Newcastle Falcons show five changes to the starting line up that brushed aside Enisei STM as Aviva Premiership action returns, with a trip to Sale Sharks on Saturday afternoon, KO 14:30.
The changes see a wealth of experience return to the side, with four new faces in the backs and one in the pack adding 84 international caps to the team.
The round five match against Steve Diamond’s side sees the return of the tried and tested centre partnership of Adam Powell and Juan Pablo Socino as they line up together for the first time this season, while out wide, Italian international Giamba Venditti and Marcus Watson take the wing berths.
Watson makes his first Aviva Premiership start off the back of a blistering performance against Enisei in the European Challenge Cup that saw him show a full array of skills on his way to four tries, for twenty of his team’s 55 points on the afternoon.
His performance was one of many to catch the eye and provide the Falcons with a timely lift ahead of the resumption of Premiership games.
In the half backs, Michael Young continues in his position at Scrum Half while Mike Delany returns to the fly half shirt that he vacated during the European fortnight.
After a rock solid showing against a vaunted Russian pack, the Falcons eight sees only one change this weekend, with Nili Latu coming into the side in the place of Dan Temm.
Latu’s inclusion does see the rest of the back row make positional switches, as he takes over the number eight shirt, with Mark Wilson moving across to the blindside flank and captain Will Welch returning to his more familiar openside spot.
On the replacements bench, Scott Lawson, Alex Rogers and Taione Vea continue to provide the front row replacements, while further international class is available with Mouritz Botha and Ally Hogg completing the forward options.
Ruki Tipuna will again provide the opportunity for a further injection of tempo in the 21 shirt, while Tom Catterick and Chris Harris also lie in wait and ready to make an impact when called upon.
Newcastle Falcons squad
V Sale Sharks – Sat 28th November 2015
15 Alex Tait, 14 Giovanbattista Venditti, 13 Adam Powell, 12 Juan Pablo Socino, 11 Marcus Watson, 10 Mike Delany, 9 Michael Young, 1 Rob Vickers, 2 George McGuigan, 3 Jon Welsh, 4 Calum Green, 5 Sean Robinson, 6 Mark Wilson, 7 Will Welch, 8 Nili Latu
Replacements
16 Scott Lawson, 17 Alex Rogers, 18 Taione Vea, 19 Mouritz Botha, 20 Ally Hogg, 21 Ruki Tipuna, 22 Tom Catterick, 23 Chris Harris.
