L Irish v Newcastle: Teams

Bates: Rung the changes

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Newcastle Falcons have made 12 changes to their team for Sunday's Guinness Premiership trip to London Irish.

Looking to consolidate their top-half-of-the-league position after successive wins over Bath and Worcester, director of rugby Steve Bates has recalled a host of his frontline players for the Madejski Stadium clash.

Club captain Carl Hayman, England Saxons prop Jon Golding and hooker Rob Vickers all return in the front row, with former Exile James Hudson in at lock against his old club.

Adam Balding packs down at number eight in a new-look back row, as Will Welch returns on the openside flank and Tim Swinson moves back from the second row to the blindside.

England Saxon Micky Young returns at scrum half as he picks up his half-back partnership with Junior All Black Jimmy Gopperth, while in the centres the power-packed partnership of Tane Tu'ipulotu and Rob Vickerman is re-united.

Attack

Charlie Amesbury is brought in on the left wing, while Alex Tait returns from injury at full-back in the only other change as the Falcons look to record their third consecutive Guinness Premiership victory.

Speaking ahead of the game, director of rugby Bates said: "Having climbed into the top half of the Guinness Premiership table, there is a huge determination within this group to really use that as a launch pad to attack the remainder of this season.

"We welcome back a number of players this week who have been rested from Cup action, and they have used that time to work on aspects of their personal preparation which they would not perhaps have the scope to do in a full match week.

"As a result the boys are really refreshed, desperate to get back into the action and it should be a cracking game down in Reading."

Expecting a tough test from the Exiles, Bates added: "We were well beaten down there last season, and that game served as a huge reality check for us as we won the subsequent six matches and really turned our campaign around.

"Even without some of their internationals or injured stars London Irish remain a very dangerous side, led by an outstanding coach in Toby Booth, and we know we will have to be absolutely on top of our game to put ourselves in with a chance of taking the points."

Momentum

Meanwhile, captain Bob Casey, who has been with the Ireland squad, returns to lead London Irish.

Casey captains a strong match squad that features ten international players. Also making a return to action are Elvis Seveali'i, Paulica Ion and Nick Kennedy. Ryan Lamb and Peter Richards start at half-back Kieran Roche retains his place at blindside flanker.

"We've won three out of three of our home matches in the Guinness Premiership so far this season and want to add to that on Sunday afternoon," said Toby Booth, London Irish Head Coach.

I've no doubt that Newcastle will be determined to stop us.

"The Falcons are much improved over recent seasons. They have built a strong squad that features fewer England qualified players which means they are able to maintain a quality team during international periods.

"Like ourselves, they also have a good player development programme that is producing quality talent such as scrum half Micky Young. He is turning out to be a classic, sniping half back that gives his team real momentum, a fact that we will have to be alert to on Sunday afternoon," added Booth.

Newcastle Falcons: 15 Alex Tait, 14 Danny Williams, 13 Rob Vickerman, 12 Tane Tu'ipulotu, 11 Charlie Amesbury, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Micky Young, 8 Adam Balding, 7 Will Welch, 6 Tim Swinson, 5 Mark Sorenson, 4 James Hudson, 3 Carl Hayman (capt), 2 Rob Vickers, 1 Jon Golding.
Replacements: 16 Alex Walker 17 Micky Ward, 18 Laurence Ovens, 19 Josh Afu, 20 Ed Williamson, 21 Hall Charlton, 22 Rob Miller, 23 Gcobani Bobo.

London Irish: 15 Jamie Lennard, 14 Peter Hewat, 13 Elvis Seveali'i, 12 Charlie Gower, 11 John Rudd, 10 Ryan Lamb, 9 Peter Richards, 8 Richard Thorpe 7 Steffon Armitage, 6 Kieran Roche, 5 Bob Casey (capt), 4 Nick Kennedy, 3 Paulica Ion, 2 Danie Coetzee, 1 Clarke Dermody.
Replacements: 16 David Paice, 17 Dan Murphy, 18 Alex Corbisiero, 19 Andy Perry, 20 Jonathon Fisher, 21 Marcus Watson, 22 Chris Malone, 23 Mike Catt.