Flood wears the No.11 shirt on the day, but director of rugby John Fletcher insists that does not mean a spot on the left wing for the 21-year-old, with the back line continually shuffling places during the game.

Jamie Noon wears 12 and Mathew Tait 13, but the whole three-quarter line will switch positions during play as the Falcons aim to build on their emphatic 37-11 victory over London Wasps last weekend.

An unchanged pack means scrum half is the only other position to see a switch in personnel as James Grindal takes the place of Lee Dickson, while Samoan utility back Loki Crichton provides international cover from the bench.

Explaining his back line selection, including Flood wearing the No.11 shirt, Fletcher said: “Toby is obviously not going to play that much on the wing, although he will be there at times.

“We just want our good players on the pitch, to be honest, and depending on what move we are playing they will alternate positions as we would normally do. We’re not doing anything different to any other week.

“The main reason is simply because Taity likes wearing No.13, and I just fancied giving the kit man some extra work making up a No.11 shirt for Toby. Plus, they all had a big fight about it and Toby lost!

“The main thing is they are all starting in the back line, regardless of what number they wear. People tend to get a bit too emotional about shirt numbers, and especially in the backs we have very few specialist players so it’s not that relevant. The only real out-and-out specialist is Matt Burke at fullback, but like Tom May he also comes in at first and second receiver a fair bit in attack.

“The game is a lot more fluid than saying ‘you have to stand there all the time’, and it’s not as complicated as some people make out.”

Having thrown all three of his England stars straight in to the team, Fletcher said: “We made the decision at the start of the season that when our England players are available we will play them.

“Mark Mayerhofler has been in outstanding form and will have a big role to play for us in the next two games when the England boys are away, so we are nursing him through this time of the season and making sure he is 100 per cent when we need him in the starting XV.

“The good thing now is that we have a queue of players pushing for selection and really unlucky not to be involved, like Loki Crichton, Anthony Elliott, Tim Visser, Ollie Phillips and James Hoyle, who are all training well.

“That says a lot for the strength of our backs, but having a starting XV including Wilkinson, Flood, Noon, Tait and Burke is a pretty mouth-watering prospect.”

With James Grindal coming in for Lee Dickson at scrum half, Fletcher explained his decision, stating: “Grindal has played well for us all season, and had an exceptional game at home to Leicester a few weeks ago.

“There is an element of horses for courses, but that’s not to say I’m unhappy with Lee Dickson who has put in a number of strong recent performances. They are both in the squad, they offer something different, and they will both have a part to play. I’m pleased with their form, and we also have Hall Charlton back fit now pushing hard for selection.”

Up against a London Irish team showing good form at the Madejski Stadium, Fletcher said going in to the game: “London Irish are a cracking side with a very exciting back line, right up there with the top back divisions in the Premiership.

“They have quality playmakers in Geraghty, Catt and Flutey, plus probably the quickest back three in the Premiership and they like to play a pretty open style. If they are prepared to play, which their home form suggests they are, then it could be an exciting game for the supporters.”

Newcastle Falcons team to face London Irish:

15 Matthew Burke (captain)
14 Tom May
13 Mathew Tait
12 Jamie Noon
11 Toby Flood
10 Jonny Wilkinson
9 James Grindal

1 Joe McDonnell
2 Matt Thompson
3 Micky Ward
4 Mark Sorenson
5 Jason Oakes
6 Geoff Parling
7 Ben Woods
8 Russell Winter

Replacements:

Jon Golding
Andy Long
Andy Buist
Brent Wilson
Ollie Phillips
Lee Dickson
Loki Crichton

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