Team news: Trio to make Prem debuts at Quins

Thursday 15 November 2018

Newcastle Falcons will hand Gallagher Premiership debuts to Pedro Bettencourt, Andrew Davidson and John Hardie on Friday night when they take on Harlequins at the Twickenham Stoop.

The Falcons are hunting their second victory at the venue in less than two weeks, having won 23-21 in the Premiership Rugby Cup meeting between the two clubs on November 4.

Lock-forward Davidson started in that game and followed it up with a man-of-the-match performance in Newcastle’s 22-7 home win over Bath last weekend, Newcastle out to repeat last season’s triumph at the Twickenham Stoop which ended an 18-year win-less run there in the league.

Back-rower Hardie makes his first start after coming on from the bench in Newcastle’s last two cup outings, Portugese centre Bettencourt also making his Gallagher Premiership debut having been among the Falcons’ try-scorers during their cup win over Harlequins.

Gary Graham packs down in the back row in the week that he trained with the Scotland squad, Scottish prop Jon Welsh making his first Premiership appearance of the season while replacement Ben Stevenson could make his Premiership debut at the ground on which he scored a try less than a fortnight ago.

The Falcons are unbeaten in their last five games in all competitions, forwards coach Micky Ward saying: “The last month has gone pretty well with two wins against good teams in the Champions Cup and then going unbeaten in our three Premiership Cup games.

“We feel like we should have beaten Exeter and also got the four-try bonus point against Bath last weekend, but that was down to ourselves and we’re now looking to build on what has still been a pretty decent few weeks.

“Selection has been really difficult because we’ve had a load of lads putting their hands up with their performances during the cup games, and it’s great to see them being given that chance. It’s one thing doing well in training but our lads are now taking that into their games when they get the opportunity.

“As a coach that’s the ideal scenario, having options to choose from, and naturally there’ll be a few boys disappointed at missing out. What it does do is create huge competition among the group, which is ultimately what will drive our standards up even further.”

Aiming to improve their league fortunes after a testing start to the campaign, Ward said: “The lads are itching to get back into the Gallagher Premiership because this is our big competition.

“We knew the opening six league games were going to be tough and we know there are things we didn’t do which we should have done, but we’ve played our way into some form during the cup games and tightened up on a couple of key areas. Over the past few weeks the lads have done on the field what we’ve talked about in training, and the results have followed. Confidence has grown, there’s a buzz around the place and we now have to translate that into the league.”

Insisting only a limited amount can be gleaned from his side’s Premiership Rugby Cup win at the Stoop less than a fortnight ago, the club’s record appearance holder said: “The cup game down there two weeks ago isn’t really that relevant because both teams will be vastly different, but it certainly can’t do any harm to have won there so recently.

“Quins will be wanting to set the record straight but if we turn up with the right frame of mind and are accurate in executing what we’ve worked on during the week, then we’re in with a good chance.

“They like to carry hard off nine and get their forwards running off ten, then they look to push it to the width. If we get our defensive stuff spot-on then that won’t be easy for them, and on our attacking side Dave Walder has put a good structure in place to hopefully exploit a couple of areas.

“Harlequins have upped their defensive structure under Paul Gustard so our attack has to be even more clinical, and on top of that structured stuff our lads have also got full licence to play what’s in front of them. Dave is massive in terms of allowing them to use their ability in that way, and if you see a hole in front of you just go for it. Yes, there’s a system, but you’re a professional rugby player because of the talent and instinct you’ve got, so when you spot an opportunity just get yourself through that gap and over the try line.

“I’d imagine both clubs will have a bit of cat and mouse in terms of not running certain plays during the first game that they’re keeping up their sleeve for the re-match, the two coaching teams will be wanting to set each other up to play into a trap and I suppose the top and bottom of it is for us to just focus on executing our own game plan the best we can.

“If we get our set-piece right, look after the ball, defend well and play in the right areas, we won’t go far wrong.”

Newcastle Falcons team to face Harlequins (Friday, 7.45pm, Twickenham Stoop)

15 Simon Hammersley

14 Alex Tait

13 Pedro Bettencourt

12 Johnny Williams

11 Sinoti Sinoti

10 Joel Hodgson

9 Michael Young (captain)

1 Sam Lockwood

2 George McGuigan

3 Jon Welsh

4 Calum Green

5 Andrew Davidson

6 Gary Graham

7 John Hardie

8 Callum Chick

Replacements

16 Kyle Cooper

17 Trevor Davison

18 David Wilson

19 Glen Young

20 Ryan Burrows

21 Sam Stuart

22 Toby Flood

23 Ben Stevenson

Harlequins

15 Aaron Morris

14 Nathan Earle

13 Joe Marchant

12 Ben Tapuai

11 Mike Brown

10 Marcus Smith

9 Charlie Mulchrone

1 Lewis Boyce

2 Elia Elia

3 Will Collier

4 Matt Symons

5 George Merrick

6 Alex Dombrandt

7 Jack Clifford

8 James Chisholm (captain)

Replacements

16 Max Crumpton

17 Joe Marler

18 Phil Swainston

19 Ben Glynn

20 Dave Ward

21 Dave Lewis

22 James Lang

23 Francis Saili

Referee: JP Doyle