentina in the summer, Cam Neild has a few more weeks after breaking his arm in pre-season and Pedro Rubiolo has picked up a foot injury which we’re assessing the extent of.

“There are a few more bumps and niggles, but we’ll see a couple of lads returning for the European game in Pau next weekend. Kieran Wilkinson should be involved over there after injuring his knee in pre-season, Ben Redshaw will be in the mix after having a bit of illness last week and we’re gradually starting to get a few back.

“Adam Radwan was due to start last week against Sale but pulled out with a bit of a hamstring niggle, and the two wingers played so well that night that I couldn’t really leave them out for the Saracens game. Ben Stevenson came in and took his chance, and to be fair to Radders he’s been really supportive. Like any player he obviously wants to start, but he hasn’t thrown his toys out and he’ll have his part to play from the bench.”

Assessing the mood among his squad after three home wins on the spin, the Falcons boss added: “The confidence around the place is good.

“It’s Friday night rugby at Kingston Park and the away teams will have to contend with the wind, sleet and rain after a long travel and a day kicking round their hotel. We can use all of these things to our advantage, and in the middle of a run of predominantly home games this is a big period of the season for us. We’ve shown in the previous few weeks that our game plan works, and the players are exhibiting that greater degree of belief because they’ve seen it in action.

“We’ve got a couple of young props making their Premiership debuts from the bench in Micky Rewcastle and Callum Hancock, and the only way to develop these guys is to give them exposure. I’ve been an exponent of this for years, and if you put one or two of them into your match-day 23 you can handle it.

“If you start putting six or seven in at once then it’s a different scenario, but I’ve always been an advocate of blooding your academy lads. It’s a bit ‘sink or swim’, but if you don’t put them in then you’ll never know. There’ll be things they need to learn, but this is how you do it, and it’ll be very exciting for them to get that Premiership opportunity.”

Newcastle Falcons v Saracens (Friday, 7.45pm, Kingston Park, live on Discovery+)

15 Ethan Grayson, 14 Ben Stevenson, 13 Sammy Arnold, 12 Cameron Hutchison, 11 Alex Hearle, 10 Brett Connon, 9 Sam Stuart; 1 Murray McCallum, 2 Jamie Blamire, 3 Richard Palframan, 4 Philip van der Walt, 5 Sebastian de Chaves, 6 Freddie Lockwood, 7 Tom Gordon, 8 Callum Chick (captain).

Replacements: 16 Ollie Fletcher, 17 Mike Rewcastle, 18 Callum Hancock, 19 Kiran McDonald, 20 Ollie Leatherbarrow, 21 Max Pepper, 22 Connor Doherty, 23 Adam Radwan.

Not available for selection: Eduardo Bello, Adam Brocklebank, Tim Cardall, Luan de Bruin, John Hawkins, John Kelly, Cameron Neild, Elliott Obatoyinbo, Pedro Rubiolo, Adam Scott.

Saracens: 15 Elliot Daly, 14 Tobias Elliott, 13 Alex Lozowski, 12 Nick Tompkins, 11 Rotimi Segun, 10 Fergus Burke, 9 Ivan van Zyl (captain); 1 Rhys Carre, 2 Theo Dan, 3 Fraser Balmain, 4 Theo McFarland, 5 Hugh Tizard, 6 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 7 Toby Knight, 8 Tom Willis.

Replacements: 16 James Hadfield, 17 Eroni Mawi, 18 Marco Riccioni, 19 Harry Wilson, 20 Nathan Michelow, 21 Gareth Simpson, 22 Sam Spink, 23 Tom Parton.

Referee: Matthew Carley.



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