RugbyRebels

1 Mako Vunipola (c)

2 Theo Dan

3 Christian Judge

4 Theo McFarland

5 Hugh Tizard

6 Juan Martin Gonzalez

7 Toby Knight

8 Andy Christie

9 Ivan van Zyl

10 Manu Vunipola

11 Lucio Cinti

12 Olly Hartley

13 Elliot Daly

14 Rotimi Segun

15 Alex Goode

Replacements:

16 Jamie George

17 Tom West

18 Ollie Hoskins

19 Nick Isiekwe

20 Ben Earl

21 Billy Vunipola

22 Gareth Simpson

23 Tom Parton

Newcastle Falcons team v Saracens (Saturday, 3pm, StoneX Stadium, live on Discovery+)

15 Tom Penny, 14 Adam Radwan, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Matias Orlando, 11 Iwan Stephens, 10 Rory Jennings, 9 Hugh O’Sullivan; 1 Phil Brantingham, 2 Jamie Blamire, 3 Eduardo Bello, 4 Kiran McDonald, 5 Sebastian de Chaves, 6 Pedro Rubiolo, 7 Guy Pepper, 8 Callum Chick (captain).

Replacements: 16 Bryan Byrne, 17 Adam Brocklebank, 18 Murray McCallum, 19 Tim Cardall, 20 Ollie Leatherbarrow, 21 James Elliott, 22 Brett Connon, 23 George Wacokecoke.

Not available for selection: Mateo Carreras,Sam Clark,Isaac Keller, Richard Palframan, Mark Tampin, Marcus Tiffen.

Good injury news on both sides' back rows - Earl back for Sarries and Pepper for Newcastle.

Puja

Man alive Guy Pepper was good! And Brantingham had the Sarries scrum on toast! Very industrious around the park too!

Pepper made 33 tackles apparently!

Epaminondas Pules wrote: ↑Sun Dec 31, 2023 2:20 pm Pepper made 33 tackles apparently!

That is Impressive.

Fantastic prospect

p/d wrote: ↑Sun Dec 31, 2023 2:24 pm

Epaminondas Pules wrote: ↑Sun Dec 31, 2023 2:20 pm Pepper made 33 tackles apparently!

That is Impressive.

Fantastic prospect

Red hot! By the Way what was his impact on the Otherside?

p/d wrote: ↑Sun Dec 31, 2023 2:24 pm

Epaminondas Pules wrote: ↑Sun Dec 31, 2023 2:20 pm Pepper made 33 tackles apparently!

That is Impressive.

Fantastic prospect

It was. He was a proper nuisance at the breakdown too. Really made Sarries work for their ball. Didn’t get much chance ball in hand sadly, but then it was largely a back foot display from Newcastle. Scrum aside they were under the cosh most game

Epaminondas Pules wrote: ↑Sun Dec 31, 2023 1:58 pm Man alive Guy Pepper was good! And Brantingham had the Sarries scrum on toast! Very industrious around the park too!

Brantingham & another Newcastle youngster (not sure of the name) both Saracens bound for next season.

Timbo wrote: ↑Sun Dec 31, 2023 6:25 pm

Epaminondas Pules wrote: ↑Sun Dec 31, 2023 1:58 pm Man alive Guy Pepper was good! And Brantingham had the Sarries scrum on toast! Very industrious around the park too!

Brantingham & another Newcastle youngster (not sure of the name) both Saracens bound for next season.

sadly, better for them. Newcastle looking a bit moth eaten unfortunately. Not sure they will continue to attract the cash they need. Prob why the RFU want a franchise in .....Darlington.

Timbo wrote: ↑Sun Dec 31, 2023 6:25 pm

Epaminondas Pules wrote: ↑Sun Dec 31, 2023 1:58 pm Man alive Guy Pepper was good! And Brantingham had the Sarries scrum on toast! Very industrious around the park too!

Brantingham & another Newcastle youngster (not sure of the name) both Saracens bound for next season.

Ouch. Great for both Saracens and the youngsters (and probably England in the long run), but horrible for Newcastle. No way they can build anything while their youngsters are being peeled away.

Puja

Puja wrote: ↑Sun Dec 31, 2023 6:33 pm

Timbo wrote: ↑Sun Dec 31, 2023 6:25 pm

Epaminondas Pules wrote: ↑Sun Dec 31, 2023 1:58 pm Man alive Guy Pepper was good! And Brantingham had the Sarries scrum on toast! Very industrious around the park too!

Brantingham & another Newcastle youngster (not sure of the name) both Saracens bound for next season.

Ouch. Great for both Saracens and the youngsters (and probably England in the long run), but horrible for Newcastle. No way they can build anything while their youngsters are being peeled away.

Puja

no way would a top notch young guy stay there at present, sadly.

With the lack of funding the brutal reality is these young guys will be getting bigger offers to move. Sarries desperately need to look at loosehead succession planning and Brantingham has the potential to be England's go to option.

FKAS wrote: ↑Sun Dec 31, 2023 7:41 pm With the lack of funding the brutal reality is these young guys will be getting bigger offers to move. Sarries desperately need to look at loosehead succession planning and Brantingham has the potential to be England's go to option.

Haven’t they got West and Mawi already or were you being sarcastic?

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Mon Jan 01, 2024 2:33 pm

FKAS wrote: ↑Sun Dec 31, 2023 7:41 pm With the lack of funding the brutal reality is these young guys will be getting bigger offers to move. Sarries desperately need to look at loosehead succession planning and Brantingham has the potential to be England's go to option.

Haven’t they got West and Mawi already or were you being sarcastic?

Yeah Mawi is a lot younger than I thought he was. Maybe less of an issue for them then. Still an opportunity to secure the long term loosehead option.