Premiership
Team news: Falcons name side for Doncaster
Nathan Earle starts on the left wing
Friday 2 September 2022
Newcastle Falcons have named their side for Friday’s pre-season friendly at Doncaster Knights, naming an all-English-qualified back line for the 7.45pm kick-off at Castle Park.
Nathan Earle and Adam Radwan form the wing partnership with Iwan Stephens at full-back, Ben Stevenson partnering Pete Lucock in the centres as the Falcons play their second and final pre-season game before their Gallagher Premiership opener at home to Harlequins on Saturday September 10.
Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti starts after scoring one of four Newcastle tries in last Friday’s 42-28 defeat away to Premiership champions Leicester Tigers, with a hand injury ruling out fellow scrum-half Michael Young.
Will Welch captains the team from blind-side flanker, academy product Marcus Tiffen starting at open-side with Carl Fearns at No.8.
Fly-half Tian Schoeman is set for his Falcons debut after being named as part of an 11-man bench, with the South African having arrived from Bath during the summer. Josh Thomas is also included among the replacements after kicking two touchline conversions at Leicester as well as creating a try for Iwan Stephens during an impressive debut.
Lock-forward Josh Peters returns to his former club having joined Newcastle from Doncaster in the off-season, while flanker Gary Graham (knee) and scrum-half Michael Young (broken hand) are added to the club’s injury list
Head coach Dave Walder said ahead of the Castle Park clash: “We’ve tried to get the blend right to give us the best preparation for Harlequins next weekend.
“We’ve gone with a smaller squad compared with last week, partly because we’re getting closer to that Premiership start line and partly due to picking up a couple more injuries.
“It’s always a balance between trying to give game time to as many guys as possible and getting your team prepared for the first league game, but it’s a good side that we’ve gone with. We want a more consistent performance than we showed last Friday at Leicester, and there are a few things we’ve been working on which I’m looking forward to seeing.”
The Falcons boss added: “It’s entirely about us this week rather than focusing too much on the opposition.
“Doncaster had what they will feel was a disappointing result last weekend at home to Wasps, but we haven’t looked too much into that. It’s just about what we can do to be in the best possible shape for next weekend at home to Harlequins.
“Doncaster had a good season in the Championship so we’re expecting a tough test at their place, and we’re all looking forward to it. They’ve got a nice pitch and a good set-up, and with the relative proximity between the two clubs hopefully we’ll take a few supporters down to create a good atmosphere.”
Friday’s game is not being live-streamed but the Falcons will have Twitter updates during play, plus a report and reaction on the club website after the final whistle.
Newcastle Falcons team v Doncaster Knights (Friday, 7.45pm, Castle Park)
15 Iwan Stephens, 14 Adam Radwan, 13 Ben Stevenson, 12 Pete Lucock, 11 Nathan Earle, 10 Brett Connon, 9 Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti; 1 Phil Brantingham, 2 George McGuigan, 3 Trevor Davison, 4 Greg Peterson, 5 Matthew Dalton, 6 Will Welch (captain), 7 Marcus Tiffen, 8 Carl Fearns.
Replacements: 16 Charlie Maddison, 17 Logovi’i Mulipola, 18 Mark Tampin, 19 Josh Peters, 20 Jamie Blamire, 21 Josh Barton, 22 Tian Schoeman, 23 Ewan Greenlaw, [BLANK SHIRTS] Tom Marshall, Josh Thomas.
Not available for selection: Adam Brocklebank, Mateo Carreras, Callum Chick, Jeremy Civil, Connor Collett, Matt Deehan, Ben Douglas, Gary Graham, Nathan Greenwood, Louie Johnson, Matias Moroni, Chidera Obonna, Matias Orlando, Tom Penny, Guy Pepper, Vereimi Qorowale, Sean Robinson, Charlie Smith, Sam Stuart, Alex Tait, Philip van der Walt, George Wacokecoke, Michael Young.
Doncaster Knights: 15 Harry Davey, 14 George Simpson, 13 Joe Margetts, 12 Connor Edwards, 11 Maliq Holden, 10 Sam Olver, 9 Alex Dolly; 1 Conor Davidson, 2 George Roberts, 3 Andrew Foster, 4 John Kelly, 5 Ben Murphy, 6 Sam Hudson, 7 Jared Cardew, 8 Thom Smith.
Replacements: 16 George Edgson, 17 Maurice Nwakor, 18 Mak Wilson, 19 Ehize Ehizode, 20 Sam Daly, 21 Joe Green, 22 Fraser Strachan, 23 Robbie Smith, Karl Garside, Will Yarnell, Will Holling, Jack Spittle, Alec Lloyd-Seed.
