Newcastle Falcons show a refreshed starting line up ahead of Sunday’s Aviva Premiership match against Exeter Chiefs (KO13:00), with a number of personnel and positional switches from the team that faced Northampton.
Alex Tait headlines the new faces as he makes his first start of the season on the right wing, filling the gap created by Giamba Venditti’s switch to the left in place of Alesana Tuilagi.
Fresh from scoring his first Aviva Premiership try, Tom Penny makes his first start in the competition, replacing Chris Harris in the 13 shirt, who misses out while awaiting the results of a scan after picking up a knock last week.
Another player returning from injury is Michael Young at scrum half, who made an impressive cameo against Gloucester in the season opener before being forced from the field and who will look to ignite the Falcons backline with half back partner Mike Delany.
Simon Hammersley remains in the full back position and Adam Powell continues at inside centre.
Twenty two year old Hammersley in particular has enjoyed a strong start to his second season, beating 11 defenders across his two games to date and making four clean breaks, with only Sale’s Tom Arscott bettering that effort.
In the forwards, USA Eagle Eric Fry replaces Rob Vickers at loose head prop and packs down with a pair of Scottish internationals in the shape of newly re-signed Scott Lawson and Rugby World Cup star Jon Welsh.
A powerful second row of Mouritz Botha and Calum Green will be out to provide plenty of go forward alongside a physical presence at the line out while in the back row, captain Will Welch returns on the blindside flank, with Nili Latu and Ally Hogg remaining at openside and number eight respectively.
On the bench, there is a prospective first start for 11 times capped Puma Belisario Agulla, who joins Ruki Tipuna and Tom Catterick as the back line replacements.
George McGuigan, Rob Vickers and Taione Vea provide the front row cover, while Josh Furno and Todd Clever provide the second and back row options.
Newcastle Falcons squad
v Exeter Chiefs – 1/11/2015 – KO 13:00
15 Hammersley 14 Tait 13 Penny 12 Powell 11 Venditti 10 Delany 9 Young 1 Fry 2 Lawson 3 Welsh 4 Botha 5 Green 6 Welch ( C ) 7 Latu 8 Hogg
Replacements – 16 McGuigan 17 Vickers 18 Vea 19 Furno 20 Clever 21 Tipuna 22 Catterick 23 Agulla