Young’s looking to lead Falcons to cup success
SCRUM-HALF Michael Young captains Newcastle Falcons in tonight’s European Challenge Cup semi-final at Gloucester, having been man of the match during the Falcons’ Premiership victory there less than two months ago.
Young scored one try and made the other in the Falcons’ 21-20 triumph over the Cherry and Whites back on March 3, and skippers the side in the absence of Will Welch, who suffered a leg injury during Friday’s 35-30 home win over Sale Sharks.
The winner of tonight’s semi-final will face either Cardiff Blues or French club Pau in the European Challenge Cup final in Bilbao on Friday May 11. Newcastle make six changes for the West Country clash.
Two-time Champions Cup winner Maxime Mermoz starts at outside centre as Chris Harris is pushed to the wing. Josh Matavesi comes into the team at inside centre while Joel Hodgson continues at fly-half after steering the Falcons to their league victory at Gloucester. Hodgson has kicked 12 from 12 off the kicking tee in Europe this season.
Zach Kibirige starts on the left wing after scoring one of four Falcons tries in the 25-10 quarter-final victory at home to French club Brive three weeks ago, while Sean Robinson replaces Will Witty in the second row.
Evan Olmstead and Ryan Burrows come into the back row, with last week’s man of the match Gary Graham continuing at open-side after making a successful return from two months out with a neck injury.
Last week’s matchwinner Rob Vickers sits on a Newcastle bench which sees a return for England flanker Mark Wilson, with the tournament’s top try-scorer Adam Radwan also lying in wait. Director of rugby Dean Richards said: “Gloucester have got stacks of pace and I think they’re an outstanding team. “It will be an interesting duel. Their form is probably a bit better than ours in recent weeks but I thought the way we came back against Sale means it will go right down to the wire.
“If that transpires then I feel we have more chance of winning it than they have, just down to our ability to finish off the tight games.”
Determined not to let a second chance at a final pass them by, Richards added: “When we lost that Anglo-Welsh Cup semi-final down at Exeter earlier in the season it really annoyed me because I love winning, and we were within reach of a final.
“We didn’t turn up on the day, we probably didn’t pay Exeter enough
respect and that certainly won’t be the case on Friday.
“It’s all about understanding who we’ve got, what they can do and then going out and delivering what we have talked about.” Newcastle Falcons team to face Gloucester Rugby (Friday, 7.45pm, Kingsholm, live on BT Sport): 15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Chris Harris,13 Maxime Mermoz, 12 Josh Matavesi, 11 Zach Kibirige, 10 Joel Hodgson, 9 Michael Young (captain), 1 Sam Lockwood, 2 Scott Lawson, 3 Scott Wilson, 4 Calum Green, 5 Sean Robinson, 6 Evan Olmstead, 7 Gary Graham, 8 Ryan Burrows. Replacements: 16 Santiago Socino, 17 Rob Vickers, 18 Davison, 19 Will Witty, 20 Mark Wilson, 21 Sam Stuart, 22 Adam Radwan, 23 Tom Penny
Referee: Pascal Gauzère (France)