Jonny Wilkinson will start Newcastle's pivotal EDF Energy Cup showdown with Wasps on Saturday.
At Adams Park, Saturday December 1, 3.00pm
Jonny Wilkinson will see his first action since the World Cup final when Newcastle take on Wasps in the EDF Energy Cup on Saturday.
The stand-off has been sidelined by an ankle injury since England's defeat to South Africa but will start Falcons' crucial game against their Guinness Premiership rivals.
And the team has been further boosted by the news that Toby Flood is also fit to return following an ankle injury of his own.
"We definitely have Jonny and Toby back fit for Saturday and both will start the game," said director of rugby John Fletcher.
"Both Toby and Jonny are fine. Jonny was very close for last weekend's Premiership game at Wasps after his ankle injury.
"Toby has fully recovered from his own ankle problem and the other injury to a delicate area which we won't mention!"
Ollie Phillips and Steve Jones drop out of the match day 22 with Jamie Noon switching to outside centre, while Mathew Tait reverts to full-back and Tom May moves to the right wing.
All Black Carl Hayman, who joined the club earlier in the week, has been named on the bench after training with the squad on Wednesday.
The changes in personnel a 35-12 Guinness Premiership reverse at Wasps last weekend.
Meanwhile, Wasps have named Danny Cipriani at ten, thereby setting up an enticing head-to-head with Wilkinson.
"It's a big challenge for Danny, playing against the incumbent England fly-half," said Wasps coach Shaun Edwards.
"Danny realises he has to be at his absolute best to compete at that level and be successful, both in attack and defence."
Cipriani, 20, said he was looking forward to the challenge of playing against one of his childhood.
"Jonny is obviously a legend of the game and someone I grew up admiring," he said.
"I worked with him in the England camp this summer, and it was a fantastic opportunity to learn from someone with his experience and skill.
"That was a great experience, but now I'm focused on Saturday and getting the result with Wasps.
"We will need an edge about us to take on a very good Falcons team and be successful, but I believe we have that edge and I'm really looking forward to the game."
Wasps have also confirmed that Phil Vickery will return to the fray for his first game of club rugby this season.
The England captain has been undergoing a period of rehab on a neck injury he suffered during the World Cup tournament, and Saturday will see him re-united with fellow international front-rowers Tom Payne and Raphaël Ibanez for the first time in eight months.
The powerful trio forms part of a formidable Wasps pack, where two more changes from last week see Simon Shaw and Lawrence Dallaglio back in the XV, but Tom Rees is left out after failing to recover sufficiently from a hand injury which forced him from the pitch during last weekend's game.
the backline remains unchanged for the fourth week in succession, and the clash between the clubs' respective flyers promises to produce some exciting attacking rugby.
"Saturday's game will be a big challenge for our back line again, as we will be up against one of the most positive sides in English rugby for the second time within a week," said Wasps boss Ian McGeechan.
"I thought one of the memorable aspects of last week's game between our two sides was the ability and willingness of both teams to play some rugby.
"We know this is going to be a very difficult game to win. Last week Newcastle proved what a positive force they are, so we are expecting a very competitive eighty minutes against them.
"It is good to see Phil Vickery back in the side this weekend. We have been very careful with his rehab and recovery since he returned from the World Cup, but we are happy that he is now fully fit a ready to go."
London Wasps: 15 Mark van Gisbergen, 14 Paul Sackey, 13 Fraser Waters, 12 Riki Flutey, 11 Tom Voyce, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Lawrence Dallaglio (c), 7 James Haskell, 6 John Hart, 5 George Skivington, 4 Simon Shaw, 3 Phil Vickery, 2 Raphaël Ibanez, 1 Tim Payne.
Replacements: 16 Joe Ward, 17 Nick Adams, 18 Richard Birkett, 19 Dan Leo, 20 Simon Amor, 21 Josh Lewsey, 22 Rob Webber.
Newcastle Falcons: 15 Mathew Tait, 14 Tom May, 13 Jamie Noon, 12 Toby Flood, 11 John Rudd, 10 Jonny Wilkinson, 9 James Grindal, 8 Phil Dowson (c), 7 Ben Woods, 6 Geoff Parling, 5 Mark Sorenson, 4 Andy Perry, 3 David Wilson, 2 Matt Thompson, 1 Jon Golding.
Replacements: 16 Andy Long, 17 Joe McDonnell, 18 Carl Hayman, 19 Sean Tomes, 20 Brent Wilson, 21 Lee Dickson, 22 Tim Visser.
