Bath v Newcastle Falcons: Aviva Premiership team news

Newcastle defeated Bath 19-14 in the reverse fixture in January

Newcastle Falcons have made four changes to their starting XV as they look to end a run of three consecutive Aviva Premiership defeats when they visit Bath on Friday night.

Rob Vickers and Taione Vea replace Alex Rogers and Mike Cusack in the front row, while Marcus Watson and Simon Hammersley come in for Sinoti Sinoti and Alex Tait in the back three.

Both teams have struggled so far this season, with Newcastle sitting second bottom and Bath fourth bottom.

Rob Vickers (with the ball) returns to Newcastle's front row

Newcastle edged the reverse fixture 19-14 on January 2 and Falcons director of rugby Dean Richards is expecting another tight game.

He said: "They have got some quality players and a huge amount of depth. Their back three is something else and they have in-form centres with Kyle Eastmond and Matt Banahan both playing really well.

"Their forwards lay the platform for them and we will have to compete with that. We need to make sure we play in the right parts of the field."

Bath are looking to bounce back from a 35-28 defeat away to Harlequins last weekend and welcome back captain Stuart Hooper in the second row.

Newcastle director of rugby Dean Richards believes both teams' results have suffered because of injuries

Wing Jeff Williams will make his first start in the Premiership, while David Wilson comes in at tighthead.

Richards added: "It has probably been a bit of a surprise for everybody this year to see where they are. Like us, they have had a few injuries and people out throughout the year. Both sides are impacted.

David Wilson will start at tighthead for Bath

"Bath clawed their way back into last Friday's game at Harlequins during the last 20 minutes and showed what they can do.

"But our recent form has been good and we know we will have to put in one hell of a performance. We will throw absolutely everything we have into it."

Bath: 15 Tom Homer, 14 Semesa Rokoduguni, 13 Matt Banahan, 12 Kyle Eastmond, 11 Jeff Williams, 10 Ollie Devoto, 9 Chris Cook; 1 Max Lahiff, 2 Rob Webber, 3 David Wilson, 4 Stuart Hooper (c), 5 Dominic Day, 6 Matt Garvey, 7 Francois Louw, 8 Leroy Houston.

Replacements: 16 Tom Dunn, 17 Nathan Catt, 18 Henry Thomas, 19 Charlie Ewels, 20 Guy Mercer, 21 Jonathan Evans, 22 Max Clark, 23 Horacio Agulla.

Newcastle: 15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Giamba Venditti, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Juan Pablo Socino, 11 Marcus Watson, 10 Mike Delany, 9 Sonatane Takulua; 1 Rob Vickers, 2 George McGuigan, 3 Taione Vea, 4 Mouritz Botha, 5 Calum Green, 6 Mark Wilson, 7 Will Welch (c), 8 Nili Latu.

Replacements: 16 Scott Lawson, 17 Alex Rogers, 18 Kensuke Hatakeyama, 19 Sean Robinson, 20 Ally Hogg, 21 Michael Young, 22 Craig Willis, 23 Belisario Agulla.