Premiership
Team news: Radwan returns against London Irish
Friday 2 December 2022
Adam Radwan comes in for Newcastle Falcons as they make just one change for Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership trip to London Irish.
Ben Stevenson and Matias Moroni both move one place infield, with Radwan coming onto the right wing as the Falcons set out in search of their third consecutive league victory.
Last week’s replacements Logovi’i Mulipola, Matias Orlando, Sean Robinson and Freddie Lockwood all miss out due to injuries picked up in the 24-21 home win over Exeter Chiefs, with Mark Tampin, Tian Schoeman, Matthew Dalton and Tom Marshall called up.
Michael Young once again captains the side from scrum-half, with head coach Dave Walder expecting a tough test as the Falcons go hunting their third consecutive Premiership victory.
He said: “We’re putting a lot of significance on finishing this block with three Premiership wins, but London Irish are a good side.
“Nobody in the league has got more bonus points than them this season, and they cause teams a lot of problems. Things just haven’t gone their way in certain games but we’re very aware they’re going to threaten us, and we’ll need to get our own game right to have a chance of winning.
“We’re really looking forward to going down there on the back of a couple of good wins in the league, but we’re not getting ahead of ourselves. We’ve still got plenty of bits and pieces to tighten up on, and it’s about finding that balance of highlighting your good work whilst also acknowledging where you need to improve.
“London Irish will be desperate to get their season on track, we’re very aware it’s a huge game for them but it’s also a really significant one for ourselves in terms of really pushing and looking up the table.”
Having been involved in a number of close battles in recent weeks, Walder said: “The Premiership is as competitive as I’ve ever seen it, and every week there seems to be a load of games going down to the wire.
“It makes for a great spectacle, and if you come out on the right side of it it makes you feel a lot better. One of these days we might actually win a game where the result’s not in jeopardy going into the last couple of minutes, but until then we’ll just continue giving everyone a bit of drama!
“Mark Laycock has taken charge of the attack this season, he has changed a few things and we’re playing a great brand of rugby. We’re scoring more tries now than we have done for a while, and it’s something we can really build on as we look to move the club forward.”
Saturday’s game will be the Falcons’ first outing since the sad news of Doddie Weir’s passing, with the Falcons legend receiving widespread tributes from within the game and beyond.
“It’s very sad news about Doddie, he’s been in all of our thoughts and I’m sure clubs throughout the competition will be paying appropriate tributes to him,” said Walder, who scored the winning try for the Falcons in the 2001 Tetley’s Bitter Cup final, when Weir captained the side.
“There are lots of pictures of him around our stadium, and it’s been nice in those quiet moments during the week to go round and have a look at him lifting a trophy, taking a line-out and just having that smile on his face which everyone associates him with.
“We’ve all got great memories of Doddie, and even before the news came through over the weekend we had his partner in crime, Gary Armstrong, come in to speak to the players last week. Gary spoke about how much it meant for him to play for Newcastle Falcons, having fun and battling for your mates, which very much typifies how Doddie used to approach things.”
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Newcastle Falcons team v London Irish (Saturday, 3pm, Gtech Community Stadium)
15 Elliott Obatoyinbo, 14 Adam Radwan, 13 Ben Stevenson, 12 Matias Moroni, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Brett Connon, 9 Michael Young (captain); 1 Adam Brocklebank, 2 George McGuigan, 3 Richard Palframan, 4 Greg Peterson, 5 Sebastian de Chaves, 6 Callum Chick, 7 Guy Pepper, 8 Carl Fearns.
Replacements: 16 Jamie Blamire, 17 Conrad Cade, 18 Mark Tampin, 19 Matthew Dalton, 20 Tom Marshall, 21 Sam Stuart, 22 Tian Schoeman, 23 Tom Penny.
Not available for selection: Phil Brantingham, Sam Clark, Connor Collett, Gary Graham, Louie Johnson, Conor Kenny, Freddie Lockwood, Pete Lucock, Logovi’i Mulipola, Matias Orlando, Sean Robinson, Oliver Spencer, Philip van der Walt, George Wacokecoke, Will Welch.
Referee: Wayne Barnes.
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.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
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