News

Preview: Gloucester v Newcastle

September 29 2008

Newcastle coach Steve Bates has made three changes to his Newcastle side, as they prepare for Tuesday's Guinness Premiership visit to Kingsholm to take on Gloucester.

John Rudd has been forced out due to injury, and is replaced on the wing by Ollie Phillips. Rudd picked up his injury in the act of scoring during the 17-3 victory over Bristol.

James Grindall is replaced at scrum-half by Hall Charlton, and the final change sees Micky Ward coming in at loosehead prop.

"This week represents somewhat of a mini-tour for us, being on the road for five days, and having been in action only last Friday our players are showing enormous character in putting their hands up for selection just four days after a bruising encounter with Bristol," Bates said

"Such a short turnaround does pose enormous challenges for us in terms of not having any real time to train with the players, but having said that Gloucester also played on Friday so we just have to get on with it and prepare as best we can."

With the Falcons playing three games in the space of eight days the squad will stay down in between matches as they also prepare for Friday's EDF Energy Cup clash at Newport Gwent Dragons.

Gloucester have handed hooker Scott Lawson his debut, naming him alongside fellow Scotland international Alasdair Dickinson in the front row.

Olly Barkley will start his second game in succession, although he reverts to fly-half this week and will partner Welsh number nine Gareth Cooper at half-back.

"With a turn-around like the one we face, we have to explore other options for this contest and that is what we have done," said head coach Dean Ryan.

"We have to try and get ourselves in the right areas of the field more consistently and reduce our error count to be as effective as we know we can be.

"We did some good things on Friday against Sale but probably in areas of the field that diluted their effectiveness.

"Any game at Kingsholm under lights is a fantastic occasion because it intensifies the atmosphere and makes it even more special. Although we are turning around quickly this is obviously a very significant game for us."

Form: The last team other than Leicester to beat Gloucester at Kingsholm in the Guinness Premiership was London Wasps on 6 May 2006. Gloucester have played six previous Premiership games on a Tuesday and lost them all. Newcastle Falcons have won their last two home matches but on the road it is an entirely different story, with just one away victory in the Guinness Premiership since November 2006: 22-19 at Saracens on 30 December 2007. Gloucester have lost just one of their last nine Premiership encounters with the Falcons: 12-19 at Kingston Park on 13 April 2007. Newcastle have won at Kingsholm only once: 29-27 in the Premiership on 11 April 1998.

The Teams:

Gloucester: 15 Olly Morgan, 14 James Simpson-Daniel, 13 Matthew Watkins, 12 Mike Tindall (c), 11 Iain Balshaw, 10 Olly Barkley, 9 Gareth Cooper, 8 Luke Narraway, 7 Alasdair Strokosch, 6 Peter Buxton, 5 Alex Brown, 4 Marco Bortolami, 3 Alasdair Dickinson, 2 Scott Lawson, 1 Nick Wood.

Replacement: 16 Olivier Azam, 17 David Young, 18 Apo Satala, 19 Andy Hazell, 20 Rory Lawson, 21 Willie Walker, 22 Mark Foster.

Newcastle Falcons: 15 Steve Jones, 14 Tim Visser, 13 Jamie Noon, 12 Tom May, 11 Ollie Phillips, 10 Jonny Wilkinson, 9 Hall Charlton, 8 Phil Dowson (c), 7 Ed Williamson, 6 Adam Balding, 5 Mark Sorenson, 4 Andy Perry, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Matt Thompson, 1 Micky Ward.

Replacements: 16 Andy Long, 17 Joe McDonnell, 18 Tim Swinson, 19 Russell Winter, 20 Micky Young, 21 Spencer Davey, 22 Rory Clegg.

Date: Tuesday 30 September, 2008

Kick-off: 19:45 BST (18:45 GMT)

Venue: Kingsholm

Referee: David Rose