Falcons ring the changes for Cup clash

NEWCASTLE Falcons have made five changes to their side for tomorrow’s Premiership Rugby Cup trip to Harlequins.

Scotland international Chris Harris is among the players coming in, replacing Ben Stevenson at outside centre.

Alex Tait starts at full-back as Tom Arscott moves to the right wing following the thigh injury picked up by Zach Kibirige, who scored a hat-trick in last weekend’s 22-22 draw with Exeter Chiefs.

The other three changes come in the forwards, Sam Lockwood and Jack Payne starting at prop while Connor Collett makes his first competitive start for the club since joining from New Zealand’s North Harbour.

On the bench there could be s debuts for new signing John Hardie and academy graduate Rob Farrar, while Tim Swiel returns to his former club following his recent move north.

Academy manager and firstteam skills coach Mark Laycock and academy head coach James Ponton will again take charge of the side.

Ponton said: “Harlequins is a new challenge and requires a different approach to Exeter last week in some respects.

“We have had the players for a full week in training, which is good, because going into the Exeter match the lads had been given a few well-deserved rest days after a tough eight-week block.

“That rest is very important because it freshens them up mentally and physically, but we have been able to get through more work this week and look at our game plan in more depth.”

Looking to learn the lessons from last weekend’s draw, Ponton added: “It was a hard game to reflect on in many ways because when you watch the footage back we did a lot of good stuff.

“The overriding feeling was one of disappointment at letting a winning position slip from our grasp.”

Up against a Harlequins squad led by his fellow former RGS Newcastle pupil Paul Gustard, Ponton said: “It is a different challenge this week purely because Harlequins are a much harder team to read.

“Paul’s background in defence means there has been perhaps more of an emphasis on that rather than their attack.

“We are looking forward to the challenge of putting in place an attack which will really test that improved defence of theirs.”