Stuart aims to get rusty Falcons back flying
DEPLETED Newcastle will go into today’s Championship Cup encounter with Doncaster looking to get some rhythm into their attacking play following last week’s rusty performance against Jersey Reds.
The Falcons’ first game for four months ended in a hard-fought 21-8 win over Russia’s conquerors, but they had to dig deep to come away with the points.
Scrum-half Sam Stuart told TRP: “Teams have struggled to go over there, with the travel and stuff, and it’s often windy so we were pleased to get the win but a little bit disappointed with our performance because we didn’t really click, which is to be expected with it being the first game.”
Looking ahead to today’s clash, he added: “We’ll be looking to get a bit more continuity in our play compared to last week and get some more phases together and score some more points if we can.
“They are very welldrilled and well-coached and know their systems; they are an experienced Championship side with some experienced Championship players in there, so we know we’ll have to play well to beat them.”
In midfield, the Falcons are missing Johnny Williams and new signing Gareth Owen to injury, while Josh Matavesi is at the World Cup with Fiji.
Toby Flood wore No.12 against Jersey but moves inside to his more accustomed position of fly-half with two-try hero, George Wacokecoke and Ben Stevenson making up a new-look centre partnership.
With Championship Dream Team centre, Pete Lucock, signed from Yorkshire Carnegie, this could be an area where the Knights will look to cause some damage.
“Carnegie did a training session with us last season and he is a good player. I’m sure the guys in the centres will have earmarked him as a dangerous runner,” Stuart commented.
Joel Hodgson is the only survivor from the last time the Falcons welcomed Doncaster to Kingston Park in September 2012, which ended in a 37-3 home win. Like then, Hodgson finds himself on the bench.
Sebastian de Chaves pulls on a Falcons jersey in the second row for the first time since his summer move from London Irish.
Sam Jones is one Knight Newcastle fans should keep an eye on. Dean Richards is a known admirer of the flanker who plays at six in a reshuffled pack from the one that beat Hartpury College 44-22 in round one.
Centre Kyle Evans is in the XV for the first time alongside Lucock, while scrum-half Reiss Cullen is also set to make his competitive debut for the Knights.