Newcastle v Sale: Teams
New Falcons boss Gary Gold makes five changes for his first game in charge as Newcastle prepare to face Sale Sharks in the LV=Cup.
Last Updated: 27/01/12 4:20pm
New Falcons boss Gary Gold makes five changes for his first game in charge as Newcastle prepare to face Sale Sharks in the LV=Cup.
The former South Africa coach took charge of the Falcons in the New Year following the departure of Alan Tait and a cup clash with the Sharks is first on the bill for the new boss.
Corne Uys becomes the first of Gold's five changes as he returns to the side for the Sharks' visit to Kingston Park on Sunday.
The South African will start at outside centre on his comeback from a groin injury whilst Tonga international winger Suka Hufanga also returns.
Grant Shiells is set to at tight-head prop while Rob Vickers steps into the fray as replacement for Michael Mayhew at hooker.
Adrian Fondse also gets the nod for the first time since the Falcons played the Chiefs in the Aviva Premiership and Will Welch completes the changes as the academy product starts at openside flanker.
Test
Gold will also be boosted by the return of Jonny Golding who will be amongst his replacements after spending the season recovering from an Achilles injury.
The coach made the trip to the Matmut Stadium last weekend alongside his assistant Mike Ford to check out his new side and recognises the significance of victory in the LV=Cup clash.
"Sale will be a good test for the boys as we continue our preparations for the return of the Aviva Premiership," said Gold, a former South Africa assistant coach.
"It is important that we put in a good performance and get the victory as winning breeds confidence.
"You look at a number of key performance indicators and that gives you an idea of where the team are at in terms of those micro-details.
Improve
"You want to improve all of them, but if you focus on the most important ones straight away then theory is that the scoreboard will look after itself."
Meanwhile, Sale will hand a debut to Hendre Fourie at No.8 following the South African-born flanker's switch from Leeds to the Sharks last summer.
Sharks boss Tony Hanks believes his side are going to be tested by the Falcons as they look to impress their new boss.
"We're not expecting anything easy at Kingston Park. Falcons will all be wanting to impress their new coach Gary Gold and will probably have a very strong squad," he added.
"Those guys are playing for their careers and contracts regardless of the fact it's an LV= Cup game. Every time they go out they will be desperate to impress their new coach and that will be the case on Sunday.
"Kingston Park is a difficult place to go to. You never know what the atmosphere and the conditions there will be like so it will be tough."
Newcastle: 15 Jimmy Gopperth (c), 14 Ryan Shortland, 13 Corne Uys, 12 James Fitzpatrick, 11 Suka Hufanga, 10 Joel Hodgson, 9 Chris Pilgrim, 8 Mark Wilson, 7 Will Welch, 6 Ally Hogg,5 Adriaan Fondse, 4 Tim Swinson, 3 James Hall, 2 Rob Vickers, 1 Grant Shiells.
Replacements: 16 Michael Mayhew, 17 Jonny Golding, 18 Ashley Wells, 19 Richard Boyle, 20 Taiasina Tu'ifua, 21 Richard Mayhew, 22 Will Chudley, 23 Tom Bedford.
Sale: 15 Joaquin Tuculet, 14 Tom Brady, 13 Johnny Leota, 12 Nick MacLeod, 11 Charlie Amesbury, 10 Rob Miller, 9 Dwayne Peel (c), 8 Mark Easter, 7 Hendre Fourie, 6 Onasa'I Auva'a, 5 Wame Lewaravu, 4 Andrei Ostrikov, 3 Vadim Cobilas, 2 Joe Ward, 1 Lee Imiolek.
Replacements: 16 Tommy Taylor, 17 Ross Harrison, 18 Tony Buckley, 19 Richie Vernon, 20 David Seymour, 21 Scott Mathie, 22 Mark Jennings, 23 Luther Burrell.
