Injury-hit Falcons look to hold on to top spot
BURROWS SKIPPERS TEAM HEADING NORTH OF BORDER
RYAN Burrows captains Newcastle Falcons against Edinburgh in the Scottish capital tonight as they aim to build on their position at the top of Heineken Champions Cup pool five.
The Falcons have won both of their group games in Europe’s toptier competition after defeating Toulon and Montpellier, the trip to BT Murrayfield coming in a run which has seen just one defeat in their last eight matches in all competitions.
Adam Radwan starts on the left wing after being the top try-scorer in last season’s European Challenge Cup, while centre Chris Harris features at the venue where he played two of Scotland’s autumn internationals.
Brett Connon starts at fly-half having landed a long-range penalty in an impressive cameo from the bench during last weekend’s victory at Northampton, Tonga captain Sonatane Takulua partnering him in the half-backs.
Adam Brocklebank and George McGuigan come into the front row after impressing from the bench last weekend, Fiji lock Tevita Cavubati drafted in less than a fortnight after starting for his national team in their historic victory over France.
Gary Graham returns to Murrayfield having trained there with the Scotland squad during their recent autumn tests, Callum Chick starting at No 8 having scored the winning try during the Falcons’ Champions Cup victory over Montpellier.
Falcons’ director of rugby Dean Richards, right, said: “Edinburgh are a really good side who are competitive in all areas.
“A bit like ourselves they are not built around superstars, they are a workmanlike team and have a habit of winning tight games, so it will be interesting. “You know what you are going to get from a side coached by Richard Cockerill.
“He will have them well-drilled and up for it and in someone like Viliame Mat they have one of the best No 8s in world rugby who has been playing some unbelievable stuff in recent months.
“His ball-carrying and what he brings to their game is exceptional but they are about more than one player.
“We have had the beauty of winning both of our games in Europe so everything is up for grabs in terms of how we move on in this competition. It is an important game for us.” Explaining a selection which contains a whole raft of enforced changes, Richards added: “We have had three tight-head injuries in the last 24 hours and, with Jon Welsh, Craig Mitchell and Paul Mullen all also unavailable, if these props are unfit we have no tight-head cover.
“We lost a load of guys to head knocks last weekend including Kyle Cooper.
“Sean Robinson broke his arm again during the game, Mark Wilson has an ear infection. Nemani Nagusa has a leg problem.
“Then we have Michael Young out with a fractured cheek bone.
“Our captain Will Welch is out long-term with an ankle problem.
“Jon Welsh is out for a while and Will Witty has injured his knee.
“Josh Matavesi is out with an ankle injury, Joel Hodgson has broken a leg and Tom Penny is out with an ACL – and then we have a few other guys who are not registered for Europe due to the tournament regulations.”