2011/12 Aviva Premiership Match Preview: Worcester Warriors vs Newcastle Falcons
The 2011/12 Aviva Premiership's new entrants, Worcester Warriors, are all set to take on the challenge of the 2010/11 Premiership season’s survivor Newcastle Falcons during their eighth round
encounter.
Newcastle Falcons will host the Warriors at Kingston Park, Newcastle on Friday, November 4. Warriors and Falcons are placed at 11th and 12th position respectively on
the 2011/12 Aviva Premiership table.
The Warriors are better placed then Falcons as they have managed to win two games out of their seven matches in the season so far. Warriors have secured 10 points while Falcons have secured
only five points coming from their single win and a losing bonus point in the season so far.
Warriors have managed to defeat Northampton Saints and Sales Sharks in their season campaign so far. However, they have lost all four away matches in the season so far.
Falcons will enter the match with stats of a single win in their last 14 encounters. On a positive note, Falcons have won both of their last two games, which they played at Kingston Park.
Falcons match preparations received a major boost following the return of their captain James Hudson in their match day line-up. Hudson returns to the squad after serving the four-week ban
enforced by Rugby Football Union’s disciplinary panel for his offensive tackle.
Commenting on his inclusion in the squad, Hudson said, “I am really excited about getting back out there. It has certainly been a long four weeks for me and it has been very frustrating to
have to watch the boys from the sideline especially when I've been really fit and well.”
Hudson will start the match from at second row forward at the lock position. Besides him, other changes in the squad include the return of Greg Goosen at the full back position in place of
the Jeremy Manning and Alex Tait at the winger position in place of Jordi Pasqualin.
Following their impressive performance in the season, the Warriors will start the match as the favourites, which will help them to register their maiden away victory in the tournament.
Both teams have announced their match day squads, which are given below
Newcastle Falcons
Starting XV: 15 Greg Goosen, 14 Alex Tait, 13 Corne Uys, 12 Jamie Helleur, 11 Rikki Sheriffe, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Jordi Pasqualin, 8 Ally Hogg, 7 Will Welch, 6 Richard Mayhew,
5 Andrew van der Heijden, , 4 James Hudson (c), 3 Euan Murray, 2 Joe Graham ,1 Grant Shiells
Replacements: 16 Michael Mayhew, 17 Ashley Wells, 18 James Hall, 19 Tim Swinson, 20 Redford Pennycook, 21 Chris Pilgrim, 22 Jeremy Manning, 23 Luke Eves
Worcester Warriors
Starting XV: 15 Errie Claassens , 14 Marcel Garvey , 13 Alex Grove , 12 Dale Rasmussen (c) , 11 Miles Benjamin , 10 Joe Carlisle , 9 Shaun Perry, 8 Chris Jones, 7 Jake Abbott
, 6 Neil Best , 5 Craig Gillies , 4 James Percival, 3 Tevita Taumoepeau , 2 Aleki Lutui 1 Matt Mullan
Replacements: 16 George Porter , 17 Ed Shervington , 18 Oliver Tomaszczyk , 19 Adam Balding , 20 Sam Betty , 21 Ollie Frost , 22 Andy Goode , 23 Chris Pennell
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