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| Tait Fit For Euro Showdown |
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| Mathew Tait starts at fullback |
| 4 April 2008, 1:15 pm |
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| Newcastle Falcons have made three changes to their team for Saturday's European Challenge Cup quarter-final against French side Castres Olympique at Kingston Park (kick-off 8pm). |
Matt Thompson comes in to the side at hooker, with James Grindal returning at scrum half, while the other change from last weekend’s match at Harlequins sees Jamie Noon return in the centres.
Mathew Tait is included having passed a cognitive test, while centre Jamie Noon is named in the team pending a late fitness test as Newcastle look to book a semi-final at either Worcester or Montpellier.
Speaking about the fitness situation for both Tait and Noon, acting director of rugby Steve Bates said: “We’re very positive about both players and, in fact, Mathew will definitely start because he has already passed his cog test and is feeling fine.
“Noony had a good run around this morning and will probably start, he feels in good shape but obviously we will have a look at him on Saturday morning just to double check that there are no lingering problems surrounding his injury.”
Having studied Castres’ last few games Bates is well aware of just what the sixth-placed French side will throw at his team, stating in the build-up: “I’m expecting Castres to come here and be very physical.
“They are an excellent scrummaging side, and although they lost last week at home to Montpellier they are a team in an excellent run of recent form having progressed well up the French league.
“I’ve watched their last three games against Montpellier, Montauban and Auch, and while they do have a tendency to change their team selection from week to week, they still look a very robust side.”
With snow forecast for the Saturday night fixture, Bates added: “The shape of the game will be influenced largely by the conditions which, having checked the weather forecast during the week, are pretty appalling.
“From our point of view we have a very clear and simple game plan which we will look to play no matter what the weather, but for Castres it may affect them a little more because from the tapes I have seen they are a side who look to move the ball an awful lot and play in the wide channels.
“If the snow and wind comes in, as expected, that may disrupt them a little, but we’ll have to wait and see because you never know what this north-east weather is going to do from one minute to the next.”
Revealing his selection quandary as he looks to find a winning formula, Bates said: “Myself and Ian Peel have had a lot of conversations about front row selection, which is a very competitive area, and then in the back row we have had some incredibly difficult decisions to make.
“Russell Winter, Brent Wilson and Geoff Parling can all count themselves extremely unlucky, because they have been superb when they have been given their chances. But we just feel that the effort and commitment shown by Phil Dowson and Ben Woods merits their selection, with Andy Buist being a very exciting player who I want to see more of.”
Having taken a bonus point away from Harlequins and not conceding a try for the last 159 minutes of rugby, he added: “Our defence and our spirit has been outstanding in the last two games, the level of commitment from the players has been there and that gives us a pretty good base on which to build.”
South Stand tickets for Saturday’s game are still available by calling 0871 226 60 60, or popping to Kingston Park. Supporters buying their tickets on Friday can do so for £15 adults and £10 concessions, before normal match-day prices come in to effect on Saturday.
Newcastle Falcons team to face Castres Olympique:
15 Mathew Tait
14 Tom May
13 Jamie Noon
12 Toby Flood
11 John Rudd
10 Jonny Wilkinson
9 James Grindal
1 Micky Ward
2 Matt Thompson
3 Carl Hayman
4 Andy Perry
5 Mark Sorenson
6 Andy Buist
7 Ben Woods
8 Phil Dowson (captain)
Replacements:
16 Andy Long
17 Jon Golding
18 Brent Wilson
19 Russell Winter
20 Hall Charlton
21 Tom Dillon
22 Tim Visser
Not considered due to injury: Matthew Burke (knee), Joe Shaw (knee), Lee Dickson (hip), James Hoyle (hip), Joe McDonnell (arm), Alex Tait (hamstring). |
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