Referee: Hamish Smales.
Source – Newcastle Falcons Rugby
Sale Sharks can confirm that fly-half George Ford suffered a tear to his right quad during the early stages of the Gallagher Premiership round two game at Saracens on Saturday. Following a positive consultation with a specialist it was decided that George does not require surgery and he will now begin his rehab ahead of a busy period for club and country.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
Alex Sanderson has made six changes to his starting XV to face Gloucester Rugby in the first game of the season under the Salford Stadium Friday night lights, while summer signing Le Roux Roets appears in a matchday squad for the first time (Discovery+, 7.45pm KO).
Josh Beaumont, Ernst van Rhyn and Rouban Birch come into the pack following the round two defeat at Saracens, while Sam Bedlow, Will Addison and Arron Reed are picked in the backs to face George Skivington’s men.
In total, 12 of the XV and 19 in the matchday 23 have come through or spent time in the Sharks Academy.
The Sharks front-row remains intact from the trip to the StoneX as England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie lines up once again between 20-year-old Asher Opoku-Fordjour and loosehead Si McIntyre.
Al has picked a towering second-row as Ben Bamber teams up with Josh Beaumont.
With Ben and Tom Curry as well as JL du Preez all missing as they undergo their return to play protocols following head injuries, Ernst van Rhyn returns alongside fellow flanker Sam Dugdale and Birch at number 8.
Gus Warr starts again at scrum-half but with George Ford injured (quad) he’ll have skipper Rob du Preez for company at half-back. After coming on as a replacement against Saracens, Bedlow starts alongside Addison, who makes his first start since re-joining the club in the summer.
Speedster Arron Reed makes his first appearance of the season alongside Tom Roebuck and full-back Joe Carpenter.
Hooker Ethan Caine, and props Tumy Onasanya and James Harper cover the front row from the replacements bench with England U20s lock Tom Burrow and summer signing Le Roux Roets covering the rest of the forwards. Nye Thomas, Tom Curtis and Waisea Nayacalevu cover the backs.
Sale Sharks starting XV:
15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Will Addison, 12. Sam Bedlow, 11. Arron Reed, 10. Rob du Preez, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Si McIntyre, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4. Ben Bamber, 5. Josh Beaumont 6. Ernst van Rhyn, 7. Sam Dugdale, 8. Rouban Birch.
Replacements:
16. Ethan Caine, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. James Harper, 19. Tom Burrow, 20. Le Roux Roets, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Tom Curtis, 23. Waisea Nayacalevu.
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Injuries have forced Alex Sanderson to make three changes to his starting XV to face Saracens at the StoneX on Saturday (3.05pm KO, Saturday 28th September, live on TNT Sports).
Si McIntyre replaces last week’s Player of the Match Bevan Rodd (hamstring), while Ben Bamber and Sam Dugdale come in for Ernst van Rhyn and Tom Curry who are both undergoing their return to play protocols after leaving the field during the round one win over Harlequins.
With Sam Bedlow returning to the bench to make a 5-3 split, the matchday squad features 16 players who have come through or been involved with the Sale Sharks Academy.
In the front-row, England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie lines up between 20-year-old Asher Opoku-Fordjour and returning loosehead McIntyre.
Al has picked a towering second-row as Bamber teams up with Hyron Andrews.
Openside flanker Ben Curry captains the side again and he and Dugdale will pack down either side of Jean-Luc du Preez at number 8.
The backs are unchanged from the narrow win over Quins, with Gus Warr starting again at scrum-half alongside fly-half George Ford, and Rob du Preez and Waisea Nayacalevu outside them in the centres.
Alex has picked a familiar back three once again with Tom O’Flaherty, Tom Roebuck and full-back Joe Carpenter hoping to provide the spark.
The replacements bench is an exclusively Sharks Academy affair with hooker Ethan Caine, and props Tumy Onasanya and James Harper covering the front row. Josh Beaumont and Rouban Birch make up the rest of the forwards, while Nye Thomas, Bedlow and Will Addison cover the backs.
Sale Sharks Starting lineup:
15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Waisea Nayacalevu, 12. Rob du Preez, 11. Tom O’Flaherty, 10. George Ford, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Si McIntyre, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4. Ben Bamber, 5. Hyron Andrews, 6. Sam Dugdale, 7. Ben Curry ©, 8. Jean-Luc du Preez.
Replacements:
16. Ethan Caine, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. James Harper, 19. Josh Beaumont, 20. Rouban Birch, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Sam Bedlow, 23. Will Addison.
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