Newcastle Falcons are set to field World Cup stars Carl Hayman and Jonny Wilkinson in their EDF Energy Cup game against London Wasps.
Newcastle boosted by World Cup trio
Newcastle Falcons are set to welcome World Cup stars Carl Hayman and Jonny Wilkinson into their side for the first time this season in Saturday's EDF Energy Cup game against London Wasps.
All Blacks star Hayman has arrived from New Zealand to start a three-year contract while Wilkinson is poised to make his first Falcons appearance since the Guinness Premiership clash against Gloucester in April after overcoming an ankle problem.
Director of rugby John Fletcher could field another World Cup star in Toby Flood, who impressed as a late call-up to England's squad and is back from groin and ankle problems.
Hayman, arguably the world's best prop, arrived in Newcastle on Monday and Fletcher will assess his fitness during the week.
"Jonny and Toby should be involved, and should be back to their best by then," he told the
Newcastle Chronicle.
"We will have to see how Carl is but hopefully he will be involved as well."
Improvement
The star trio's involvement will be a big boost for the Falcons as they look to avenge last Sunday's 35-12 league defeat by Wasps.
Fletcher feels there is plenty of room for improvement and sees this weekend's clash as an ideal opportunity to put that defeat behind them.
"It is a great chance for us to put right straight away some of the things we were not happy with on Sunday," he said.
"We did a lot of good things, but this week we will be looking at the tackle area, the breakdown, and see where we can improve.
"We will need to provide ourselves with quicker ball to break them down more easily, and we will also have to make better decisions all round when we are on the ball.
"If we can do all that, on top of all the good things we did last week, then we will have more than a chance.
"Just like on Sunday, if we do not do all of those things, then we will be beaten."
