Newcastle vs Wasps

[Puja]

Newcastle Falcons team to face Wasps (Saturday, 4pm, Kingston Park Stadium, live on BT Sport)

15 Simon Hammersley
14 Alex Tait
13 Chris Harris
12 Juan Pablo Socino
11 Zach Kibirige
10 Josh Matavesi
9 Sonatane Takulua

1 Rob Vickers
2 Scott Lawson
3 Trevor Davison
4 Evan Olmstead
5 Will Witty
6 Mark Wilson (captain)
7 Gary Graham
8 Ally Hogg

Replacements

16 Santiago Socino
17 Sam Lockwood
18 David Wilson
19 Glen Young
20 Nili Latu
21 Sam Stuart
22 Craig Willis
23 Tom Penny



Wasps team to play Newcastle Falcons

15. Willie Le Roux
14. Josh Bassett
13. Gaby Lovobalavu
12. Kyle Eastmond
11. Elliot Daly
10. Danny Cipriani
9. Joe Simpson

1. Ben Harris
2. Tom Cruse
3. Marty Moore
4. Joe Launchbury ©
5. Kearnan Myall
6. James Haskell
7. Thomas Young
8. Jack Willis

Replacements:

16. Tommy Taylor
17. Matt Mullan
18. Jake Cooper-Woolley
19. Will Rowlands
20. Guy Thompson
21. Dan Robson
22. Jimmy Gopperth
23. Juan De Jongh

[Banquo]

Willis at 8 will be very interesting

[francoisfou]

This could be the rehearsal to the final that all neutrals would prefer to see.

[Raggs]

Willis at 8 will be very interesting

He looked very good there in the AW game against Tigers. Similar sort of carrying as Thompson, very powerful and refuses to go down easy.

[Banquo]

Willis at 8 will be very interesting

He looked very good there in the AW game against Tigers. Similar sort of carrying as Thompson, very powerful and refuses to go down easy.

That's the sort of flexibility Eddie needs .

I really like Thompson too.

[Raggs]

Willis at 8 will be very interesting

He looked very good there in the AW game against Tigers. Similar sort of carrying as Thompson, very powerful and refuses to go down easy.

That's the sort of flexibility Eddie needs .

I really like Thompson too.

So many flankers were out during the 6N, I'm not sure flexibility helps that much (not a bad thing obviously). I do hope he gets a chance in SA, along with the Currys.

[Banquo]

He looked very good there in the AW game against Tigers. Similar sort of carrying as Thompson, very powerful and refuses to go down easy.

That's the sort of flexibility Eddie needs .

I really like Thompson too.

So many flankers were out during the 6N, I'm not sure flexibility helps that much (not a bad thing obviously). I do hope he gets a chance in SA, along with the Currys.

I think it helps a lot to have a flanker who is a very decent 8, especially given the injury records of Billy and Nathan.

I hope they get a chance, but only if they have some class, experienced acts along side them; I'd hate them to be in sides that get a bit of a kicking, and are then semi-written off, as can happen.

[Mellsblue]

Bad time for Newcastle to get so many injuries in the backs.

[Banquo]

Bad time for Newcastle to get so many injuries in the backs.

Lol..at least so- I'd assumed it was resting/rotation

[Mellsblue]

Bad time for Newcastle to get so many injuries in the backs.

Lol..at least so- I'd assumed it was resting/rotation

Flood and Hodgson are both definitely out, and I believe that the two wingers have been carrying injuries for a while. Next weekend is a rest with it being Europe.

[Raggs]

Thought Flood might be fit in time for playoffs. If not, really unfortunate. What's wrong with Hodgson? On the rugby pod he was hoping it was soft tissue only.

[Mellsblue]

Thought Flood might be fit in time for playoffs. If not, really unfortunate. What's wrong with Hodgson? On the rugby pod he was hoping it was soft tissue only.

Yep, Flood should be back for play-offs. Hodgson went off last weekend so I assumed he was still injured. No Mikey Young, either. I think he went off injured last week, too.

[Banquo]

Bad time for Newcastle to get so many injuries in the backs.

Lol..at least so- I'd assumed it was resting/rotation

Flood and Hodgson are both definitely out, and I believe that the two wingers have been carrying injuries for a while. Next weekend is a rest with it being Europe.

I'd assumed both sides were just putting out semi-shadow teams, as I don't think there is anything really riding on the game, save maybe prize money? but I probably havent paid enough attention!

[Mellsblue]

Lol..at least so- I'd assumed it was resting/rotation

Flood and Hodgson are both definitely out, and I believe that the two wingers have been carrying injuries for a while. Next weekend is a rest with it being Europe.

I'd assumed both sides were just putting out semi-shadow teams, as I don't think there is anything really riding on the game, save maybe prize money? but I probably havent paid enough attention!

I believe there is prize money. There’s also the prize of playing Saracens away rather than Exeter!

[Banquo]

Flood and Hodgson are both definitely out, and I believe that the two wingers have been carrying injuries for a while. Next weekend is a rest with it being Europe.

I'd assumed both sides were just putting out semi-shadow teams, as I don't think there is anything really riding on the game, save maybe prize money? but I probably havent paid enough attention!

I believe there is prize money. There’s also the prize of playing Saracens away rather than Exeter!

Well yes- Wasps don’t seem overly bothered

[Raggs]

JCW out (not sure why), Will Stuart to the bench. Very excited by Stuart, and hopefully he'll get a good long run out.

[twitchy]

I don't know if I should watch this or the sale game?

[Mellsblue]

Finally a reason for the ‘At least one new post has been made to this topic. You may wish to review your post in light of this.’ I was just asking the same thing. I’m edging towards Sake v Leicester as there is more riding on it but I get the feeling Newcastle v Wasps might be a try fest.

[Raggs]

As a non-neutral there's an easy answer, otherwise it'd be a tough choice, and I'd probably go with the Sale Leicester game as well.

[Mellsblue]

Richards has just said Flood and Hodgson are not definitely back for the playoffs.

[Raggs]

That sucks, struggle to see falcons winning a playoff game in that case.

[Banquo]

Finally a reason for the ‘At least one new post has been made to this topic. You may wish to review your post in light of this.’ I was just asking the same thing. I’m edging towards Sake v Leicester as there is more riding on it but I get the feeling Newcastle v Wasps might be a try fest.

Sake is a good option, though leads to a mighty hangover.

We had a couple of Japanese players at my club, who brought Sake in 'wine boxes' to away games.....its quite a reviver as the first drink after a game, whilst singing the Japanese national anthem. Happy Days.

[padprop]

Willis was fantastic and looked to clearly be the best back rower on the field, no mean feet with who else was playing. I also like Graham and would be pleasantly suprised if they both toured.

Grahams a great carrier and one of the few that use the hit and spin in the tackle. Reminds me of Luke Watson.

[Beasties]

Never knew Matavesi had such a turn of speed. Not bad for a fat bloke mascarading as a back.

Also I'm kinda getting Willis fatigue. Him generally being the best player on the pitch is getting boring now lol.

[Oakboy]

Never knew Matavesi had such a turn of speed. Not bad for a fat bloke mascarading as a back.

Also I'm kinda getting Willis fatigue. Him generally being the best player on the pitch is getting boring now lol.

On the subject of fatigue, maybe Dai has done a good job with Willis. He has brought him off the bench for the first half of the season and gradually upped his game time.