Johnny Will be central to the Falcons’ plans at Exeter

JOHNNY Williams returns for Newcastle Falcons this afternoon as they make the Gallagher Premiership trip to Exeter Chiefs.

The centre is back for the 2.30 kickoff at Sandy Park after recovering from the knee injury which has kept him out for the past two months, Williams forming part of a side showing five changes from last weekend’s game at Bath.

George McGuigan is back at hooker, a re-jigged back row seeing John Hardie in at open-side flanker after being released by Scotland during the week.

Callum Chick slots in at No 8, the only other change the inclusion of Tonga captain Sonatane Takulua at scrum-half for a Newcastle side going in search of its first ever victory in Devon.

Director of rugby Dean Richards believes brain as well as brawn will be required to prevail, saying: “It is important to have that dog and intensity about our play but also the nous and understanding.

“Last weekend at Bath we spent plenty of time with the ball in the opposition half but we need to be more clinical in our execution of those situations.

“We have to learn from our mistakes and there are points to be taken from every game.

“That is the beauty of the Gallagher Premiership and why it is the most competitive club competition in the world - there is such a small gap between teams.”

Newcastle’s last outing at Sandy Park in May saw them beaten in their first Premiership semi-final, Richards’ side now engaged in a battle to pull itself away from the foot of the table with nine rounds of regular-season combat remaining.

The Falcons’ boss added: “We had the experience to prevail in a number of close finishes last year and we have a younger squad this season which is learning how to do that.

“The ability is there, we will continue to get better and there is every confidence up here it will fall into place.

“We are all working incredibly hard to make that happen and to have the belief we can start winning again - and what better place to do it than at Exeter?” NEWCASTLE FALCONS TEAM TO FACE EXETER CHIEFS (2.30, Sandy Park): 15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Zach Kibirige, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Sinoti Sinoti, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Sonatane Takulua, 1 Sam Lockwood, 2 George McGuigan, 3 David Wilson, 4 Calum Green, 5 Andrew Davidson, 6 Will Welch (captain), 7 John Hardie, 8 Callum Chick.

Replacements: 16 Santiago Socino, 17 Logovi’i Mulipola, 18 Jack Payne, 19 Will Witty, 20 Nemani Nagusa, 21 Sam Stuart, 22 Tim Swiel, 23 Ben Stevenson.

Referee: Luke Pearce.

It is important to have that dog and intensity about our play, but also the nous and understanding Johnny Williams