Newcastle v Harlequins: Teams
Newcastle boss Steve Bates will give players who have "points to prove" the chance to shine in the LV= Cup clash against Harlequins.
Last Updated: 13/11/09 1:38pm
Newcastle director of rugby Steve Bates will give players who have "points to prove" the chance to shine in the LV= Cup clash against Harlequins.
Bates makes five changes in total, with Tom Biggs, Spencer Davey, Josh Afu, Ed Williamson and Tim Swinson coming into the starting XV.
And Bates admits it is now up to the squad to take their opportunities.
"We have to be very careful in terms of how we take this competition, and our approach is to say that it gives us an opportunity to allow game time to some guys who perhaps have points to prove," said Bates.
"The make-up of our squad is such that we can't afford to say here is our main XV, and it's going to play in every game.
"We need to be fair to the guys backing that up in giving them opportunities to prove themselves, and it's a great chance for them to do that."
Harlequins will hand debuts to their new signings for the trip north.
Scrum-half Karl Dickson and hooker Matt Cairns are both named in the starting XV for the clash, with academy trio Chris York, Sam Smith and Ross Chisholm also looking to impress.
Fellow academy players Joe Marler, Charlie Matthews, Luke Wallace and Ollie Lindsay-Hague are set to make their debuts off the bench
Newcastle: 15 Tom Catterick, 14 Danny Williams, 13 Gcobani Bobo, 12 Spencer Davey, 11 Tom Biggs, 10 Rob Miller, 9 Hall Charlton (c), 8 Josh Afu, 7 Mark Wilson, 6 Ed Williamson, 5 Mark Sorenson, 4 Tim Swinson, 3 Micky Ward, 2 Alex Walker, 1 Laurence Ovens.
Replacements: 16 Rob Vickers, 17 Kieran Brookes, 18 Grant Shiells, 19 Peter Browne, 20 Will Welch, 21 Chris Pilgrim,22 Michael Tait, 23 Charlie Amesbury.
Harlequins: 15 Ross Chisholm, 14 Josh Drauniniu, 13 George Lowe, 12 Tosh Masson, 11 Sam Smith, 10 Rory Clegg, 9 Karl Dickson, 8 Tom Guest, 7 Neil McMillan, 6 Chris York, 5 George Robson (c), 4 Lewis Stevenson, 3 Mark Lambert, 2 Matt Cairns, 1 Aston Croall.
Replacements: 16 Chris Brooker, 17 Joe Marler, 18 James Johnston, 19 Charlie Matthews, 20 Luke Wallace, 21 Gareth Williams, 22 Waisea Luveniyali, 23 Ollie Lindsay-Hague.
