Graham back in reshuffled Falcons team
GARY Graham returns to Newcastle Falcons’ side for today’s Gallagher Premiership trip to Bath Rugby a fortnight after making his international debut for Scotland.
The flanker forms part of a side showing 10 changes from the one which started last weekend’s Premiership Rugby Cup semi-final at Northampton Saints, the Falcons’ front row ranks boosted by the return from injury of loosehead Sam Lockwood.
Hooker Kyle Cooper and tighthead Logovi’i Mulipola complete a freshened-up front row, Newcastle’s back-line showing a host of changes.
Zach Kibirige is the only starter retained from last weekend as injuries rule out Josh Matavesi (calf), Vereniki Goneva (calf) and Alex Dunbar (groin).
Toby Flood and Michael Young return to form an experienced halfback pairing, Newcastle keen to repeat last season’s double over Bath after defeating them 16-8 at Kingston Park on November 23.
The Falcons were also 22-7 winners when the two teams met in the Premiership Rugby Cup two weeks earlier, losing just one of their last seven encounters with the West Country side.
Director of rugby Dean Richards said: “Bath is a difficult place to play - they will not have lost anyone to internationals this weekend and their injury situation does not appear to be very bad, so it will be a really hard game.
“We have been down there and won last season and we beat Bath at our place in November, so it does not hold any fear for us.
“At the same time we are very respectful of the talent they have and the fact they will be very well coached by a top guy like Todd Blackadder – we just have to go there and produce a performance.”
His side building a 21-point lead but allowing it to slip during last weekend’s Premiership Rugby Cup semi-final at Northampton, Richards added: “The first halfhour was very positive but we fell off a cliff after that, not helped by the fact we picked up four calf injuries - which was a bit strange.
“That did not help but at the same time we have played some good rugby in our last few games – we just need to string it together for 80 minutes.”
FALCONS TEAM: 15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Zach Kibirige, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Pedro Bettencourt, 11 Sinoti Sinoti, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Michael Young, 1 Sam Lockwood, 2 Kyle Cooper, 3 Logovi’i Mulipola, 4 Calum Green, 5 Andrew Davidson, 6 Will Welch (captain), 7 Gary Graham, 8 Nemani Nagusa.
REPLACEMENTS: 16 Santiago Socino, 17 Adam Brocklebank, 18 David Wilson, 19 Will Witty, 20 John Hardie, 21 Sonatane Takulua, 22 Brett Connon, 23 Ben Stevenson. REFEREE: JP Doyle.