Newcastle v Lyon: Teams
Alan Tait has made seven changes for Newcastle Falcons' Amlin Challenge Cup opener at home to Lyon on Saturday.
Last Updated: 11/11/11 5:30pm
Alan Tait has made seven changes for Newcastle Falcons' Amlin Challenge Cup opener at home to Lyon on Saturday.
The Falcons head coach has opted to give Jimmy Gopperth a rest, with Jeremy Manning slotting in at fly-half, while fellow Kiwi Ryan Shortland returns to the wing with Luke Eves getting the nod at inside centre.
Ashley Wells and Michael Mayhew start in the front row with Scotland international Euan Murray, Tim Swinson comes into the second row while Redford Pennycook starts at openside flanker.
Former South Africa scrum-half Ricky Januarie is named among the replacements for Lyon, and Tait is expecting a tough test.
"They are a typical French side who like to utilise a lot of high kicks which can make things difficult," said Tait.
"We are just concentrating on ourselves and there will be changes again for the trip to Italy (against Petrarca Padova) the following week."
Newcastle Falcons: Tait, Shortland, Uys, Eves, Sheriffe, Manning, Pasqualin; Wells, Mayhew, Murray, Hudson, Swinson, Welch, Pennycook, Wilson.
Replacements: Graham, Shiells, Hall, Townson, Hogg, Chudley, Goosen, Fitzpatrick.
Lyon: Tomamichel, Bailey, Fatafehi, Sukanaveita, Ratuvou, Tranier, Veniat; Petit, Bonrepaux, Roux, Short, Dorier, Leguizamon, Sousa, Bontinck.
Replacements: Testa, Facundo, Guillamon, Marchois, Nzi, Januarie, Lespinas, Loursac.